A man convicted of killing Merritt Island piercer Alicia ‘Red’ Campitelli has been sentenced to 50 years

Published On:
A man convicted of killing Merritt Island piercer Alicia 'Red' Campitelli has been sentenced to 50 years

In a deal reached on Monday, Merritt Island piercing artist Alicia “Red” Campitelli’s former boyfriend pleaded guilty to her murder and was sentenced to 50 years in prison.

Phillip Keller was sentenced at the Moore Justice Center in Viera on Monday, prompting tears from Campitelli’s family and friends.Her parents and siblings spoke of her generous spirit and love for others before she was killed in May 2021.

Keller will not be eligible for parole or time off for good behavior until he has served at least 25 years, according to the agreement approved by Judge Curt Jacobus on Monday morning.

According to police reports, Keller called 911 to report Campitelli’s death several hours after the shooting. According to records, Keller made several transactions with Campitelli’s debit card, withdrawing hundreds of dollars.

Sheriff’s deputies discovered Campitelli with multiple gunshot wounds in her and Keller’s shared apartment on School House Street and later charged Keller with first-degree premeditated murder. The plea deal reached on Monday reduced his charge to second-degree murder.

At the time of her death, Campitelli’s friends and family held a large candlelight vigil and launched the hashtag campaign #JusticeForRed on social media to raise awareness and pressure investigators to make an arrest before Keller was eventually charged.

The same love that drove that campaign for justice brought Campitelli’s family members to the courtroom Monday, where they spoke with a photo of her on the witness stand as a reminder of the life that was taken away.

Campitelli worked as a piercer at DaVinci Tattoo and Body Piercing, a popular tattoo shop located in Merritt Square Mall.

Debra Moore, Campitelli’s mother, stated that when Alicia died, the fabric of the family was fundamentally altered, and that the trauma caused by her death was an ongoing challenge.

“Our hearts are so broken every day,” Moore stated during Monday’s sentencing. “We can still hear her laughing at our family gatherings. It wasn’t simply the end of her life. It marked the end of our family’s life.”

Alicia’s father, Phil Campitelli, said she had always been kind to others and followed the golden rule. He and other family members praised Alicia for her sobriety, which she openly shared in the hopes of inspiring others to get clean as well.

He had harsh words for Keller, saying he should face the death penalty for his crimes. “Keller has no remorse,” Phil Campitelli explained. “My daughter is dead because she tried to help Keller from himself.”

Throughout the plea hearing, Keller was seen wiping his eyes and expressing grief. Keller’s attorney, Mario Pirolo, stated that Keller’s drug addiction played a role in his actions, but did not provide an excuse or justify what he had done.

Alana May Marshall-Campitelli, Alicia’s twin sister, described the trauma of losing her sister so violently as unbearable. “I can still hear her crying. I can feel her terror. Keller not only took one life but also destroyed many others,” she said.

SOURCE

Leave a Comment