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Netflix 'Elize Matsunaga': Was Elize an escort? The truth behind tragic love story with Marcos

Elize Matsunaga shot and dismembered her husband in what she claimed was a crime of passion

'Elize Matsunaga: Once Upon a Crime' which will soon stream on Netflix, explores the case that shocked Brazil, when Elize Matsunaga shot and dismembered her husband Japanese businessman Marcos Matsunaga who was a wealthy heir to a major food company. While the way their relationship ended, is truly gruesome, Elize and Marcos Matsunaga's love story was an unconventional one from the start.

Elize, who shot to fame or rather infamy for killing her husband, actually met Matsunaga on a website for escorts 'M.Class', where she was advertised as Kelly, a sweet little blonde. Matsunaga who was already married at the time, went on to live with Elize for three years before he got divorced from his first wife. If you enjoy documentaries on true crime, then other docu-series on Netflix such as 'American Murder: The Family Next Door', 'The Sons of Sam: A Descsent Into Darkness' and 'Murder Among the Mormons'.

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The couple then got married in the Anglican Church, which allows divorced people to remarry. They shared many common interests such as marksmanship courses, hunting and wine auctions. It was an extremely privileged existence, especially considering Elize came from a very poor background where her childhood home didn't even have an indoor bathroom. However, things began to unravel after the birth of their daughter, when Elize began to suspect Matsunaga was cheating on her. According to friends of Matsunaga, he was tired of Elize's constant complaints even though she had a maid and a nanny to help with raising their daughter. Elize's suspicions that her husband was cheating on her were confirmed, when a private detective she hired, shot a video of Matsunaga kissing another woman.

Elize has claimed that it was her rage over her husband's infidelity that led to her committing a crime of passion on May 19, 2012. In Elize's version of the events, Matsunaga came in with a pizza, the two sat down to eat, they began arguing and he slapped her. Her husband according to Elize also threatened to take custody of their daughter. She went over to a cabinet and took out one of the many guns the couple had around the house and shot him.

In the trailer of the upcoming 'Elize Matsunaga: Once Upon a Crime', she claims she still doesn't know what emotion took over her, to make her pull the trigger. After shooting him, she dragged her husband’s body to the guest room and left it locked there that night. Afraid of being separated from her daughter she didn't call the police or any family members. In an attempt to try and cover up her crime, Elize cut Matsunaga's body into seven parts in her house, the two legs, severed near the knees; the groin; the torso; the two arms; and the head. She put the parts into garbage bags, fitted it all into three suitcases and cleaned up the scene with a household disinfectant. 

Elize finally confessed to killing her husband and was sentenced to 19 years, 11 months and 1 day in prison in a closed regime, for the murder, the destruction and concealment of her husband’s corpse. The question still remains for many, however, was it in fact a crime of passion or a cold-blooded murder to get her hands on more of her husband's huge fortune? To find out more about her possible motivations, catch Elize as she gives her very first interview in 'Elize Matsunaga: Once Upon a Crime' on Netflix on July 8. Catch the trailer here.