Elize Matsunaga, the Brazilian woman convicted of murdering and dismembering her husband Marcos Matsunaga in 2012, wrote a poignant letter to her daughter from prison. The letter, first revealed by journalist Ullisses Campbell in 2021, has resurfaced following the release of the Netflix film Elize: Shadows of a Woman.
Details of the Letter
The letter was written shortly before her daughter's fifth birthday. In it, Elize describes imagining her child's face and smile, saying: "I close my eyes and imagine now what your little face looks like, your smile, everything so magical, the kind that makes me brush off the dust and forget the wounds." She also notes the time since they last met: "Today, it's been three years, nine months and four days since I last saw you, my dear daughter. But every day I send you in my thoughts all the love a mother can feel and all my pleas for forgiveness."
Impact and Custody
Elize expressed a desire to reunite, stating: "I would face anything to see your smile again." She closed with: "Even if you don't forgive me, my dear daughter, don't forget that I will love you beyond life because this love doesn't come from the eyes, this love comes from God, from your mother, Elize." Her daughter remains in the care of Marcos' parents, who have full custody. Elize is currently on parole, serving a 16-year sentence.
