Police in Essex, England, have released CCTV footage appearing to show missing Brazilian clinical psychologist Vitoria Figueiredo Barreto in a rowing boat the day she vanished. Barreto, 31, has not been seen for 121 days since she disappeared on March 4.
The recently released footage captures Barreto's last known movements in the Brightlingsea area. It shows her in the early hours of March 4 walking around a boatyard before appearing on CCTV rowing away on a boat and then boarding another vessel that drifts out of the harbour. Police previously shared footage showing a person believed to be Barreto climbing over a fence into a boatyard on Brightlingsea pontoon at 12:16 a.m. The boat carrying her was later found adrift near Bradwell-on-Sea with its buoyancy aid missing.
Barreto, from Fortaleza, Brazil, was visiting her friend Liliane Silva and staying at Silva's home in Southend, Essex. She was reported missing four months ago after failing to meet Silva. Extensive searches and inquiries have so far failed to locate her.
Detective Superintendent Anna Granger stated that while significant investigative work has been conducted, the information obtained has not provided evidence of substantial or unexpected activity after Barreto disappeared. "We know that for those closest to Vitoria every day without answers is incredibly difficult," Granger said. "We remain in regular contact with Vitoria's loved ones, both here in Essex and in Brazil and they continue to be updated on our enquiries and remain at the centre of everything we do."
Police are reviewing information related to Barreto's phone and financial records. They urge anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward.
Previously, Barreto was last seen on March 3, the day before she was found to be missing. She had been working on a project with Ms. Silva about mental health services in the UK and Brazil. The previous day, they had visited the University of Essex, where Barreto was exploring the possibility of pursuing a doctorate. During a break, Ms. Silva noticed Barreto seemed unusually quiet and confused, which was out of character.
After leaving campus around 1 p.m., Barreto told Ms. Silva she was returning to the library. However, she was later seen on CCTV boarding an 87 bus on Boundary Road, an area her friend stated she had never visited. Ms. Silva believes Barreto may have boarded the wrong bus. Barreto was wearing a dark coat, a blue turtleneck jumper, light blue jeans, and dark trainers with white soles.
Barreto reportedly approached a couple walking their dog along Bellfield Avenue, introducing herself as Vitoria and asking if she could come into their home. She was later seen on doorbell footage in the Hurst Green area of Brightlingsea. Her tote bag, with the words 'people over profit' on it, was found on March 9, and her laptop was discovered on March 14, both in Brightlingsea.
Barreto's friend, Fernanda Silvestre, had previously urged police to stage a reconstruction of events, suggesting Barreto might have been forced to flee danger, ingested something altering her state of mind, or been kidnapped or trafficked.
