Police investigate banking data of missing academic

12 hours ago

George King

News image — Vitoria Figueiredo Barreto's family said they were worried about her after she went missing

Detectives investigating the disappearance of a Brazilian academic are now trying to access her communication and financial data.

Vitoria Figueiredo Barreto last contacted her family on 3 March before she was reported missing the following day from north Essex.

Essex Police believes the 30-year-old psychologist may have taken a boat from a yard in Brightlingsea on 4 March, which was later found adrift.

The force said it was "focused" on obtaining her banking and communications information, which are registered outside of the UK, in the hope of finding answers.

It said getting the data would help officers "pursue other significant lines of investigation", although Det Supt Anna Granger acknowledged it would "pose a challenge".

"Whilst all our requests have been made through the correct international channels, at this stage we are yet to receive any data," she said.

"We know this international work has the support of Vitoria's loved ones and the Brazilian embassy."

Family handout Vitória is in a khaki coat with a brown hood, and sunglasses, standing in front of brutalist 1960s concrete buildings at a university campus on a sunny day. The building nearest has large letters printed on a red-coloured backing. — Barreto was helping her friend with a project at the University of Essex before she disappeared

Supplied Vitória is pictured on CCTV footage inside a bus. She is wearing a dark coat, glasses and has dark hair. She has a slightly pained or confused expression. — The 30-year-old boarded the number 89 First Bus from Colchester to Brightlingsea on 3 March

The day before disappearing, the academic met a friend – with whom she was staying - at the University of Essex in Colchester, while working on a project.

She then made a 30-minute bus journey to Brightlingsea before being captured on CCTV, the police believe, an hour later at about 15:33 GMT between Back Waterside Lane and Mill Street.

Then, on 4 March at 00:16, someone suspected of being Barreto was filmed on CCTV jumping over a fence into a boatyard.

She is then understood to have taken a boat missing a horseshoe-shaped buoyancy aid, before it was later found adrift close to Bradwell-on-Sea.

Essex Police Four people with their backs to the camera wearing dark outfits and yellow helmets. They are overlooking what appears to be a backwaters. Boats are in the background and wooden structures are in the foreground. — Searches have been carried out on land and water for Barreto, who vanished more than three weeks ago

Liliane Silva said the missing woman had been struggling with her mental health

Numerous potential sightings of Barreto have been reported in the village and various searches have also been carried out, with her laptop being found on 14 March in Brightlingsea.

"Although our physical searches continue to be finalised, our work to find Vitoria has not stopped," added Granger.

"We continue to receive reports of sightings and Vitoria's loved ones are being kept up to date with all our work.

"We remain determined to provide them with answers."

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