The disappearance of a Brazilian woman in Tabuaço, Viseu district, is currently under investigation by Portuguese authorities, as confirmed by law enforcement officials.
Authorities from the National Republican Guard (GNR) reported that a 44-year-old woman was reported missing on June 20 in that region, and the case is now being handled by the Judiciary Police (PJ).
The missing woman, identified as Francisca Maria Santos, had been in Portugal for approximately four years and had recently received residency authorization, according to appeals shared on social media. Working at a restaurant in Tabuaço, she had plans to visit Maranhão, her home region, in the coming months.
Brazilian news site g1 reported that Antônio Santos, Francisca’s brother, stated that the family last spoke to her on June 20. Neighbors indicated that she was seen leaving her home in pajamas around 10:00 p.m. to take out the trash but never returned. Her house lights remained on, and she did not take her identification. Her cellphone’s last recorded location was near the trash bins, according to her brother.
The disappearance was reported to authorities the following day by Francisca’s boyfriend, identified as Luís, as well as her employer, who noticed her absence at work.
Antônio added that his sister maintained daily video calls with her family. “Not a day went by without her calling,” he said.
“On June 20, we had the last contact with her. Her last seen status on WhatsApp was at 11:30 a.m. Portugal time. My mother spoke with her until 1:38 p.m. Brazil time through a video call, and we have had no contact since,” he revealed.
The family has been seeking answers and reached out to the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Itamaraty), consulates in Lisbon and Porto, and the Federal Police for assistance.
G1 reported that the Itamaraty, “through the Consulate-General of Brazil in Porto, is monitoring the case in contact with the family.”
Her brother is in Portugal following the case and confides that the family is in despair.
“We want her back—my mother, our entire family, friends. We are going through a very difficult time, very complicated. We are desperate, distressed, trying to find her. But authorities keep telling us that the investigation requires us to wait,” he lamented.
Antônio Santos also noted that his sister was happy in Portugal.
“She was very happy because she had obtained the permit to travel between Portugal and Brazil without any hindrance. She was thrilled and was even in the process of getting her driver’s license. She was planning to complete this in the next few months and travel with her boyfriend to Maranhão,” he shared.
