It was a lie.

For those who follow Brazilian football, the name Bruno Fernandes de Souza was once synonymous with promise. The 6’3” goalkeeper was a national champion with Flamengo, Brazil’s most popular club. He was a captain, a leader, and a star.

She was held captive for several days. She was tortured. She was beaten.

On June 7, 2010, prosecutors allege that Bruno snapped. He strangled Eliza with a plastic rope. But even that wasn’t the end.

But behind the fame and the gloves, there was a rage so profound that it led to one of the most brutal femicides in Brazilian history. Eliza Samudio was a 25-year-old former model and aspiring actress. In 2009, she met goalkeeper Bruno through a mutual friend. They had a brief relationship that resulted in her becoming pregnant.

On June 4, 2010, Eliza drove to Rio de Janeiro. She left her son with a friend. She was told Bruno would take her to a house to meet his lawyers. Instead, she was taken to a rented shack in the suburb of Vargem Grande. According to the confession of his accomplices (notably his cousin, Bruno’s version of events shifted constantly), the moment Eliza entered the shack, the nightmare began.

To hide the evidence, Bruno and his accomplices dismembered Eliza’s body. Her limbs and torso were separated. They fed parts of her body to the family’s Rottweilers to destroy the DNA. The remaining remains were allegedly encased in concrete and buried under a concrete floor. To this day, Eliza Samudio’s remains have never been recovered.