PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — More than two weeks after a woman was found dead along a Palm Beach County road, deputies now say she was the victim of a homicide.
WPTV spent Wednesday working to get answers about how it happened, speaking with a close friend of the victim who is heartbroken.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said Tuesday night that an autopsy indicated that a woman found dead in the 6100 block of Lyons Road on Oct. 28 did not die of natural causes.
Deputies said they found the victim after calls to 911 from passing drivers.
Family and friends identified the victim as Linda Campitelli, 35, who was a wife and mother of two.
"She was an amazing mom," said Karina Marrero, who was Campitelli's friend. "Just amazing, completely admirable, beautiful person."
WPTV reporter Zitlali Solache spoke with Edina Russo, Campitelli's mom, over the phone. Russo said the days after the tragedy have been the toughest as she continues to grieve the loss.
WATCH: WPTV speaks with mother of homicide victim found off Lyons Road in Palm Beach County
"I don't think that I have fully processed that as a mother. All I ever wanted to be was a mother. She came after three losses, and she was all I wanted," Russo said. "I don't understand. My daughter was an amazing person. She was so much to so many people."
Deputies said they responded for a welfare check and found the victim alone outside of the car and not breathing.
Marrero had been friends with Campitelli for two years. She said losing her was not only unexpected but has been incredibly painful.
"I met Linda during one of the hardest times of my life," Marrero said. "She was that person that would answer the phone at 1 a.m., just someone you could always count on. ... She just didn't deserve this."
Campitelli was a registered PACU nurse at Wellington Regional Medical Center.
The hospital said in a statement that Campitelli was "beloved by patients and staff. We wish her family peace and strength during this time."
"She's was an amazing nurse, and she loved her job," Marrero said.
What Marrero said hurts the most is that deputies now say that someone is responsible for her friend's death.
"I think that just makes it all the worse," Marrero said. "I just want this person to be found. You know, it's not going to bring her back, but it's just closure for her friends, for her family, because it's such an empty feeling just not knowing."
WPTV talked to Campitelli's husband on the phone, but he did not want to comment on his wife's death.
Russo says she wants the person responsible for her daughter's death to be found.
“Grief is a dark, dark hole and when you start mixing that with anger, its not a good place," shared Russo. "I am so angry that someone has such little regard for human life. I wanted the person to be found, I want them to be tried and I wanted them to be convicted."
Deputies are asking for the public's help with this case.
Anyone with information on the case is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-458-TIPS.
