British journalist Charlotte Peet, missing in Brazil, is last seen on a bus to Rio de Janeiro and at a bar near Copacabana beach. Investigators confirmed she had traveled from São Paulo and later moved to hostels in Rio. The case, now under the missing persons unit, adds urgency to finding her with geo-tracked phone information and collaboration from her family.
Newly emerged photographs depict missing British journalist Charlotte Peet, showcasing her presence on a bus en route to Rio de Janeiro and at a bar adjacent to Copacabana beach. Authorities are intensifying their investigation into her baffling disappearance, confirmed as she boarded a bus from São Paulo to Rio after inconsistent reports indicated she had booked travel but did not follow through. The latest sighting located her at Morro da Babilonia in Rio’s Leme neighborhood, a hill dividing Copacabana from the Botafogo area, known for its slum and reformed police units.
Brazilian media outlet Globo highlighted a photo of Ms. Peet taken on February 15 at an unnamed establishment on Gustavo Sampaio Street, a stone’s throw from Leme Beach and Copacabana Beach. Following her arrival on February 8, it is reported that she resided in a hostel within Copacabana until February 17, before transitioning to another hostel in Botafogo. The police’s method for establishing her final location requires clarification, as Morro da Babilonia was previously overtaken by police in a bid to reduce crime associated with drug trafficking in 2009.
Investigators have traced the movements of her two mobile phones, utilizing at least one for geo-tracking purposes. The case has been assigned to a dedicated missing persons unit in Rio, following a report filed nearly ten days prior by a friend who had expressed concern over Ms. Peet’s sudden communication blackout. Police Chief Elen Souto emphasized the theory of voluntary disappearance, highlighting that while Charlotte’s English number is active, her Brazilian number is set not to receive incoming calls.
Ms. Peet, a freelance journalist since November, had returned to Brazil without notifying her family. Just four days before her travel from São Paulo, she sought accommodation in a London Facebook group and expressed her desire to find a flatshare. Reports state that she last communicated on February 8, assuring a friend of her travel plans to Rio but subsequently went silent, prompting her family to escalate concerns to authorities after losing contact with her.
The initial missing persons case was first filed in Rio before it was forwarded to São Paulo, reflecting the complexity of coordinating such cases across jurisdictions. The Brazilian Press Association voiced concerns over her situation, stressing that Charlotte had a two-year tenure as a freelance correspondent in Rio. A comprehensive search progression includes verifying her bank account activity and investigating hospitals and morgues as potential leads.
Charlotte Peet’s educational background includes studying philosophy at the University of Bristol, followed by a Master’s in international journalism. She previously worked for The Times as a foreign desk intern and contributed to the Rio Times. The Morro da Babilonia favela gained notoriety after police intervention transformed the area into a safer locale for tourism, although aspects of drug trafficking remain evident.
The troubling case of Charlotte Peet has drawn significant attention as investigators work tirelessly to track her movements following her disappearance in Brazil. Latest reports indicate her last known locations and ongoing efforts to geo-track her mobile devices. With the investigation being spearheaded by a Rio de Janeiro missing persons unit, there remains hope for resolution as her family and friends seek answers regarding her well-being. This situation underscores the complexities involved in international missing person cases, reflecting both the professional concern for safety and the personal anguish experienced by loved ones. Continued collaboration between media organizations, police, and the community remains crucial as the search for Charlotte progresses.
Original Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
