The disappearance of Joana Cipriano as first reported in the Press.

[John]

The disappearance of Joana Cipriano as first reported in the Press.

Joana Cipriano disappeared from the village of Figueira, near Portimão in the Algarve region of Portugal on the night of 12 September 2004.

First Press report dated  Wednesday 15 September 2004.

MISSING CHILD

One girl, eight years old, disappeared in the early evening of Sunday, in the quiet village of Figueira, Portimão. The child was buying a carton of milk and two cans of tuna in a pastry shop and, on the way back home, while passing the local church was seen by a friend. But, since then, she has never been seen.

Joana Isabel Cipriano Guerreiro wore a orange-colored blouse of the same color and a yellowish coat skirt when she disappeared, according to Correia da Manha said Leonor Cipriano, mother of the child, who now fears that "...something bad must have happened ", because she is "...a well-behaved girl who has never given any problems."



This child, who attends the local school, lives with her mother, stepfather and two brothers from an early age (one baby a year and a baby of two) for nearly a year in this village. Leonor Cipriano has already ensured everything be done in search of her daughter, including her father's house (who lives in Lagos) and family, "..but nobody seen her anywhere."
 
Our family posted, however, several posters in public places such as cafes, bus stops and train in hopes that someone has seen the girl, but until the early evening yesterday with no results. The case was also reported to the National Guard of Portimão, who reported the disappearance to all other security forces, including the Judicial Police, the PSP and the Aliens and Frontiers. For now, there is no indication of what has happened to the little Joan, ahead of an investigation aimed at unravelling the mystery.
 
Leonor Cipriano pointed out that there had been no discussions or other conflicts that could have made the girl run away from home that day, adding that the progenitor "...everything was fine between the family. "  However, the child's mother told our newspaper that she feared that "...she could have been taken as on the day she disappeared there was a fair in the village (Cockle Festival) and there were many outsiders here."
 
According to a source close to the investigation at this point, all options are open, with commitment to resolve the case quickly.

SEEN NEAR THE CHURCH

"She is a quiet, gentle and very understanding girl," he said to Ophelia CM Zeferino, owner of the cafe where the child went to fetch milk and cans of tuna, before disappearing (says two people saw her at the church) on the way back home, emphasizing that "...everyone is worried in the village and afraid of what might have happened to her, because there was never a case like this." Ophelia Zeferino helped, incidentally, the family trying to find the child, the night she disappeared, walking the neighbourhood, and even looking to find her among the people who were at the fair that was in the village. As the searches did not find anything that night she called the GNR. Other residents stressed, however, the desire for everything to be clarified, so that the peace could return to the village.



Cafe where Joana Cipriano was last seen buying some groceries.

http://www.cmjornal.xl.pt/detalhe/noticias/nacional/portugal/crianca-desaparecida

(Note: CM has changed the article)

[John]

Press report dated Thursday 16 September 2004

DO NOT EVIL TO JOANA

GNR spent yesterday combing the area of Figueira, Portimão, using search dogs in an attempt to detect signs of the child missing since Sunday, but without result.

The authorities have also decided to ask the family of the little Joana, 8 years old again, as well as several others who might provide clues about the mysterious case. The truth, however, is that the steps taken have had no effect. Leonor Cipriano, the mother of the child is already talking about " kidnapping" and asks : "Do not do evil to Joana."

CM has learned the two teams cinotécnicas ( human / dog ) were used in the search in the fields around the rural village. The military inspections included several wells, a river and irrigation canal passing near the village, concluding that there was no trace of the girl.

Efforts to unravel the mystery led the night before however for various civil GNR members to shift to Figueira, having collected testimony from several residents in the village and the family of the girl. The CM even know that a man connected with the family, who resides in Lagos and first seen in the village on the day of the disappearance, came to be contacted that evening by the authorities, who assured he was unaware of what had happened.

The investigators were not however satisfied with the evidence of witnesses so yesterday morning requested the  mother, father and stepfather of Joana Isabel Cipriano Guerreiro call to the office of the GNR in Portimão. According to the child's mother, Leonor Cipriano, " ...they wanted me to tell all that had happened on the day of the disappearance."  The statements, which have brought many questions are now being assessed by the authorities in terms of their reliability, looking at the profile of Joan 's own family and those around her.  According to a source close to the investigation, " ...this time , all hypotheses are possible", because it is a case with " ...very strange contours ".   Her mother is convinced that something serious had happened to the girl and believes that " ...she was kidnapped," asking "..not to do her any harm."  Leonor Cipriano says all she wants "...is to have her daughter back."

The CM yesterday revealed first-hand that the girl had resided in the village for less than a year, living with mother (a domestic), stepfather (works as a scrap dealer) and two brothers from an early age : Lara , a year, and Ruben , two. Leonor Cipriano has three further children who do not live with her - a girl of 15, who is with her father in Olhão, a boy of 12 whom she delivered to the paternal grandfather and uncles in Messines, and a 5 year old boy who lives with family in Porches.  The father of Joana lives in the town of Lagos and, according to some sources, had no great interaction with his daughter. Moreover, according to enquires, the family of Leonor denied the child and never even invited her to see their house.

Joana disappeared around 20:00 Sunday, while returning home after going to buy a carton of milk and two cans of food at a cafe. The last time she was seen she was stood beside the local church. In the village a Cockle Festival was taking place. The investigations are the responsibility of the GNR, but the Judiciary Police of Portimão have been closely following the case.

POPULATION OF FIGUEIRA ARE SHOCKED

The population of Figueira are in shock - never before has something like this ever happened in this sleepy village in the parish of Great Mexilhoeira. Similar sentiment exists, indeed, around Portimão.  In the streets of the village, the topic of conversation was invariably the disappearance of small Joana. Older people could not even hide their tears at the possibility that a tragedy happened. The conversations invariably recalled cases of disappearance in the past, and some of which, have still not been resolved.  However, people continue to hope that the authorities will unravel the case quickly, while emphasizing that only now notice a visible commitment to the land search with the presence in the village of GNR members, whether uniformed or civil.  While there are clear indications of what really happened, speculation will grow, showing the most divergent versions of the disappearance.  On the other hand, parents end up being more careful with their children on trips out, especially at night - previously, it was customary for children to play without such fear.

CM has learned that the brother of Leonor Cipriano, Joana's stepfather, distributed throughout the area between Lagos and Vila do Bispo posters with the picture of the child in the hope that someone may have seen her.  According to him, he and his wife have received several calls, one supporting the family and others, unfortunately , indicating clues that turned out to be completely false. The authorities will ensure that they "...are doing everything possible to find the girl ."

AN ADULT CHILD FOR HER AGE

Maria Clotilde, education auxiliary at Figueira school told the Morning Post that, "Joana is a very smart girl, but too old for her age, because she did almost everything at home".  According to her, the child " even appeared to cry at school and did not open up much to tell what was happening."

The girl began attending the said educational institution two or three weeks after the start of the academic year, the basic school of the Sobreiras, around Portimão - before that, had already studied at EB1 Porches, in the neighbouring municipality of Lagos, where her father resides.  Figueira school understood that the child's family had financial difficulties and, therefore, a request for allocation of education allowance was made, nevertheless the deadline to apply had expired. The application was eventually accepted and the child could count on support particularly in terms of school supplies and meals.

According to Professor Maria José Monteiro, responsible for the class. Grouping of the School from Portimão Grande (which belongs to EB1 Figueira) cycle, "Joana is a good student, having transitioned from 2 to 3 years." Maria Monteiro states that the child denotes having, " ...a lot of responsibility on her shoulders." Integration with the remaining 40 classmates was however achieved easily.  Joana 's mother, Leonor Cipriano, ensures, however, that the girl was not obliged to overwork : "She just helps with the household chores, doing some errands and sometimes gives support to care for her siblings.  The parent of the child, on the other hand, states that the biological father of Joan "...never bothered much about her," while, on the contrary, "...she was very fond of her stepfather as if he was a father."  Leonor Cipriano says that the family even received a visit from a social worker who was intended to ascertain whether there was a need for support, but she never returned.  According to Joana's mother she was treated well, because "...we did not need support as my husband earns enough to sustain our entire family."

Both the mother, the education auxiliary and the teacher are, however, agreed that Joana's profile does not fit with a youngster who would want to run away from home, as both agree she is someone with a great sense of responsibility.  Additionally, she managed to make many friends in the village where she had lived for less than a year, where she played daily, particularly during the time of the school holidays.

Joana is one of six children, although only two - Ruben, two years, and Lara, a year - live in Figueira.


http://www.cmjornal.xl.pt/detalhe/noticias/nacional/atualidade/nao-facam-mal-a-joana

(Note: This article has been removed by CM)

[John]

Press report dated Saturday 18 September 2004.

NEW HYPOTHESES GAIN STRENGTH

Investigators have decided to extend the range of hypotheses surrounding the case of the disappearance of 8-year-old Joana, having chosen not even exclude the possibility that it might be a crime of child trafficking. This does not preclude, however, that investigators maintain the hypothesis that the girl may have gone willingly with someone of her close relations. The two hypotheses are, for now, given equal validity by the Judicial Police.

The CM has learned that the investigation team is gathering all available information on events which somehow have some connection to that of Joana - who disappeared last Sunday from the village of Figueira, Portimão.
In addition, investigators are attentive to the movement of people, including residents in the Algarve, with a history in terms of sex crimes, especially involving children.  Throughout the parish from Portimão Grande, which belongs to the village of Figueira, has been much talked about the case of an individual in the area who has in the past violated an old person and tried to abuse a child. However, our newspaper found that the individual concerned is still inside.

PJ NO STONE UNTURNED

The Judiciary Police of Portimão is strongly committed to unravel the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Joana and deployed a significant number of staff (including staff with many years of experience ) to investigate the mysterious case.  Investigators are active in various areas, with particular attention to the collection and analysis of the testimony of family members and others who may have something to reveal about the disappearance of Joana - all the details are to be taken into account, since small things, seemingly insignificant, often prove fundamental in the discovery of truth.

Only yesterday, several agents were in Figueira trying to get new information and to clarify some doubts. On the other hand, the stepfather of the child and the father of Joan have already been heard by the PJ. CM has learned today that further statements will be collected including from Leonor Cipriano, mother of the girl.


www.cmjornal.xl.pt/nacional/portugal/detalhe/hipotese-de-crime-ganha-forca.html

[John]

Press report dated Sunday 19 September 2004.

MOTHER OF JOANA ASSISTS PJ

One week after the date of the disappearance of Joana, the mystery remains unsolved. The MP, who eventually took over the case last Thursday (GNR failed to unravel it), yesterday called to question the child's mother, having heard the stepfather and father the previous day. Other family members have also been contacted by investigators, as well as some residents in the village where it happened.

According to our sources, Leonor Cipriano, the mother of the child did not reveal any new information yesterday to officers of the PJ. The mother is convinced that her daughter was the target of a kidnapping in the road between the coffee shop (where she bought a carton of milk and two tins of tuna) and her home in the village of Figueira, Portimão.  The fact that that there was locally a very busy fair - albeit in a place (the Multisport Figueira ) still some distance away from where Joanna was last seen - the parent does believe that some stranger could have been involved in the disappearance of her child.

However, the investigators show a particular interest in reconstructing, step by step, the route taken by Joana on the day of her disappearance. So far, the evidence gathered indicates that the child disappeared near the local church, ie,a few metres from the street that gives access to her home - a cul-de-sac, so that, having been an abduction, the most logical was that she was taken from the small path between the church and said street.
The CM has heard that new statements have been received by the PJ from people who claim to have seen the girl in the area of the church, with an indication that the child took the groceries in a plastic bag. Witnesses who claimed to have seen her shortly before her disappearance guarantee, moreover, that the child "...was fine and did not show any strange behaviour."

Investigators are now looking to gather all the pieces of this intricate puzzle, leaving no detail unclarified. Based on past experience, the PJ is convinced that sometimes seemingly insignificant things turn out to be the key to the mystery and they may come back to collect the testimony of people whom they have heard before, including family members and friends of Joana.

JOANA - FAITH THAT SHE IS WELL

The disappearance of Joana Isabel Cipriano Guerreiro, only 8 years has fundamentally disturbed the inhabitants of the small village of Figueira, where most people knew her by name (even though the child's family lived there for less than a year).  As the mystery thickens, many people, especially the elderly, resort to prayer for the safe and sound return of the girl.

Village priest, Domingos Costa, Parish of Great Mexilhoeira where Figueira lies, admits to referring to the disappearance of the girl at Mass today. The pastor says that he was abroad, more specifically in Germany, when it happened last Tuesday, understanding that "...people are restless and worried about what happened", because nothing like this has previously occurred in the parish of Portimão. Father Dominic Costa says "...he knew the girl by sight," emphasizing that the girl's family "...do not go to church." The desire of the entire population is that the girl is well.

http://www.cmjornal.xl.pt/detalhe/noticias/nacional/portugal/mae-de-joana-na-pj

[John]

Press report dated Tuesday 21 September 2004.

JOAN SOLD TO GERMANY

Tiny Joan, eight years, reported missing since last week, might have been sold by her mother to a German couple, the PJ has learned yesterday, after the last two days have heard the stepfather and mother of the child.

According to a source close to the process, the girl went willingly ordered by her mother, Leonor Cipriano, and was driven to Ayamonte, where she spent two days in the home of the people who transported her from Portimão, after which the German couple came to get her and transport her to that country.

The registration of the mother and stepfather (who were also allegedly aware of the negotiation) were important for the PJ knew what he was dealing. The hypothesis gained strength that it might be a case of a sale given the visible economic difficulties of the family. What might have swayed the mother of Joana to opt for the sale may have been a guarantee that the girl would be treated well and would have "...a better future ".

After she had a daughter, the mother will have undergone a crisis of despair. Her conscience as to what to do, pressured by neighbours to report the disappearance to try to recover the girl, realising that buyers would have fear of being discovered and arrested.  The alleged phone calls and threats that his mother said she had received telephone were important clues for the PJ, who had decoded some information from people who had taken the girl to Ayamonte.

Now to the authorities, the difficulties are increased, since no one in Portugal contacted have provided links between the couple and the alleged end buyer that could have led to Ayamonte and the Germans. To get to the whereabouts of the girl they will need the cooperation of the German authorities so that , together, they can retrieve the child.  Despite these developments, Leonor Cipriano has not been arrested and last night she was seen in Figueira, where she resides.

Remember that, in Portugal, the commercial transaction of children for adoption is not a crime. The law penalizes only the sale with a view to slavery or sexual exploitation. A justice gap that has twice been attempted to change and that on the last occasion, ended with the fall of the government.

http://www.cmjornal.xl.pt/detalhe/noticias/nacional/portugal/joana-vendida-para-a-alemanha

[John]

Press report dated 21 September 2004

Mother in denial and persists in the abduction theory

For the love of God, I ddi't do that to my daughter, "was the reaction of Leonor Cipriano, the mother of the missing girl on day 12 when contacted by phone by the CM, shortly after 12:30 am today. Joana's mother denied the information obtained from judicial source said that, despite not having seen what happened when the 8-year-old girl was making a purchase at a coffee together, in the municipality of Portimão, has the idea that it was a kidnapping by a stranger ".  She even stated that she has not received any contact from the police after being heard on Saturday and has not been told of any suspicions.

For his part, Joan's father, Paulo Guerreiro, said yesterday the CM have been "caught completely by surprise" by the disappearance and that "I didn't even know where she lived, because the mother is always moving from one side to the other".

He also said they had already considered the possibility of her having gone "with someone in the mother's family."

Guerreiro resides in Lagos and has two more children.

www.cmjornal.xl.pt/nacional/portugal/detalhe/mae-nega-e-persiste-na-tese-de-rapto.html

[John]

Press report dated Thursday 23 September 2004.

JOANA MURDERED

The judicial police have since Thursday morning been conducting excavations near the home of the girl's mother at Figueira, Portimão. The PJ confirmed the death of the child and has detained two persons suspected of the murder, her mother and an uncle of the victim.

According to the judicial police, the crime occurred on the same day her mother noticed the disappearance of little Joana. Later the girl's body was buried in an area not far from the site of the house where she was murdered. At a press conference, the PJ suggested that the reason of this barbaric crime may have been a matter of property that the child's grandmother had left in inheritance. The authorities have not yet pinpointed the exact location where little Joanna was buried since the uncle of the victim is not local of the place and doesn't know well the surroundings.

Leonor Cipriano, the mother of little Joana, 8 years of age, reported the disappearance of her daughter, explaining that she had gone on an errand and hadn't come back, no more being seen. The mother, despite distributing posters in the area, was seen as suspect by the PJ, which kept her always under surveillance and took her to the Faro Directorate on Tuesday.

According to information obtained on the spot by the CM, Leonor Cipriano spent the night from yesterday until today at home, under police surveillance, being taken back to the Faro Directorate by the PJ this morning. According to the television stations SIC and TVI, the PJ began this morning a heavy digging operation near the house of the mother of Joana. The authorities seek the body of Joana on land adjacent to her mother's house, terrain that will be about half the size of a football pitch.

www.cmjornal.xl.pt/cm_ao_minuto/detalhe/joana-assassinada.html