A probable cause affidavit links Linda Campitelli to a romantic relationship with the man charged in her death and details WhatsApp messages that preceded the encounter on Oct. 28, 2024. The affidavit, surveillance footage and forensics outline a sequence investigators say culminated in blunt force trauma, a body moved into a Chevrolet Tahoe and the discovery of Campitelli’s remains near Lyons Road.
Background & context: WhatsApp messages and surveillance footage
The affidavit states Campitelli and Perez, 38, had been in an extramarital relationship for approximately two years and had communicated almost daily on WhatsApp. Messages show an exchange the day before the killing in which Campitelli wrote: “I LOVE YOU, I FEEL KINDA WEIRD. I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT TOMORROW. YOU’VE NEVER DONE ANYTHING LIKE THIS FOR ME BEFORE AND I FEEL A LITTLE NERVOUS. “
Surveillance footage placed Campitelli’s Chevrolet Tahoe at the Retina Group of Florida building in Wellington on the night of Oct. 28, 2024, with the vehicle departing at about 9: 59 p. m. A photo recovered from Campitelli’s phone shows the Tahoe’s rear laid flat with a “Happy Birthday” blanket and medical Ultrasorb sheets matching the kind used at Delray Medical Center, where Perez worked.
Crime scene, forensics and the timeline
Investigators believe the attack occurred at the isolated location captured on surveillance. Campitelli’s Apple Watch was recovered near the center console with blood on both sides, and DNA analysis confirmed that blood at the scene and inside the Tahoe matched Campitelli. Detectives describe the body being transported in the vehicle and discovered along the 6100 block of Lyons Road, roughly 50 feet from the Tahoe.
The affidavit details blunt force trauma to the head and torso, a skull fracture, rib fractures, accumulation of blood in the skull and contusions on the upper back and neck. Postmortem marks were consistent with a body being dragged. When deputies arrived, the Tahoe was still running and the front driver’s side tire was flat, which investigators interpret as the car being disabled intentionally.
Investigation, arrests and investigative breakthroughs
Perez faces first-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence charges. He made a first appearance in Palm Beach County court and was arrested in Miami before being transported to Palm Beach County Jail, where he is being held without bond. The affidavit notes Perez told detectives he canceled the Oct. 28 meeting; investigators found no WhatsApp or text evidence to corroborate that claim. The affidavit also indicates Perez was using a secret prepaid phone.
Captain Michael Ott, Violent Crimes Division, PBSO, described the investigative effort: detectives interviewed “countless” witnesses, authored more than 50 search warrants and analyzed “hundreds and hundreds of hours” of cell phone data. He added that a crucial piece of cell phone data connected to Perez had not been identified until recently.
Surveillance footage later captured Perez going to Delray Medical Center and discarding an item in a trash receptacle near the doctor’s entrance before returning to his residence. Detectives recovered material elements from Campitelli’s phone and vehicle that investigators believe tie the location, the movement of the Tahoe and the victim’s injuries together in a single sequence.
Human aftermath and legal posture
Campitelli’s family has reacted to the developments. Edina Russo, identified as Campitelli’s mother, expressed gratitude to detectives: “There’s a million emotions. I’m obviously always sad but there’s a sense of closure, ” she said. Legally, Perez is charged and in custody while prosecutors and investigators continue to assemble evidence that includes WhatsApp communications, surveillance footage and forensic results.
The case now moves through pretrial stages with investigators emphasizing the layered nature of the evidence: digital messages, imagery, DNA and physical traces inside the vehicle. As the prosecution prepares its case, questions remain about motive, timing and the precise sequence of events that led to the fatal injuries in this isolated location.
What the unfolding record makes clear is that the combination of modern digital footprints and traditional forensic work has reshaped the timeline of this investigation, leaving families and the community awaiting answers about why the meeting ended in the death of Linda Campitelli.
