Francisca Santos, 44, remains missing six months after leaving her home to take out the garbage in Tabuaço, Viseu, where she lived and worked. On the fateful night of June 20, she left in her pajamas, leaving her documents behind, and vanished without a trace. She has not been seen since.
The alarm was raised the following day by her employer, who was puzzled by her absence at the restaurant.
The Polícia Judiciária (PJ) conducted several investigations but, as far as is known, reached no conclusions.
Last week, António Santos, Francisca’s brother, expressed his frustration to Correio da Manhã, lamenting the lack of information: “It seems they have no leads, they tell us nothing.”
A friend of the missing woman, in SIC’s “Linha Aberta” program, also agreed with this sentiment. “We need more investigation, more love for others,” she emphasized.
In Manuela’s opinion, Francisca “is not alive.” “She wouldn’t stay this long without giving any explanation, without talking to Lucas [her son] or her mother,” she believes someone “seriously harmed her.”
At one point, suspicions fell on Francisca’s boyfriend, Luís Jesus, who was questioned by authorities.
The man, who was eventually dismissed as a suspect, allegedly lied to Francisca throughout their relationship. He claimed to be single and a surgeon at CUF in Lisbon. In reality, he has been living with a woman for more than 15 years and works as a street cleaner in Loures, not as a doctor.
Francisca Santos’ boyfriend, who disappeared over a month ago in Tabuaço, Viseu, allegedly lied to the Brazilian immigrant. He said he was a surgeon at CUF Lisbon but is a street cleaner in Loures. Moreover, he has been living with another woman for 15 years.
Natacha Nunes Costa | 09:34 – 23/07/2025
Luís and Francisca reportedly met on the dating app Badoo, widely used by the Brazilian community. It is unknown how long they were dating, but both frequently spoke with the missing cook’s family.
Aside from Luís’ lies, there were several suspicious details regarding Francisca’s mysterious disappearance. Her bank account card, where she received her salary, went missing, and several files and emails were deleted from her computer.
Additionally, a note was found in her home, left in the Bible, alongside a suspicious letter. “I have a marriage with Luís Jesus, whom I love very much and am very happy and grateful,” read the note, allegedly written by Francisca and discovered by her brother in the rented house in Tabuaço.
Ismael Tomé, Francisca’s landlord, revealed in an interview with SIC Notícias at the time of her disappearance that they found a letter in the same residence, in which Francisca mentioned “disillusionment.” Alongside it was also a ring. These signs led the landlord to feel that the Brazilian woman was upset with her boyfriend.
Despite these details, months have passed, and Francisca’s whereabouts remain a mystery.
