(Editor’s note: This story was originally published by Florida Today, part of the USA TODAY Network.)
The fiancé of a 35-year-old Merritt Island, Fla., piercing artist found shot to death in her apartment last weekend was arrested late Thursday and charged with first-degree premeditated murder, Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey said.
The arrest came shortly after deputies spotted the man and he reportedly jumped into a nearby creek on Merritt Island before being taken into custody, Ivey said on a Facebook video late Thursday.
Phillip Keller, 39, was booked into the Brevard County Jail Complex in Sharpes, Ivey reported. Keller is professional MMA fighter with a 2-6 record, most recently competing three times for Titan FC between August 2019 to September 2020.
The weekend death of Alicia “Red” Campitelli, a popular body piercer at DaVinci Tattoo and Piercing in Merritt Island, triggered calls for answers and an outpouring of grief on social media.
Deputies responded to reports of a shooting about 11:13 a.m. on May 15 in Merritt Island. The caller, 39-year-old Keller, called 911 to report that Campitelli was dead and that someone possibly broke into the Merritt Island apartment.
“(Keller) reported that Campitelli was not conscious and not breathing and then disconnected the 911 call,” Ivey said.
Deputies arrived at the home and focused on Keller after noting that he had injuries, including what appeared to be a gunshot wound, Ivey reported.
It was not immediately known if the firearm used in the shooting was recovered.
At least one resident had told investigators that he heard what sounded like gunshots hours earlier, around 1 a.m. at the complex, the sheriff stated.
Agents also searched through surveillance video that showed Keller making financial transactions using Campitelli’s account information shortly after the gunshots were heard, Ivey said. Hours later he called 911.
Keller is accused of making multiple withdrawals totaling hundreds of dollars using Campitelli’s debit card after she died, according to an arrest affidavit.
Detectives also reportedly recorded phone calls between Keller and an acquaintance of his in which he confessed to the killing, the affidavit said.
“I killed her, bro. I killed her high as (expletive). I did it. I don’t know how I did it, but I can’t live with myself knowing that,” Keller was recorded saying, detectives said.
During the reported confession to his friend, Keller described being high on MDMA, also known as ecstasy or molly, and shooting Campitelli twice in “cold blood.”
The psychoactive drug’s effects can include altered sensations, increased energy, empathy and pleasure, according to the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.
“I did it. I’m so (expletive) sorry, man,” he is reported to have told his friend, detectives said.
Keller also told the acquaintance that he disposed of the gun in a restricted area of the barge canal in north Merritt Island off Courtenay Parkway.
Ivey said Keller on Thursday shared apparent details about the case with the acquaintance, who then contacted investigators to set up the recorded phone call.
Keller was arrested Thursday after deputies spotted him at a location on Merritt Island. It was then that Keller leapt into Sykes Creek, Ivey said.
Ivey said agents secured an arrest warrant and turned Keller over to the county jail for booking.
Phillip Keller’s mug shot. (Brevard Country Sheriff’s office)
Keller is being held without bond after an appearance before Judge Benjamin Garagozlo at the Brevard County Jail Complex Friday afternoon. During the appearance, he was appointed a public defender to represent him.
His next court appearance will be before Judge Thomas Brown for an arraignment at the Moore Justice Center in Viera at 8 a.m. on Monday, June 17.
The case is the 20th reported homicide to take place in Brevard County this year and the seventh to involve domestic violence.
Dozens of Facebook posts hash-tagged with #JusticeforRed raised concerns about Campitelli’s death in the days leading up to the arrest. Friends said Campitelli lived with Keller and the couple had been planning to get married in August.
Campitelli’s close friend, Misti McDermott, who helped spearhead the social media campaign, said the arrest of Keller does not heal the pain of losing someone close.
She said that during the past week, between her death and the arrest she’s been “waiting for what felt like forever,” that she has “mixed emotions.”
“(I’m) grateful that there will be justice after all but a sickening reality punch in the gut that this is real,” McDermott said.
A GoFundMe fundraiser was set up in Campitelli’s name. Her family plans to use the money to continue her work as a mental health and addiction awareness advocate – with an emphasis on supporting children’s charities.
“Red was proudly over five years sober and she was an advocate for recovery. She was well loved in the community, but she inspired many people outside of the Space Coast as well,” McDermott wrote in a post encouraging donations at http://www.gofundme.com/f/red-strong-legacy.
BCSO agents are also still seeking as much information as possible from the public. Anyone with possible details on the case is asked to call the Homicide Unit at 321-633-8413 or anonymously contact CRIMELINE at 1-800-423-TIPS.
‘I killed her, bro’: MMA fighter Phillip Keller confesses, charged with murdering fiancée
