(CNN) -- Brazil's Flamengo football team has announced the suspension of its goal keeper, Bruno Fernandes Das Dores de Souza, who police say is a suspect in the disappearance and murder of Eliza Samudio, a woman said to be his former girlfriend.
In a news release, the Flamengo Club stated it "is not involved in any way" with events which have occurred. The club said it is suspending Souza's contract "until all the facts" are known.
Souza turned himself in to police in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday after a judge issued a warrant for his arrest. Brazilian media report that Bruno Souza has been transferred to the penitentiary Complexo de Gericinó, in Rio de Janeiro's Bangu neighborhood.
So far seven people have been arrested in the case including Dayane Souza, the goal keeper's wife.
The football star was last seen with Samudio in June as they headed for his country home in the state of Minas Gerais. Officials in Minas Gerais are still searching for Samudio's body.
Bruno Souza has repeatedly denied involvement in any crime. Attorney Michel Assef Filho said at a news conference Thursday that, "Bruno has only said that he has no knowledge of the facts, he is astonished and scared by his cousin's testimony and that's it."
Souza's 17-year-old cousin has allegedly confessed to taking part in the crime, Minas Gerais police chief Edson Moreira told reporters. At a news conference on Thursday, Moreira called Souza "a monster for what he did with this girl."
Meanwhile Samudio's family is grief-stricken. Her mother, Sonia Moura, told a reporter, "My heart is in a hundred pieces."
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
|