British Columbia's police oversight agency has launched an investigation to determine if law enforcement missed opportunities to prevent the tragic killing of a Merritt mother earlier this month.
Details of the Fatal Incident
The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. (IIO) confirmed on Friday that it is examining the circumstances leading to the December 16 death of 45-year-old Pamela Jarvis. Her husband, Christopher Bernard Jarvis, has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection with her death.
A critical focus of the probe is a police response that occurred just six days prior to the homicide. On December 10, officers from the Merritt RCMP detachment responded to the Jarvis residence after the woman called for help, reporting that her husband had broken down a door to gain entry.
The IIO stated that information provided by an advocacy organization raised serious questions about that earlier police investigation into alleged intimate partner violence. The RCMP has confirmed that its last contact with the victim was several days before she was murdered.
Advocates Demand Systemic Change
In the wake of Jarvis's death, Angela Marie MacDougall, executive director of the Battered Women's Support Services Association in Vancouver, has written to provincial authorities, the IIO, and the City of Merritt. She is seeking clarity on how police conduct risk assessments in domestic violence cases.
MacDougall criticized the current political focus on being "tough on crime," arguing it fails victims in practical terms. "None of that does anything for people like Pamela Jarvis in a practical sense," she told Postmedia, highlighting a gap between political rhetoric and on-the-ground protection for those at risk.
A National Crisis of Femicide
This case unfolds against a grim national backdrop. Over the past seven years, 1,329 women and girls have died in Canada under criminal or suspicious circumstances. While 2025 has seen a slight decrease, the trend in recent years has been alarming. In 2024, 221 such deaths were recorded—a staggering 46 percent increase over the 151 deaths documented in 2019.
The IIO's investigation will specifically assess whether any police action or inaction may have contributed to Pamela Jarvis's death. The agency is urging anyone with relevant information about the case to come forward by calling 1-855-446-8477 or using the contact form on its official website at iiobc.ca.
