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Murder of Eliza Samudio

SOLVED2010Esmeraldas, Minas Gerais, Brazil3 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026

Documents violence · domestic violence · torture — written to inform, not to shock.

Illustrative

Eliza Silva Samudio was born on February 22, 1985, in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil. She moved to São Paulo at eighteen to pursue modeling, initially supporting herself through sex work before appearing in fashion shows, editorials, and, according to her lawyer, pornographic films between 2005 and 2009 under the name Fernanda Farias.

Samudio met goalkeeper Bruno Fernandes das Dores de Souza, known as Bruno, around 2008–2009. The two had a relationship that ended in August 2009 after Samudio told Bruno she was pregnant and refused to have an abortion. In October 2009, Samudio filed a police complaint alleging she had been held against her will by Bruno and two associates, known as "Russo" and "Macarrão," and forced to take abortive substances; she also alleged assault, including that Bruno pointed a gun at her head. A request for protective measures under the Maria da Penha Law was denied by a judge who ruled that Samudio and Bruno did not have a qualifying intimate relationship. Forensic testing related to the alleged abortive substances was not completed until July 2010, after Samudio's disappearance was already being investigated as a homicide.

Samudio gave birth to a son on February 10, 2010, in São Paulo. Bruno initially refused to acknowledge paternity. Samudio subsequently filed a paternity claim and sought child support.

According to police investigation, Samudio traveled to Bruno's farm in Esmeraldas, Minas Gerais, on June 4, 2010, reportedly believing a settlement negotiation would take place. She disappeared during that visit; investigators estimated her death occurred on June 10, 2010. Bruno claimed she left the farm voluntarily and abandoned her child, who was later found in a favela in Ribeirão das Neves. On June 26, 2010, Minas Gerais Civil Police named Bruno a suspect. On July 6, 2010, a 17-year-old relative of Bruno's told police he had struck Samudio, after which she was allegedly taken to Minas Gerais, dismembered, and her remains disposed of, including partial entombment in concrete; police stated this account was not confirmed. A former police officer, referred to in reporting as "Neném," "Paulista," or "Bola," was arrested on July 8, 2010, in connection with the case. Courts in both Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais issued preventive detention orders for Bruno and several other individuals in July 2010.

Trial proceedings began in Contagem, Minas Gerais, on November 19, 2012, before a popular jury. Multiple defendants and their attorneys were involved, and the trial proceeded with several procedural disputes. One co-defendant, known as Macarrão, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for kidnapping and murder. On March 8, 2013, Bruno was sentenced to 22 years in prison for assault, torture, and murder. According to Wikipedia's summary of the case, Bruno was ultimately released after serving ten years of a sentence described as fifteen years.

A separate family court ruling required Flamengo, Bruno's football club, to pay child support from his earnings; the club contested this, citing suspension of his contract, and appealed the decision.

Key facts

Victims
Eliza Silva Samudio
Date
2010
Location
Esmeraldas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Case status
solved

Case timeline

  1. 1985-02-22

    Eliza Silva Samudio is born in Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná, Brazil.

  2. 2009-08

    Bruno ends his relationship with Samudio after she announces her pregnancy and refuses an abortion.

  3. 2009-10-13

    Samudio files a police complaint alleging false imprisonment, forced abortive substances, and assault by Bruno and associates.

  4. 2010-02-10

    Samudio gives birth to a son in São Paulo.

  5. 2010-06-04

    Samudio travels to Bruno's farm in Esmeraldas, Minas Gerais.

  6. 2010-06-10

    Estimated date of Samudio's death, according to investigators.

  7. 2010-06-26

    Minas Gerais Civil Police declare Bruno a suspect in Samudio's disappearance.

  8. 2010-07-06

    Bruno's 17-year-old cousin is found and gives testimony implicating himself and others in the assault and disposal of Samudio's body.

  9. 2010-07-07

    Justice of Minas Gerais issues preventive detention orders for Bruno and seven others.

  10. 2010-07-08

    Former police officer known as "Neném"/"Paulista"/"Bola" is arrested by Minas Gerais Military Police.

  11. 2012-11-19

    Trial begins in Contagem, Minas Gerais, before a popular jury.

  12. 2013-03-08

    Bruno is sentenced to 22 years in prison for assault, torture, and murder.

Best coverage

No approved coverage links are attached yet.

People

  • Fernanda Gomes de Castro

    CHARGED

    Described as the goalkeeper's ex-girlfriend; co-defendant in the trial

    citation on file

  • Wemerson Marques de Souza

    CHARGED

    Co-defendant in the trial of Samudio's killing

    citation on file

  • Maria Aparecida Mallet

    LAW ENFORCEMENT

    Delegate from the Specialized Police Station for Women (DEAM) of Jacarepaguá who compelled Bruno to keep distance from Samudio in 2009

    citation on file

  • Eliza Silva Samudio

    VICTIM

    Brazilian model killed in June 2010

    citation on file

  • Marcos Aparecido dos Santos

    CHARGED

    Former police officer, known as Neném, Paulista or Bola; charged in connection with Samudio's killing

    citation on file

  • Bruno Fernandes das Dores de Souza

    CONVICTED

    Convicted and sentenced to 22 years for assault, torture and murder of Eliza Samudio; per Wikipedia, released after serving 10 years of a described 15-year sentence

    citation on file

  • Luiz Henrique Ferreira Romão

    CONVICTED

    Known as Macarrão; sentenced to 15 years in prison for kidnapping and murder

    citation on file

  • Elenilson Vitor da Silva

    CHARGED

    Co-defendant in the trial of Samudio's killing

    citation on file

  • Dayanne Rodrigues do Carmo Souza

    CHARGED

    Bruno's wife; investigated in connection with the case and stood trial

    citation on file

Places

Esmeraldas, Minas Gerais, Brazil

-19.9227, -44.0930

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
Brazilian model Eliza Samudio was killed in June 2010 after a paternity and custody dispute with football goalkeeper Bruno Fernandes das Dores de Souza; he was later convicted of her murder.
Where did the murder happen?
Esmeraldas, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Who was convicted?
Bruno Fernandes das Dores de Souza (Convicted and sentenced to 22 years for assault, torture and murder of Eliza Samudio; per Wikipedia, released after serving 10 years of a described 15-year sentence) and Luiz Henrique Ferreira Romão (Known as Macarrão; sentenced to 15 years in prison for kidnapping and murder).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: solved.

Sources

  1. Murder of Eliza Samudiowikipedia · Wikipedia · 2026-07-07
  2. Contemporaneous coverage — g1.globo.comnews · g1.globo.com · 2026-07-07
  3. Contemporaneous coverage — www1.folha.uol.com.brnews · www1.folha.uol.com.br · 2026-07-07
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