“An Invinsible Victim: The Eliza Samudio Case”, is a documentary from Brazil that is currently showing on Netflix.
The story begins with a man asking, “Has Bruno called today?”
This is followed by video clips of Eliza Samudio narrating how Bruno Fernandes de Souza, a famous goalkeeper and captain of the soccer team Flamengo, threatens to harm her. The soccer team at the time had the country’s largest fanbase.
Bruno was invited by a magazine for a special called “Have Lunch with your Idol.” It was a column for Extra Newspaper.
The column provided an avenue for fans to meet celebrities they admire. The event was photographed and Bruno had brought along Ingrid Cavalcanti, a lady who he introduced as his fiancée.
How Bruno Fernandes de Souza and Eliza Samudio Met
Eliza and Bruno met through a friend at a party. Shortly after they began dating.
Things were going well between the two of them until Eliza saw the Extra Newspaper article. The problem was Eliza not aware that Bruno was in another relationship until this incident.
Shortly after Eliza finds out about Ingrid, she tells the press she is pregnant. She also states that she intends to keep the baby.
Bruno denies having a relationship with Eliza and restates that he is in a relationship with Ingrid, whom he would later wed.
Eliza gives birth to a baby boy, Bruninho. Bruno and her continue to have misunderstandings.
The Disappearance and Investigation
After the birth of Bruninho, Eliza began demanding child support for the baby.
She was tricked into believing that Bruno wanted to meet his son.
According to 17 year old Jorge Luiz Rosa (Bruno’s nephew), he hit Eliza on the head while Macarrao (Bruno’s best friend) was driving a Range Rover. He stated that he was in the trunk of the range rover, got out, pointed a gun at Eliza and things got physical.
After that she was kidnapped and taken to Bruno’s ranch. She was there for six days.
Sergio Rosa Salles (Bruno’s cousin) testimony was the strongest against Bruno. He claimed that Eliza was assaulted many times both verbally and physically while on the ranch.
According to him, they played loud music to drown out sounds. He also stated that someone forced Eliza to call friends and family to reassure them of her safety. He claimed that Jorge later told him that they took Eliza to be killed.
On March 10, Macarrao, Jorge and Luiz Henrique came to pick up Eliza and the baby from the ranch. They met up with one other individual, Marcos Aparecido dos Santos (nicknamed Bola).
The events that followed would according to Jorge lead to Eliza being strangled, dismembered her, and parts of her body fed to dogs.
That was the last time Eliza was seen alive. No evidence of dismemberment was ever found.
Later Luiz and Jorge would return to the ranch and hand the baby over to Bruno. Jorge would later disclose a lot of these facts and Bola’s involvement.
Bruno’s Involvement
Initially, Bruno claimed that Eliza had voluntarily handed the baby to Macarrao.
He claimed that when he got home Eliza was talking to Macarrao about a financial agreement. She asked Bruno for money but he offered her less.
However, when the investigation intensified and authorities made arrests, Bruno admitted in court that he was aware of the crime but insisted that he took no part in committing it.
The Trial and Release
Bruno turned himself in to the authorities on July 7.
He continued to maintain that he had no involvement in the events that led to the death of Eliza. According to him, Macarrao told him that he had killed Eliza.
On March 8, 2013, the court sentenced Bruno to 22 years and 3 months for aggravated homicide, kidnapping, and concealment of a body.
In 2019, the authorities reduced his sentence, and in 2022, they released him. No one ever found Eliza’s body.
Would You Recommend This Documentary?
The documentary was interesting to watch. However, the filmmakers could have developed some parts in the middle of the documentary more clearly.
It is possible that some parts of the documentary may have been lost in translation.
I liked how the documentary highlighted how distasteful it was for the press to focus on Bruno’s return to soccer after his release.
It also exposed how in certain cases victims of celebrities do not get justice.
It shows how victims sometimes seek help but are unable to receive it until it is too late.
It also highlights how the focus, especially from media members, usually centers on what the celebrity is losing rather than on the harm inflicted on the victim.
I would definitely recommend the documentary.
How Would You Rate This Documentary?
I would give this a rating of 2.8 out of 5.
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