Police investigating the disappearance of a Brazilian academic who vanished during a trip to the Essex coast have recovered a laptop they believe belongs to her. Essex Police confirmed the device was found in Brightlingsea on Saturday, with Vitoria Figueiredo Barreto's family being updated and continuing to receive support.
Timeline of Disappearance
Ms Barreto, a 30-year-old psychologist, has not been in contact with loved ones since March 3. She was last seen after meeting a friend at Essex University in Colchester and was reported missing the following day. On the afternoon of March 3, she took a 30-minute bus journey from Wivenhoe to the coastal town of Brightlingsea—an area her friend says she had never visited before.
Key Evidence and Sightings
Doorbell footage captured her in the Hurst Green area shortly after 2.30pm once she disembarked the bus. Nearly a week later, her tote bag—bearing the phrase 'people over profit'—was discovered close to Copperas Road in Brightlingsea. CCTV footage shows a person, believed to be Ms Barreto, apparently jumping over a fence near where the bag was found into a boatyard just after midnight on March 4.
Police revealed on Thursday they were exploring the possibility that Vitoria may have taken a boat from a pontoon in Brightlingsea. A boat was subsequently found adrift in the water near Bradwell-on-Sea. Authorities stated on Sunday they were aware of multiple reported potential sightings of Vitoria in the Bradwell area.
Ongoing Search Efforts
A force spokesperson emphasized, 'We have had a policing presence in Bradwell and in the Dengie area throughout the weekend and these reports are being progressed appropriately alongside other lines of inquiry, which we must also continue to work through.' Notably, an orange horse-shoe shaped buoyancy aid from the vessel appears to be missing.
On Sunday, Essex Police's marine unit took Ms Barreto's loved ones on what they believe may have been the same boat journey she could have taken in the early hours of March 4. Her family and friends are urging the Brazilian community in Essex to display Brazilian flags, hoping this will attract her attention and create a safe, welcoming space for her.
Emotional Appeal from Police
Detective Superintendent Anna Granger highlighted the timing, noting, 'Sunday March 15 is of course Mother's Day in the UK. I am a mum myself and I cannot even begin to imagine the pain Vitoria's mother, Gleyz, has experienced since Vitoria's disappearance.' She added that every officer involved is working around the clock to reunite Vitoria with her mother.
Granger praised community support, stating, 'We have seen first-hand the support from the community in Brightlingsea and further afield, which has been offered to Vitoria's loved ones.' She urged the public to remain vigilant and report any sightings or CCTV information immediately by calling 999.
Last Known Interactions
The last people to see Vitoria were Justin Francis and his partner, who were walking their dog along Bellfield Avenue when a woman matching her description approached them and introduced herself as Vitoria. Mr Francis recounted that she asked if she could come into their home but did not explain why. He expressed feeling 'a little bit guilty' for being the last to see her, saying, 'If we had known at the time she was missing, we would have brought her back to our house and got her a cup of tea.'
During a press conference with Essex Police on Tuesday, her friend Liliane Silva described Vitoria as 'emotionally resting and quiet' on the day she went missing, noting she wouldn't discuss what was wrong. Silva added, 'It's just not her, she is always talkative. She was not that contemplative person.'
Description and Technical Details
Ms Figueiredo Barreto was wearing a dark coat, a blue turtleneck jumper, light blue jeans, and dark trainers with white soles when she disappeared. Her friend and fellow psychologist Fernanda Silvestre informed a Brazilian newspaper that Vitoria's phone, which is paired with hers, had activated emergency mode and sent a signal location pointing to the sea.
The investigation continues as police follow multiple lines of inquiry and appeal for public assistance in locating the missing academic.
