Police are currently investigating the disappearance of a psychologist who went missing after boarding a bus and are now looking into the possibility that she may have taken a boat from an Essex boatyard.
Vitoria Figueiredo Barreto, a 30-year-old psychologist, has not been in contact with her family since March 3 after meeting a friend at Essex University in Colchester. She was reported missing the next day.
After taking a 30-minute bus ride from Wivenhoe to Brightlingsea on March 3, CCTV footage captured a person, potentially Ms. Barreto, jumping over a fence into a nearby boatyard just after midnight on March 4.
Essex Police stated that they are aware of a boat being taken from its mooring in Brightlingsea on the early hours of March 4. The boat was later found adrift near Bradwell-on-Sea before being returned to Brightlingsea, prompting a police search.
The discovery of Ms. Barreto’s white shoulder bag near where the boat was taken has intensified the focus of the investigation. Authorities are deeply concerned about her disappearance, as she was in the UK to explore the possibility of pursuing a doctorate and was engaged in research and academic activities at the University of Essex.
Despite the lack of clear CCTV footage of the person unmooring the boat, investigators are considering the possibility that it could be Vitoria. Searches have been conducted based on the boat’s route from Brightlingsea to Bradwell.
Vitoria was last seen wearing a dark coat, a blue turtleneck jumper, light blue jeans, and black trainers. Detective Superintendent Anna Granger mentioned that extensive searches have been conducted along the coastline, with further search efforts planned.
Friends and family of Vitoria, including her boyfriend and mother, have joined the search efforts in Britain. Her loved ones are deeply worried but remain hopeful for her safety.
Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact them immediately, quoting incident 622 of March 4.
