Vicar's girl in death fall 'struggled to adapt in UK'

Rosimieri Boxall, 19, was adopted as a toddler from an orphanage in Rio de Janeiro by a missionary family who offered her the chance of a better life.

But when they returned to Britain four years ago the teenager dropped out of school, left home and virtually cut all ties with her adoptive parents.

It is believed she jumped 50 feet from the window of a halfway house in Blackheath on Saturday to escape teenage attackers who had allegedly imprisoned her and filmed an assault on mobile phones.

Paramedics desperately tried to resuscitate Miss Boxall after she was found outside the home near Greenwich Park but she died on the way to the hospital frominternal injuries.

Detectives were today examining torn clothing taken from the gutter of the building.

Her adopted family, the Rev Simon Boxall, 51, his teacher wife Rachel, 49, and their four adult sons said her death had "left a void that cannot be filled". It is believed the teenager had become increasingly withdrawn, rebelling against her Christian upbringing and distancing herself from her adopted family.

She left college in Plumstead where she was studying child care and had not told her parents where she was living.

Today her adoptive grandfather, retired chartered surveyor John Pullinger, revealed how Miss Boxall had left home 18 months ago, much to the concern of the family.

He said: "Rosimieri moved out as soon as she turned 18 and her parents had not seen much of her. She desperately wanted to break out and do what she wanted, without the restrictions of living with her family.

"Her parents did not know where she was living, or who she was living with as she wouldn't tell them.

"She had not quite cut them off, but her life was very much of a secret. We don't know anything about these people she was with when she died.

"In the community where she was living, there will have been drugs, but whether she was taking them we just don't know. It's very, very sad."

Mr Boxall and his wife moved to Brazil in the Eighties. He worked at Christ Church in Botafogo, a wealthy suburb of Rio de Janeiro, while his wife taught at the British School there. They left in 2004 when Mr Boxall became vicar at the Open Gateway Community Church in Thamesmead.

Mr Pullinger said: "Rachel and Simon had four boys and wanted a girl. I remember when they adopted Rosimeiri they were very excited about it.

All the children found life difficult when they came back, as it was so different from what they were used to.

"Rosimeiri did not like rules. She did not get on well at school, and left with no GCSEs, which made it difficult to find work. Her four brothers are very clever and outgoing but she was shy, and it's possible she didn't feel she was good enough. "Her parents were hoping she would eventually find something she could cope with. They put a lot of energy into her, mentally and physically. They are devastated by this."

Two girls, aged 17 and 13, were arrested on suspicion of murder and have been released on bail.