Essex Police investigators have recovered a laptop believed to belong to Vitoria Figueiredo Barreto, a 30-year-old Brazilian psychologist who vanished nearly two weeks ago. The discovery, made Saturday in the Tendring District, marks a significant development in an intensive search operation that has now expanded across the Essex coastline.
Barreto was reported missing on Wednesday, March 4, after traveling to the United Kingdom to stay with a friend. Authorities confirmed that her family has been notified of the latest find as detectives pivot their focus toward potential sightings in the Bradwell and Dengie areas.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(902x213:904x215):format(webp)/vitoria-figueiredo-barreto-031626-6-c5f8bc61d00d4804ad7448bbb97b73af.jpg)
Key Evidence and Timeline of Disappearance
The investigation into Barreto’s disappearance has centered on a series of erratic movements captured on surveillance and physical evidence recovered near the water.
- March 3: Barreto was last seen at the University of Essex campus before boarding a bus to the coastal town of Brightlingsea.
- March 4: CCTV footage captured a person believed to be Barreto jumping over a boatyard fence shortly after midnight.
- March 9: Search teams located a white tote bag belonging to Barreto near Copperas Road.
- March 14: Investigators recovered a laptop in Brightlingsea, currently undergoing forensic analysis.
Authorities are also investigating a maritime lead involving a boat found adrift near Bradwell-on-Sea. Police believe Barreto may have unmoored the vessel from a Brightlingsea pontoon. Notably, a horseshoe-shaped buoyancy aid was reported missing from the boat when it was recovered.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(719x539:721x541):format(webp)/vitoria-figueiredo-barreto-031626-5-c9f0e53d4cfb40969cf039164d158840.jpg)
A Mother’s Plea Amid the Search
On Sunday, March 15—observed as Mother’s Day in the United Kingdom—police escorted Barreto’s family on a boat journey tracing the path the missing woman may have taken. The emotional gesture coincided with a public appeal from her mother, Gleyz Barreto.
“We know Vitoria is probably not feeling herself; she might be scared,” Gleyz Barreto said in a statement released through the police. “To anyone who sees her, please make her feel welcome, make her feel loved, and help her feel calm.”
The family has specifically requested that members of the local Brazilian community display Brazilian flags to create a “safe and welcoming space” should Barreto be wandering the area in a state of confusion.
Police Response and Community Action
Detective Superintendent Anna Granger, who is leading the search, emphasized that officers are working “around the clock” to secure a reunion.
“Every single officer, staff member, and volunteer involved in this search would love nothing more than to reunite Vitoria with her mum,” Granger stated.
The Essex Police Marine Unit continues to patrol the coastline, while ground teams progress through “a number of reported potential sightings” in the Bradwell area. Despite the recovery of the laptop and the tote bag, officials have not yet confirmed Barreto’s current location or her state of health.
Call to Action: Authorities are urging anyone with information, dashcam footage, or CCTV from the Brightlingsea or Bradwell areas to contact the Essex Police immediately or call the U.K. emergency services.
