Miami nurse arrested in Palm Beach County colleague’s 2024 killing as investigators cite evidence tampering charge
Arrest follows long-running investigation into October 2024 death along Lyons Road
A 38-year-old Miami man has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder with a deadly weapon in the 2024 death of Linda Campitelli, a registered nurse found fatally injured along a Palm Beach County roadway. He also faces a charge of tampering with physical evidence.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office said the suspect, Rene J. Perez, was taken into custody in Miami on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, and booked into the Palm Beach County Jail. Court proceedings were expected to begin with an initial bond-court appearance on Wednesday.
What investigators say happened on Oct. 28, 2024
Deputies reported that Campitelli, 35, was pronounced dead shortly after 10:20 p.m. on Oct. 28, 2024. She was found outside a vehicle on the southbound shoulder of Lyons Road, in the 6100 block, in the area near Wellington and Lake Worth Beach. Investigators later classified her death as a homicide.
Authorities have not publicly outlined a detailed timeline of the events leading up to Campitelli’s death, the nature of the relationship between the suspect and the victim, or what evidence investigators say links Perez to the killing. Officials have stated, however, that Perez and Campitelli were co-workers and that the investigation ultimately led to an arrest warrant being obtained before his capture.
Charges filed: murder and tampering with evidence
Perez is charged with:
- First-degree murder with a deadly weapon
- Tampering with physical evidence
Under Florida law, first-degree murder is among the state’s most serious criminal allegations. A tampering charge typically indicates investigators believe actions were taken to alter, conceal, destroy, or remove items relevant to the case.
Victim identified as registered nurse and mother of two
Campitelli was a registered nurse who lived in Wellington. Public biographical information indicates she was married and had two daughters. She graduated from Miami Southridge Senior High School and the University of Miami.
What happens next
As the case moves into court, key issues are expected to include the basis for the first-degree murder allegation, the evidence supporting the deadly-weapon enhancement, and the factual claims underlying the accusation of evidence tampering.
Perez is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
The case remains active as prosecutors prepare for early hearings and the defense begins its response to the allegations.