Police in Essex have released further closed-circuit television footage concerning the disappearance of a Brazilian academic who has been missing for four weeks, including what is believed to be her final sighting. Vitoria Barreto, a 30-year-old psychologist, was last in contact with friends and family on March 3 after meeting a companion at the University of Essex in Colchester.
Timeline of Movements
On the afternoon of March 3, Ms Barreto embarked on a 30-minute bus journey from Wivenhoe to the coastal town of Brightlingsea. Essex Police have now published a compilation of CCTV recordings, commencing with her boarding the number 87 bus from Wivenhoe to Brightlingsea.
She alighted from the bus at Bellfield Avenue at approximately 1:30 pm. Subsequently, she was captured on camera in Hurst Green at 2:30 pm. Authorities believe that an individual observed walking across a field south of Hurst Green in newly disclosed footage is indeed Ms Barreto.
Final Confirmed Sighting
This distant footage was recorded at 3:33 pm on March 3, in a field situated between Back Waterside Lane and Mill Street in Brightlingsea. Previously, the last known sighting of Ms Barreto was at 12:16 am on March 4 in a boatyard off Copperas Road.
However, additional footage has since been identified, showing Ms Barreto traversing an industrial site on the south side of Copperas Road, nearer to Brightlingsea Creek and the marina. This new last confirmed sighting was captured at 12:22 am on March 4 and has been released by the police.
Police Investigation and Appeals
Detective Superintendent Anna Granger stated: 'We are continuing to work to close the timeframe between the last known sighting of Vitoria and the time which we know a boat was unmoored from a pontoon.'
'Whilst we are not able to conclusively say that it was Vitoria who unmoored that boat, which was then found adrift at Bradwell-on-Sea, this new confirmed sighting brings her closer to that area and does strengthen the view that it was her.'
She added: 'We have always based our searches on the basis that the person is Vitoria but we would dearly love to provide her loved ones with certainty - and we are continuing to work to do that.'
International Cooperation
Detective Superintendent Granger mentioned that the force is collaborating with international partners to access Ms Barreto's communication and financial data, 'which we hope could open up further lines of inquiry.'
'All our requests have been made through the correct channels and we are ready to receive that information as soon as possible,' she explained.
Public Appeal for Information
The detective superintendent reiterated an appeal to the public: 'I would again appeal to anyone with information which could help us find Vitoria to please come forward.'
She posed specific questions: 'Did you see her walking in a field between Back Waterside Lane and Mill Street on the afternoon of March 3? Have you seen her since the early hours of March 4?'
'Vitoria's loved ones have many questions and we are working incredibly hard to give them the answers they need,' she concluded.
