Brazilian footballer accused of killing former girlfriend and ‘feeding body parts to dogs’

RIO DE JANEIRO - Brazilian police believe that local football star Bruno Fernandes strangled his ‘missing’ former girlfriend and then fed her body parts to dogs.

Fernandes, until recently captain and goalkeeper of Brazil’s most popular club, Flamengo, has been the primary suspect in the killing of 25-year-old Eliza Samudio, who disappeared on June 4.

Police in Belo Horizonte claimed that Samudio was taken by force from a hotel in Rio de Janeiro on the day of her disappearance and was strangled in Belo Horizonte.

They said that her body was cut up and parts were fed to dogs, while the rest was buried under concrete, the BBC reports.

Samudio, a former model and actor, reportedly met Fernandes last year at a party and became pregnant during their first encounter.

Police believe the 25-year-old player was infuriated by her decision to keep the child, who is now four months old.

Before her disappearance, Samudio had approached police to report receiving threats from the goalkeeper.

Fernandes has however denied any wrongdoing, and said he has a “clear conscience”, but police said that Fernandes’ teenage cousin has given evidence against the goalkeeper.

The 25-year-old is currently behind bars in a high-security Rio de Janeiro jail. (ANI)