An intensive search of Brightlingsea and nearby coastlines has failed to find the whereabouts of Vitoria Figueiredo Barreto, the Brazilian woman who has now been missing for over a week.
Vitoria, 30, was seen in Brightlingsea on Tuesday, March 3 after travelling to the town by 87 bus from Essex University. She was said by a friend to be “not in a good place” and was reported missing the next day.
Later, police released an image from CCTV taken just after midnight on March 4 in a boatyard on the Shipyard Estate (pictured below), believed to be that of Morgan Marine. The image showed a person, who police identified as Vitoria, who was last seen wearing a dark coat, a blue turtleneck jumper, light blue jeans and black trainers.
Five days later, a white tote bag, which police have said matched the description of one carried by Vitoria, was found beside a fence bordering the yard.
A CCTV image showing Vitoria in the boatyard
Officers leading the search are also aware of a boat that was untied from its mooring on the pontoons in Brightlingsea Creek in the early hours of March 4. CCTV shows a person rowing out to the boat, and police say they are “exploring the possibility that it is Vitoria”.
Brightlingsea Info understands that the person did not gain entry to the boat’s cabin. The vessel was later found drifting off Bradwell and brought back to Brightlingsea.
On Wednesday, March 11, the Essex Police officer leading the search, Detective Superintendent Anna Granger, said: “Today, 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.
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.”
Search for Vitoria Timeline
Tuesday March 3
- Vitoria travels to Essex University with friend
- 1pm: Vitoria catches an 87 bus to Brightlingsea at Boundary Road, Wivenhoe
- 1.30pm: Leaves bus at Bellfield Avenue
- 2.30pm: Seen on doorbell camera at Hurst Green
Wednesday March 4
- 12.16pm: Vitoria seen on CCTV in boatyard on Brightlingsea’s Shipyard Estate
- 12.16-12.32pm: Boat unmoored in Brightlingsea Creek
- Vitoria reported missing
- Police searches begin
Monday March 9
- Vitoria’s bag found near fence bordering Shipyard Estate
- Forensic officers seen on Shipyard Estate
Wednesday March 11
- Searches carried out on coastline along the Rivers Blackwater & Crouch, the Dengie peninsula and the southern coast of Mersea Island by Essex police air suppor, marine unit and specialist search teams
Thursday March 12
- Coastline searches continue
In the days before, searches were carried out by officers on foot, drone, specialist search dogs, and volunteers from Essex Search and Rescue. Officers also conducted door-to-door enquiries.
Vitoria’s mother and boyfriend flew over from Brazil to join concerned Brightlingsea residents in the search for Vitoria. Townsfolk have also been delivering leaflets to homes urging householders to check outbuildings. The leaflets were printed free by local printer RJ Osborn, with estate agent Town & Country Residential acting as a leaflet pick-up point.
Residents also placed boxes around the town, containing items such as blankets, water, phone chargers and coats, in the hope that Vitoria would pick them up.
CCTV showing Vitoria on the 87 bus and at Hurst Green
Vitoria had been in the UK since early February. A clinical psychologist, she’d been staying with her friend, Liliane Silva, a PhD student and lecturer in clinical psychology at Essex University. The pair travelled to the university on March 3 from Liliane’s home in Southend.
Speaking to the BBC, Liliane said: “She was really quiet, which is not typical at all – she is [usually] really talkative, and happy and funny.”
Appealing to the Brightlingsea community to help find “this amazing person”, Liliane added: “We know she is probably not in a good place. We don’t know really why and we don’t want to judge it now, we just want her with us.”
Det. Supt Granger gave a press conference, shown below, on Wednesday, March 11 at Hurst Green. She asked Brightlingsea residents: “Have you seen Vitoria? Have you checked your CCTV? Even the smallest bit of information can be significant.”
And she added: “…to Vitoria’s loved ones – I promise we are doing all we can to find her.”
• If you have any information, call 999, quoting incident 622 of 4 March.
Det Supt Anna Granger gives a press conference on Hurst Green
