Psychologist Goes Missing While Visiting a Friend. Why Police Say a Boat Might Be Key to the Investigation

**Search Underway for Missing Brazilian Woman in Essex**

Authorities in Essex are intensifying their search for Vitoria Figueiredo Barreto, a 30-year-old Brazilian psychologist, who has been missing since March 4. The alarm was raised by a friend who had last seen Barreto the day before at Essex University.

Barreto is believed to have taken a number 87 bus from Boundary Road in Wivenhoe shortly after 1 p.m. on March 3 and disembarked about half an hour later in Bellfield Avenue, Brightlingsea. Surveillance footage captured her presence in the Hurst Green area at approximately 2:30 p.m. after she exited the bus.

Concerns intensified when a white tote bag bearing the phrase “people over profit,” which Barreto had with her, was discovered by a member of the public on March 9 near Copperas Road, Brightlingsea. Police footage recorded around midnight on March 4 shows a figure jumping over a fence into a nearby boatyard, leading investigators to believe this individual may be Barreto.

Essex Police released a statement revealing that their investigation into Barreto’s disappearance has led to an expansion of the search area, which now encompasses Brightlingsea, the River Blackwater, the Dengie Peninsula, the River Crouch coastlines, and Mersea Island. Despite extensive efforts, there have been no confirmed sightings of Barreto since the initial footage was captured.

The police are also investigating a boat that was found adrift near Bradwell-on-Sea shortly after Barreto was last seen. The vessel had been untethered in the early hours of March 4, and officers are now scrutinising it as part of their ongoing investigation. According to authorities, the discovery of Barreto’s tote bag has heightened their focus on this particular lead.

Police stated, “At this stage, we do believe that person is Vitoria,” referring to the individual shown in the footage leaping into the boatyard. They noted that there is no clear CCTV evidence of Barreto in the critical timeframe between her last sighting at 12:16 a.m. and the untethering of the boat around 12:36 a.m.

Describing her last known outfit, police confirmed that Barreto was wearing a dark coat, a blue turtleneck jumper, light blue jeans, and black trainers when she was last observed. The search has not only persisted into the following days but has also involved local volunteers and various agencies.

As concerns for Barreto’s wellbeing grow, her close friend Liliane Silva expressed the fears of those who care about her. In a poignant statement, Silva remarked, “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.”

Authorities continue to urge anyone with information regarding Barreto’s whereabouts or the events surrounding her disappearance to come forward as the search continues. The need for community assistance in locating her remains critical, with the police determined to follow every lead available.

The search efforts are set to resume on March 12, underscoring the urgency of the situation as friends and family anxiously await news of Barreto’s fate. The police have reiterated their commitment to finding her, stating that they are “exploring every possibility” in their investigation.