Police today said a person, who may be Ms Barreto, was seen on CCTV jumping over a fence into a boatyard in Brightlingsea, Essex, just after midnight on March 4
Police investigating the disappearance of a psychologist who boarded a bus before mysteriously vanishing a week ago are probing the possibility she took a boat from an Essex boatyard.
Vitoria Figueiredo Barreto, 30, has not been in contact with loved ones since March 3 after she met a friend at Essex University in Colchester. She was reported missing the following day.
The Brazilian-born psychologist made a 30-minute bus journey from Wivenhoe to the coastal town of Brightlingsea at 2.30pm of March 3. Police today said a person, who may be Ms Barreto, was later seen on CCTV jumping over a fence into a nearby boatyard just after midnight on March 4.
They said officers are “aware of a boat having been taken from its mooring in Brightlingsea” in the early hours of March 4. An Essex Police spokesperson said: “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.”
Police said the discovery of Ms Barreto’s white shoulder bag on Monday, close to where the boat was unmoored, “has meant that our focus on this line of inquiry has clearly intensified”.Officers are said to be “very concerned” over Vitoria’s disappearance, which came while she was on a trip to the UK to see whether she wanted to start a doctorate. She had reportedly been taking part in research and academic training activities at the University of Essex.
A spokesperson added: “Between 12.16am and 12.36am, when we know the boat was unmoored, Vitoria is not seen on CCTV and at this stage there is no clear and identifiable footage of the person who unmoored the boat. However, we are exploring the possibility that it is Vitoria. The boat’s route from Brightlingsea to where it was found close to Bradwell has consistently informed the searches which have been carried out.”
Vitória was last seen wearing a dark coat, a blue turtleneck jumper, light blue jeans and black trainers. Detective Superintendent Anna Granger today said officers have scoured a “hugely significant area of land and coastline” and more searches will continue on Thursday.
She said: “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. We will continue to focus on specific search areas tomorrow.
“I would also urge anyone with CCTV of the harbour area that we are not already aware of to please check it and let us know. Equally, to the owners of boats moored in Brightlingsea, please check your vessels. 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.”
Vitoria’s friend, Liliane Silva, previously told how the academic, from Fortaleza, had planned to work on a project at the university library before vanishing. The two had also planned to explore Cambridge together over the weekend. She had been staying at Silva’s home in Southend-on-Sea after arriving in the UK on March 2 following a visit to Morocco, where she had attended a conference.
Ms Silva, 44, a PhD student and lecturer in clinical psychology at the University of Essex, said: “She was really quiet, which is not typical at all – she is [usually] really talkative, and happy and funny. She was clearly not well, and I could not identify why.”
She added: “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. We don’t know really why and we don’t want to judge it now, we just want her with us. It was never her behaviour which is why we are so scared. 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.”
Vitoria’s loved ones, including her boyfriend and her mum, have flown into Britain since her disappearance to help with the search. Her boyfriend, Janilson Gomes Da Silveira Filho, said: “I am very worried because this is very cold weather and she did not bring a lot of coats, but she is a survival person, and I believe she is OK in this moment.”
Gleyz Bezerra Fiqueiredo Barreto described her daughter as usually a “happy” person who was a “fantastic carer” with a “fantastic” career. She said: “Wherever she is, she is deeply loved by everybody.”
Police have asked anyone with information to call 999 as soon as possible, quoting incident 622 of 4 March.
