Actor found dead in trunk buried under Brazil home asked suspect for help getting on TV

A Brazilian actor who was found dead inside a wooden trunk buried under an outhouse had begged his suspect friend for help in landing a role in a soap opera so that he could fulfill his grandparents' dream.

In an audio message obtained by Rio de Janeiro police investigating the murder, Jefferson Machado asked Bruno de Souza if he could put in a good word for him at TV Globo.

'Yesterday my grandfather, 98 years old, and my grandmother, 92, asked to call you,' the late 44-year-old actor said in the message. 'My grandfather said, 'My son, will it take a long time to make a soap opera? Because grandpa is old and wanted to see you on TV.'

The audio message comes just days after Rio de Janeiro authorities named de Souza as a suspect in the death of Machado, whose body was unearthed from a hole that was dug six feet under the property on May 22.

Before he was murdered, Brazilian actor Jeff Machado sought help from the suspect, his friend Bruno de Souza, and sent him an audio message in which he mentioned that his grandfather's dream was to seen him on TV

Rio de Janeiro authorities have named Bruno de Souza, a former employee at TV Globo, as a suspect in the murder of Machado, who was found dead May 22 inside a trunk 

The burried trunk was removed from under the floor by Civil Police agents in Rio de Janeiro on Monday

De Souza has yet to be charged or arrested for the murder of Machado, who was found in the trunk with his hands and feet tied, a telephone wire wrapped around his neck and a piece of cloth stuffed in his mouth.

Machado, whose last acting role came in the 2022 Record TV soap opera, 'Reis,' told de Souza he had thought about calling him, but instead was sending him a message because he wanted to give him space since he was grieving the recent loss of his grandmother and mother.

He recognized how 'special' Rodrigues was because he had helped him in the past.

'Bruno don't give up on me. You give me strength,' Machado said. 'I wanted to go (about it) in right away so my grandpa could see me.

'Grandpa came to give me some advice, 'When you want something, you have to be persistent and go after it, even if it's inconvenient.' I'm not going to call you directly, but I sent this quiet audio at home and I'm not anxious.'

In the audio – it's unknown when it was recorded – Machado reveals that he was looking for employment because he was out of money and that he wanted to do anything that was possible to prevent a move back to his hometown in the southern state of Santa Catarina.

'I really need it. I want to reinvent myself,' he said. 'You know my story and my life is going to change. It is what I want. … I don't know why you came across my path.'

Brazilian actor Machado was an avid animal lover and owned eight dogs before he was found dead in a trunk

Machado told Rodrigues that he was not aware that he was employed by TV Globo, although the network's news magazine show, Fantastico, revealed Sunday that he was fired him in 2018.

'After you asked me what I did and I said that I did extras, I thought it was all a coincidence. Give me a preview, just so I can get an idea. Thank you darling,' he said. 'I will never forget you supporting me without asking for anything in return. A strong hug. When you want to come home tell me, I'll come get you.'

Investigators said Machado may have been killed in January after he found out that he had been scammed by those responsible for the murder. The murder would have taken place shortly after de Souza went to the police to report Machado had disappeared after he had traveled to the nearby state of São Paulo for a job interview.

His mother, Maria das Dores, told Fantastico he had three payments totaling $5,200 so that Rodrigues could assist him in getting the soap opera acting gig.

'You have a dream that is so strong inside you that the impression is that you (are) blind to reality,' das Dores said.