Police investigating the disappearance of a Brazilian academic in Essex have located a laptop believed to belong to her.
Essex Police confirmed the device was discovered in Brightlingsea on Saturday, and Vitoria Figueiredo Barreto’s family has been informed and continues to receive support.
Ms Barreto, 30, a psychologist, was last in contact with loved ones on 3 March, following a meeting with a friend at Essex University in Colchester.
She was reported missing the following day.
Her last known movements on 3 March involved a 30-minute bus journey from Wivenhoe to the coastal town of Brightlingsea.
The force said a person, believed to be Ms Barreto, is seen on CCTV apparently jumping over a fence into a boatyard just after midnight on March 4.
Police said on Thursday they were “exploring the possibility of Vitoria having taken a boat from a pontoon in Brightlingsea”.
The boat was found on a drift in the water close to Bradwell-on-Sea, police said, adding on Sunday they were “aware of a number of reported potential sightings of Vitoria in the Bradwell area”.
“We have had a policing presence in Bradwell and in the Dengie area throughout the weekend and these reports are being progressed appropriately alongside other lines of inquiry, which we must also continue to work through,” a force spokesperson said.
They said that an orange horse-shoe shaped buoyancy aid from the vessel appears to be missing.
Police said a force marine unit took Ms Barreto’s loved ones on Sunday on “the same boat journey we believe she may have taken in the early hours of Wednesday March 4”.
Ms Barreto’s loved ones are urging the Brazilian community in Essex to display Brazilian flags, which they hope will attract her attention and create a “safe and welcoming space for her”.
Detective Superintendent Anna Granger said: “Sunday March 15 is of course Mother’s Day in the UK.
“I am a mum myself and I cannot even begin to imagine the pain Vitoria’s mother, Gleyz, has experienced since Vitoria’s disappearance.
“Every single officer, staff member and volunteer involved in this search would love nothing more than to reunite Vitoria with her mum – and we’re working around the clock to do that.
“We have seen first-hand the support from the community in Brightlingsea and further afield, which has been offered to Vitoria’s loved ones.
“Equally, we know many people from the community have been involved in raising the profile of Vitoria’s disappearance and that has helped to ensure a significant number of people across Essex now recognise her face and her clothes and I would urge our whole community to please keep looking out for her and report any sightings or CCTV information to us as soon as possible.”
People can report sightings, CCTV information or any details which could be important to police by calling 999.
Two people die after outbreak of ‘invasive’ meningitis at UK university
Prince Harry and Meghan slam ‘deranged conspiracy’ book on royals
‘I left the care system with little support – but £2,000 changed everything’
UK government to launch £1bn plan to tackle youth unemployment
The driveway tweak that could reduce the risk of your home flooding
‘Every day I think of her’: Heartbreak of Mother’s Day without missing daughter
.jpg?w=600)
