A prominent domestic violence advocate is demanding immediate action from British Columbia's provincial government and a police watchdog, following the murder of a 45-year-old mother in Merritt last week. Angela Marie MacDougall, executive director of the Battered Women's Support Services Association, is calling for investigations into whether police could have done more to prevent the tragedy.
Details of the Fatal Incident
On December 16, 2025, police and paramedics responded to a call for assistance at a residence in Merritt. They found Pamela Jarvis with critical injuries. She was transported to hospital but died shortly after. Her husband, Christopher Bernard Jarvis, has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder. The RCMP is now seeking dashcam footage related to the time of the murder.
MacDougall revealed a critical detail: police had been called to the same property just six days earlier, on December 10. On that occasion, Pamela Jarvis reported that her husband had allegedly broken down a door to gain entry.
Advocate's Calls for Systemic Change
In response to the killing, Angela Marie MacDougall has written to the province, the Independent Investigations Office (IIO), and the City of Merritt. She is seeking specific actions, including:
- Clarification on how risk assessments are conducted in intimate partner violence cases.
- The establishment of a provincial gender-based violence task force.
- Strengthened assessment protocols to prevent domestic violence from turning deadly.
MacDougall expressed frustration, stating she has held multiple meetings with Merritt council in recent years, yet "nothing has changed." She is deeply concerned that the current political focus on being "tough on crime" ignores practical, life-saving solutions.
"We're in this partisan political moment, where the partisan politics are tapping the sign about tough on crime, and who's going to demonstrate that they're the toughest on crime," said MacDougall. "None of that does anything for people like Pamela Jarvis in a practical sense."
Official Response and Next Steps
Merritt Mayor Michael Goetz responded to MacDougall's letter on Monday. He stated that council has met with the attorney-general to discuss bail reform and supported a resolution at the Union of B.C. Municipalities conference this fall, calling for increased provincial funding for victim services.
The case has ignited a renewed debate about the effectiveness of reactive policing versus proactive, prevention-focused strategies in combating domestic violence. Advocates argue that without systemic changes to how potential threats are assessed and addressed, vulnerable individuals remain at risk.
