Into The Dark Episode 158: "The Billionaire Murder – The Death of Marcos Matsunaga"

Host: Payton Moreland
Date: February 18, 2026

Episode Overview

In this true crime episode, Payton Moreland revisits a notorious Brazilian murder case: the killing and dismemberment of billionaire Marcos Matsunaga by his wife, Elisa Yoshikawa Matsunaga. Framed as a “Cinderella story gone dark,” the episode explores not only the details of the crime, but also the social and psychological dynamics that led to a grisly end. Payton adds context from Brazilian society and reflects on the dark realities lurking beneath seemingly fairy-tale relationships.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Scene – Age-old Fairy Tales and Their Dark Sides

• Payton opens by drawing parallels between well-known fairy tales and the lure of happy endings, hinting at the grim realities often omitted from such stories:
  • “However, the story of Cinderella never says what happens if you and the person you’re with aren't meant for each other. It doesn’t touch on how badly things can go or how dark real life can get when your happily ever after goes wrong.” (04:09)

2. Elisa’s Early Life: Trauma and Resilience

• Elisa (often called Eliza by Payton) was born poor in southern Brazil, suffered abuse by her stepfather, and escaped her situation at fifteen, determined to improve her life.
• She completed nursing school but lacked passion for it; aspired to study law but struggled financially.
• Elisa learned about sex work from a law school friend and began working as an escort to fund her education.

3. Meeting the ‘Prince’: Marcos Matsunaga’s Backstory

• Marcos, heir to the Yoki food empire, was wealthy, cosmopolitan, and accustomed to extravagance.
• Despite his affluence and privilege, Marcos was married and actively sought out affairs, leading him to the escort website where he met Elisa.

4. From Transaction to Romance – and Marriage

• The relationship evolved from professional to personal; Marcos paid Elisa for exclusivity, and soon they became a genuine couple.
  • “Eventually, Marcos told Elisa that he wanted to be honest about his love for her. He didn’t want to keep sneaking around and hiding things from his wife. He wanted them to be together in a more traditional way.” (10:09)
• He left his first wife, married Elisa, but insisted on keeping the origins of their relationship secret.

5. Fairy Tale Unravels: Affairs, Betrayal, and Pregnancy

• Elisa discovers Marcos is cheating on her, even after their marriage and years of infertility treatments; she considers divorce but discovers she is finally pregnant.
• The couple tries to reconcile for the sake of their daughter, Helena (born in mid-2011), but deep wounds remain.

6. Crumbling Marriage and Suspicious Disappearance

• Continued tensions: Marcos showers Elisa with luxuries but “money still doesn’t fix their problems.”
• Marcos vanishes in May 2012, with Elisa providing a “proof” video of his affair to his concerned family, claiming he left to be with his mistress (18:23).

7. Discovery of the Body: A Crime Scene Unfolds

• Dismembered body parts found in luxury trash bags (expensive, matching those in their apartment); forensic precision suggests medical knowledge.
• Police quickly connect the remains to Marcos; Payton details how Elisa’s story begins to unravel.

8. Elisa’s Confession and Defense

• Under pressure, Elisa confesses:
  • She claims a confrontation over Marcos’s affair led to him physically attacking her, threatening her with loss of custody.
  • Elisa says she shot Marcos in self-defense, later dismembering him in a panic.
  • “She says, I killed Marcos. But according to Elisa, she had done it in self defense… She hadn’t meant to kill him, only scare or hurt him, so he would leave her alone. So she claims to police.” (31:16)

9. Autopsy Contradicts Her Account – Police Suspect Motive

• Forensic findings show the gunshot was not fatal; the real cause of death was throat slitting after Marcos was incapacitated.
  • “This meant Elisa couldn’t have killed him in self defense... Instead, she then approached him with a knife while he was injured and helpless and killed him in cold blood.” (32:51)
• Police argue monetary motives—not fear—spurred the murder, especially given the looming billion-dollar family business sale.

10. Trial, Media Frenzy, and Aftermath

• Trial is a national sensation, with damning security footage and extensive media coverage.
• Speculation about Elisa’s potential accomplices due to the surgical precision of the dismemberment, but no evidence found.
  • “Many experts testified that she didn’t know enough or have sufficient experience to make such perfect cuts. Instead, legal experts suggested... Elisa had to have had help. Maybe she’d called a friend who was a doctor or a surgeon to help her...” (34:32)
• Elisa is found guilty; sentenced to nearly 20 years, later reduced to 16 years and 3 months.
• Her daughter Helena is raised by Marcos’s family, with Elisa having no contact since conviction.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Failure of the Cinderella Narrative:

  “It was like a dark take on Cinderella — one with lies, affairs and murder.”
  — Payton Moreland (38:15)

• On the Finality of the Crime:

  “So now that we're to the end of the story, I'm sure you can see why it was such a big deal in Brazil. How often does a millionaire's wife murder him after discovering an affair, let alone cut up his body into pieces with her daughter in the room next door, and then dump it at the side of the road? It felt like something out of a soap opera.”
  — Payton Moreland (37:30)

• On Elisa’s Motive and Irony:

  “In fact, she hasn't even seen her daughter since her conviction, which adds an extra layer of irony to the idea that she may have killed Marcos because he threatened to take away her custody. Instead, she still doesn't have a relationship with her daughter and who knows if she ever will.”
  — Payton Moreland (37:55)

• Elisa’s Chilling Confession:

  “She says, I killed Marcos. But according to Elisa, she had done it in self defense.”
  — (31:16)

Important Timestamps

• 00:53 – Episode intro; discussion of dark fairy tales
• 04:09 – Parallels between fairy tales and the case
• 06:05 – Elisa’s early life and abuse
• 08:10 – Meeting and relationship with Marcos Matsunaga
• 11:30 – Their marriage and attempt to start a new life
• 14:40 – Marital problems, affairs, and birth of Helena
• 18:23 – Marcos disappears; Elisa shows “proof” of his affair
• 22:25 – Discovery of Marcos’s body, investigation links to Elisa
• 31:16 – Elisa confesses to the murder, claims self-defense
• 32:51 – Autopsy disproves her self-defense claim
• 34:32 – Trial, expert testimony, media reaction
• 37:30 – Legacy of the murder and closing thoughts

Final Reflections

Payton Moreland contextualizes the murder not only within the confines of marital betrayal, violence, and greed, but also as a cautionary tale about the illusion of happily-ever-after. The grisly crime, sensational coverage, and cinematic twists all contribute to its lasting notoriety. Payton ends by acknowledging the story’s continued cultural resonance, especially following a popular Netflix documentary.

For fans of true crime, this episode offers an insightful, empathetic breakdown of a case where reality proved far darker than any fairy tale.