A Footballer's Fall From Grace: The Shocking Crimes of Flamengo's Star Goalkeeper Bruno Fernandes de Souza
Once a star goalkeeper with Brazil's premier football club Flamengo, Bruno Fernandes das Dores de Souza was convicted for his role in a ghastly crime that shocked the nation
Background
In July 2010, fans were stunned when Flamengo, Brazil’s most popular football club, suspended its talented and popular goalkeeper Bruno Fernandes das Dores de Souza, more commonly known as Bruno or Goliero Bruno (the Goalkeeper Bruno.)
Even more shocking was the reason for the suspension. Earlier that month, the football star had been arrested and charged with assault, torture, and murder related to the disappearance and death of his girlfriend, Eliza Samudio.
Yet as heartbreaking and grim as the details of Samudio’s abduction and murder were, she would unfortunately not receive justice due in part to Brazil’s notoriously slow legal process as well as their poor record of not treating violent crimes against women with the seriousness and urgency they deserve.
This is a story of failed justice; this is the story of Bruno.
Football Career
Born on December 23, 1984, Bruno began his career in 2002 with Brazillian Serie A club Atlético Mineiro. In 2005, at age 21, Bruno made his debut, recording 24 appearances that season.
The following season, his appearances were way down and his contract was purchased by Sport Club Corinthians. The club, based in São Paulo, is the second most popular football club behind Flamengo. However, tensions grew when the Corinthians manager refused to play Bruno over the team’s current goalkeeper, who had come up through the organization.
With the two sides at odds, Bruno was loaned out to Flamengo.
Rise to Stardom
It would be with Flamengo, Brazil’s most popular football club, that Bruno would establish himself as a star. The timing was rather fortuitous because the same week that Bruno arrived, Flamengo’s star goalkeeper, Diego, went down with an injury and was unable to play.
This gave Bruno significantly more playing time, and he seized the opportunity. With his high-level play, Bruno solidified his position as the club’s starting goalkeeper.
By the following season, Bruno had become a fan favorite and had established himself as a bonafide star.
Following his sophomore season with Flamengo, rumors swirled that Bruno would leave Flamengo to ink a more lucrative deal with another club. These rumors were put to rest after Flamengo signed Bruno to a deal in 2008 worth around €3 million.
The deal seemed to be a win for both sides. Flamengo could now keep their talented goalie, and Bruno would remain with Brazil’s most popular club. Bruno’s elite play was a big reason for Flamengo’s success.
In May 2009, he was named as a team captain.
Relationship with Eliza Samudio
In 2009, Bruno was introduced to 24-year-old model and adult actress Eliza Samudio. According to Bruno, the pair met at a barbecue hosted by one of his teammates. The two reportedly had a sexual encounter at the party, during which Eliza became pregnant.
Even though Bruno was married with children, he and Samudio continued to see each other regularly, with Bruno repeatedly telling Samudio that he was going to leave his wife for her.
Then, in August 2009, Bruno supposedly ended their relationship after Samudio informed him that she was pregnant and he was the father. Despite pressure from Bruno to get an abortion, Eliza refused.
In a disturbing incident in October 2009, Samudio alleged that she was abducted and held hostage by Bruno and two of his friends known as ‘Russo’ and ‘Macarro.’
Eliza claimed that while imprisoned, she was beaten by the three men and forced to ingest ‘abortive substances.’ Later, DNA tests would confirm the presence of abortive substances in Eliza’s system.
Tragically, Eliza’s attempts at getting protection from Bruno were thwarted by the courts. Her requests for protection were denied despite a clear and present danger to her physical safety.
Eliza’s son was born in February 2010 in São Paulo, where Samudio had been staying with friends. After the birth of her son, Eliza began to demand child support from Bruno and again accused the famed goalkeeper of assaulting her.
Disappearance and Murder of Eliza Samudio
According to investigators, on June 4, 2010, Samudio was brought to Bruno’s farm in Minas Gerais. She had been lured to the farm under the guise of negotiating a child support settlement.
She was never seen again.
Bruno claimed that Eliza had left the farm of her own accord and had deliberately abandoned her baby, who was later found unharmed in a favela. The child was placed in the care of Eliza’s mother.
Investigation and Arrest
In late June 2010, police in Minas Gerais named Bruno as a suspect in the disappearance and likely murder of Eliza Samudio. Publicly, Bruno maintained his innocence and expressed his ‘concern’ and hope for Eliza’s safe return.
Then, in early July, Bruno’s 17-year-old cousin Jorge Sales confessed to his involvement in Eliza’s abduction and murder to police. He told police that on June 4, he and another accomplice named ‘Spaghetti’ drove Samudio to Bruno’s farm with the intention of reconciliation.
When they arrived, he claimed they beat Eliza and that he hit her in the head with the butt of his gun. He went on to say that after being rendered unconscious by the beating, Eliza was then strangled to death by a former police officer known as “Bola.”
Eliza’s body was then dismembered, with some parts being fed to Bruno’s rottweiler dog. The remaining pieces were reportedly encased in concrete.
Based on Sale’s testimony and confession, an arrest warrant was issued for Bruno on July 7, 2010. After news of his arrest and ongoing murder investigation went public, Flamengo suspended his contract.
Trial and Sentencing
The trial began in November 2012, more than two years after the murder of Eliza Samudio. Bruno and five other defendants faced a variety of charges related to Samudio’s abduction and murder. Despite the high-profile nature of the case, the trial was not broadcast live.
The trial was contentious. The attorney for one of the defendants took issue with some of the deadlines imposed by the judge and excused himself from the trial. On the second day of trial, Bruno requested that his defense attorneys be dismissed from the case. However, the judge denied his request, deeming it as a tactic to delay the judgment.
However, the following day, the judge postponed Bruno’s trial to March 2013. Bruno’s co-defendant ‘Macarrao’ was sentenced to 15 years in prison for his role in Eliza’s kidnapping and murder.
On March 8, 2013, Bruno was sentenced to 22 years in prison for his role in the abduction and murder of Eliza Samudio. He was convicted on charges of assault, torture, and murder.
Gross Injustice
Then, in February 2017, Bruno was released from prison after serving just over six and a half years. This was after Bruno’s lawyers had filed a petition of habeas corpus due to the delay in processing his appeals request.
While free pending his appeal, Bruno was offered contracts by several football clubs. He signed a deal with Boa Esporte and appeared five times for the club before he was re-arrested. This caused three of the club’s sponsors to terminate their relationship.
In April 2017, the supreme court of Brazil ordered Bruno’s re-arrest after they determined that Bruno’s attorneys were partly responsible for the delay in the appeals process.
Bruno was then imprisoned again until July 2019, when he was allowed to participate in a program where he could work and train during the day and be placed under house arrest at night.
He had originally been required to return to prison at night, but due to the inadequate facilities, he was allowed house arrest as an alternative. Reaction to the decision was mixed. While some football fans were excited to once again see Bruno’s skills, others lamented the message it sent that women’s safety was not a high priority.
Now free from prison after serving less than nine years for kidnapping and murder, Bruno was ready to return to the pitch. In October 2019, he played a friendly match against Independiente Juruaia. He stated that when fans got to know Bruno, the human being, a lot of minds would be changed.
In July 2020, Bruno signed with Rio Branco Football Club. The announcement led the coach of the club’s women’s team to resign in disgust. In May 2021, Bruno announced his retirement from football and that he planned to become an investor.
Closing Thoughts
As of this writing, Bruno Fernades das Dores de Souza remains a free man despite the calculated and brutal nature of his crimes. It also seems clear that he is not remorseful.
When discussing his role in Eliza’s murder, Bruno said, “What happened, happened. I made a mistake, a serious one, but mistakes happen in life--I’m not a bad guy. People tried to bury my dreams because of one mistake, but I asked God for forgiveness, so I’m carrying on with my career, dude.”
Sources:
Ousby, Nathan. “Footballer Turned Convicted Murderer.” Fourth Floor, 4 September 2021, https://www.thefourthfloor.co.uk/sport/the-life-of-bruno-fernandes-de-souza-a-convicted-murderer-and-professional-footballer
Sherlock, Harry. “Soccer's wildest stories: The sickening tale of Bruno Fernandes de Souza - the Brazilian goalkeeper turned convicted murderer.” Goal, 23 May 2024, https://www.goal.com/en/lists/bruno-brazilian-flamengo-goalkeeper-murderer/bltb82fadfd52e4f1c0#cs6b5beaf5e9505a6f
Phillips, Tom. “Brazilian footballer Bruno Fernandes accused of lover's murder.” The Guardian, 8 July 2010, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jul/09/brazil-footballer-bruno-fernandes-accused-murder
Watts, Jonathan. “Brazilian goalkeeper guilty of murder back in prison after brief return to football.” The Guardian, 25 April 2017, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/25/brazil-goalkeeper-bruno-fernandes-de-souza-prison-guilty