Brightlingsea, Essex – A search is underway for Vitória Figueiredo Barreto, a 30-year-old Brazilian psychologist who has been missing for approximately one week. Authorities are now investigating the possibility that Barreto took a boat from a boatyard in Brightlingsea, with the last confirmed sighting captured on CCTV shortly after midnight on Wednesday, March 4th.
The disappearance has prompted a large-scale search operation involving Essex Police, air support, marine units, and specialist search officers. The focus has expanded from Brightlingsea to encompass the River Blackwater, the Dengie peninsula, the River Crouch coastlines, and Mersea Island, with searches continuing on Thursday, March 11th, according to police statements.
Police confirmed they are aware a boat was taken from its mooring in the early hours of March 4th. While CCTV footage shows Barreto at the boatyard at 12:16 am, there is no clear footage identifying who unmoored the vessel between 12:16 am and 12:36 am. “Though, we are exploring the possibility that it is Vitoria,” Essex Police stated. The boat was later found near Bradwell-on-Sea, and its route has been central to the ongoing search efforts.
The discovery of Barreto’s white shoulder bag on Copperas Road, near the waterfront, on Monday has intensified the investigation. CCTV footage reportedly shows a person jumping over a fence into the boatyard close to where the bag was found, and police believe this individual is Barreto.
Barreto arrived in the UK on February 2nd, attending a conference in Morocco prior to her visit. She was staying with a friend, Liliane Silva, in Southend-on-Sea, and was working on a research project with Silva at the University of Essex in Colchester. On March 3rd, Barreto took a bus from Wivenhoe to Brightlingsea, and was later seen on doorbell camera footage in the Hurst Green area around 2:30 pm. Silva, a PhD student and lecturer in clinical psychology, described Barreto as being unusually quiet and unwell on the day she went missing.
Police have described Barreto as wearing a dark coat, a blue turtleneck jumper, light blue jeans, and black trainers when last seen. She was reported missing the following day, March 4th, by Silva.
Detective Superintendent Anna Granger stated that officers have covered a “hugely significant area of land and coastline.” “Today (Wednesday), with the help of air support services, our marine unit and specialist search officers, the coastline along the River Blackwater, Dengie peninsula and River Crouch were searched, along with 2.5km on the southern coast of Mersea Island,” she said. Granger urged anyone with CCTV footage of the harbor area to come forward, as well as boat owners to check their vessels for anything unusual.
Essex Police are appealing to the public for information. They have shared images and information about the case on their Facebook page, requesting assistance from the Brightlingsea community. A video appeal from Essex Police has been released, urging anyone with information to come forward.
The family of Barreto, who is a clinical psychologist from Fortaleza, Brazil, are deeply concerned for her safety. They have been actively involved in the search, even discovering a coffee cup believed to belong to Barreto in nearby bushes, according to ITV News.
Authorities continue to investigate all leads and are asking anyone with information regarding Vitória Figueiredo Barreto’s whereabouts to contact Essex Police. The search will continue, and police are committed to finding Barreto and understanding the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.
If you have any information that could assist the investigation, please contact Essex Police. The situation remains fluid, and further updates will be provided as they become available.
