Police Discover Laptop in Search for Missing Brazilian Academic in Essex
Essex Police have made a significant development in the case of missing Brazilian academic Vitoria Figueiredo Barreto, confirming the discovery of a laptop believed to belong to her. The device was found in Brightlingsea on Saturday, with her family informed and receiving ongoing support.
Details of the Disappearance
Ms Barreto, a 30-year-old psychologist, was last in contact with loved ones on March 3 after meeting a friend at Essex University in Colchester. She was reported missing the following day. Her last known movements involved a 30-minute bus journey from Wivenhoe to the coastal town of Brightlingsea on March 3.
CCTV footage shows a person, believed to be Ms Barreto, jumping over a fence into a boatyard just after midnight on March 4. Police are exploring the possibility that she took a boat from a pontoon in Brightlingsea.
Investigation Updates and Community Efforts
The boat was later found drifting in the water near Bradwell-on-Sea. Police have reported several potential sightings of Ms Barreto in the Bradwell area over the weekend, with a policing presence maintained in Bradwell and the Dengie area to follow up on these leads.
An orange horse-shoe shaped buoyancy aid from the vessel is missing, adding to the investigation's focus. On Sunday, a force marine unit took Ms Barreto's loved ones on the same boat journey she may have taken in the early hours of March 4.
Her family is urging the Brazilian community in Essex to display Brazilian flags, hoping to attract her attention and create a safe, welcoming space for her return.
Police Statement and Appeal
Detective Superintendent Anna Granger emphasized the emotional toll, noting that March 15 was Mother's Day in the UK. She stated, "I am a mum myself and I cannot even begin to imagine the pain Vitoria's mother, Gleyz, has experienced since Vitoria's disappearance. Every single officer, staff member and volunteer involved in this search would love nothing more than to reunite Vitoria with her mum – and we're working around the clock to do that."
She praised community support in Brightlingsea and beyond, which has helped raise awareness of Ms Barreto's disappearance. The public is urged to remain vigilant and report any sightings or CCTV information by calling 999.
