Between 2019 and 2020, Phillip Keller competed three times under the Titan FC banner, going 0-3 against names like Danny Sabatello, who recently debuted for Bellator by defeating Brett Johns.
Unlike Sabatello, Keller’s career, and life, took a very different trajectory. The 2-6 bantamweight (and sometimes flyweight) has been charged with murder, after allegedly confessing to shooting his fiancee while high.
Keller, 39, was arrested last Thursday after attempting to evade authorities by jumping into a creek in Merritt Island, Florida. Per a report by Click Orlando, Keller later confessed to the killing of Alicia Campitelli, 35. The incident began following an argument over Keller’s drug use.
During the course of that argument, Keller allegedly retrieved and loaded Campitelli’s, hiding it in a closet, unbeknownst to the victim. As the argument continued, Keller left to retrieve the firearm, with Campitelli following him. Keller then opened fire, missing — but he did not miss on subsequent attempts.
After disposing of the gun and shell casings, Keller made several withdrawals from the victim’s accounts, disposed of the firearm, then returned to the crime scene to call 9-1-1. Just past 11AM on May 15, he reported that he had found Campitelli shot, alleging there had been a robbery.
However, prior to attempting the cover-up, Keller had called a friend and confessed to the murder. “I killed her bro, I killed her high as (expletive),” Keller said during a recorded conversation (via Click Orlando). “I did it. I don’t know how I did it, but I can’t live with myself knowing that. I’m a piece of (expletive). I was super high on Molly.”
Molly, a.k.a. Ecstasy or MDMA, produces feelings of increased energy, pleasure, emotional warmth, and distorted sensory and time perception, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Keller is facing a first-degree murder charge, and is being held in Florida jail without bond.
On Sunday, hundreds gathered at a vigil for Alicia Campitelli, a popular piercing artist who worked with victims of drug abuse. “She was an advocate for recovery and addiction, so she literally helped save many people’s lives in this community,” said Misti McDermont, a friend of the victim.
