New sighting in hunt for missing Brazilian psychologist in Essex
Police believe private CCTV captured Vitoria Figueiredo Barreto after she was last seen
Police searching for a missing Brazilian psychologist believe they have uncovered another sighting of her.
Vitoria Figueiredo Barreto was last seen on 3rd March in the Brightlingsea area, and officers are following several lines of enquiry.
Detective Superintendent Anna Granger said they have made significant progress, with a sighting captured on CCTV on the afternoon of 3rd March, showing a person believed to be Vitoria in a field between Back Waterside Lane and Mill Street.
This new footage comes from private CCTV and suggests Vitoria was moving through greenspace towards Copperas Road.
Det Supt Granger explained that the team's efforts have included expanding CCTV searches, particularly focusing on the boatyard area off Copperas Road, where Vitoria was last seen:
"“We’re working to narrow the CCTV gap from 12.16am on March 4 and the time at which we know a person unmoors a fishing boat from a pontoon, at about 12.36am.
“However, we now have CCTV which appears to show a person alone in a field between Back Waterside Lane and Mill Street at 3.33pm on March 3.
“We have always worked on the likely premise that Vitoria has made her way towards Copperas Road from Hurst Green through this greenspace. Although this footage is captured from a distance, we do believe it is likely to be her.
“This means it is quite possible that walkers in that area may have seen this person. Where you in the area the time and do you remember seeing this woman?
“It also means, as we have always suspected, that she is likely to have travelled to the greenspace either through Back Waterside Lane or through the residential area immediately to the south of Hurst Green."
Efforts are also being made to access her communication and financial data with international partners, which could open further lines of investigation, but so far no data has been received.
Det Supt Granger acknowledged the challenges posed by Vitoria’s banking and communications being registered outside the UK: “We know this international work has the support of the Vitoria’s loved ones and the Brazilian Embassy.
“Vitoria’s banking and communications being registered outside of the UK does pose a challenge and we have sought to gain access to these through the correct channels as quickly as possible.
“Although our physical searches of land, coastline and water continue to be finalised, I hope it is clear that our work to find Vitoria has not stopped.
“We continue to receive reports of sightings, which are followed up with particular focus and Vitoria’s loved ones are being kept up to date with all our work.
“We remain determined to provide them with the answers they need.”