Police Intensify Search for Missing Psychologist After Boatyard CCTV Sighting
Essex Police have escalated their investigation into the mysterious disappearance of Brazilian psychologist Vitoria Figueiredo Barreto, with new CCTV evidence suggesting she may have taken a boat from a coastal yard. The 30-year-old academic has been missing since March 3, sparking widespread concern among authorities and loved ones.
CCTV Footage Reveals Critical Clues in Late-Night Incident
Investigators revealed that surveillance footage captured a person, believed to be Ms Barreto, jumping over a fence into a boatyard in Brightlingsea, Essex, at approximately 12:16 AM on March 4. This sighting occurred just hours after she was last seen boarding a bus from Wivenhoe to Brightlingsea at 2:30 PM on March 3. Police confirmed they are "aware of a boat having been taken from its mooring in Brightlingsea" during the early hours of March 4, with the vessel later discovered adrift near Bradwell-on-Sea before being returned.
The discovery of Ms Barreto's white shoulder bag on Monday, found close to where the boat was unmoored, has significantly intensified this line of inquiry. An Essex Police spokesperson stated, "This report has consistently formed part of our inquiries, alongside numerous others which are also continuing to be explored diligently. We know the boat had been located on a drift in the water close to Bradwell-on-Sea and returned to Brightlingsea. It is the subject of a police search."
Extensive Search Operations Along Essex Coastline
Detective Superintendent Anna Granger detailed the extensive efforts undertaken to locate the missing psychologist. Officers have scoured a "hugely significant area of land and coastline," including:
- The coastline along the River Blackwater, Dengie peninsula, and River Crouch
- Approximately 2.5 kilometers on the southern coast of Mersea Island
- Utilization of air support services, marine units, and specialist search officers
Further searches are scheduled to continue, with police urging the public to check any CCTV footage of the harbour area and boat owners to inspect their vessels for any unusual signs. "Is there anything there that shouldn't be there? Is there anything to lead you to believe someone has been on your boat? Please get in touch," Granger emphasized.
Concerns Mount Over Psychologist's Uncharacteristic Behavior
Ms Barreto was in the UK to explore starting a doctorate, participating in research and academic training activities at the University of Essex. Her friend, Liliane Silva, a 44-year-old PhD student and lecturer in clinical psychology at the university, described her as typically "really talkative, and happy and funny," but noted she appeared unusually quiet and unwell before vanishing.
"It's hard to eat, it's hard to sleep. It's hard to think at all. We know she is probably not in a good place. Probably worried out of her mind, upset, struggling," Silva expressed, appealing for public assistance. "Please help us to find this amazing person who makes such a huge difference in this world. If anyone sees her, please be warm, welcoming; she could be struggling, she could be confused."
Family and Friends Rally in Search Efforts
Loved ones, including Ms Barreto's boyfriend, Janilson Gomes Da Silveira Filho, and her mother, Gleyz Bezerra Fiqueiredo Barreto, have flown to Britain to aid in the search. Her boyfriend voiced concern over the cold weather, noting she did not bring many coats, but expressed faith in her survival skills. Her mother described her as a "happy" person and a "fantastic carer" with a promising career, adding, "Wherever she is, she is deeply loved by everybody."
Ms Barreto was last seen wearing a dark coat, a blue turtleneck jumper, light blue jeans, and black trainers. She had arrived in the UK on March 2 after attending a conference in Morocco and was staying with Silva in Southend-on-Sea. Police continue to urge anyone with information to call 999 immediately, quoting incident 622 of 4 March.
