Missing Persons Squad detectives have charged a second man with murder as part of their investigation into the 2006 disappearance of Christopher Jarvis.
A 70-year-old Wangoom man has this afternoon been charged with one count of murder.
He will be remanded to appear at Warrnambool Magistrates’ Court tomorrow.
A 59-year-old Warrnambool man was charged with murder earlier today and subsequently fronted Warrnambool Magistrates’ Court.
Warrants were executed at two residential properties in Wangoom and Warrnambool yesterday morning.
The charges follow Christopher’s disappearance in June of 2006.
The 38-year-old was last seen when he left the house he shared with his partner and stepchildren on Warrne Road in Wangoom at around 6am on Tuesday, 13 June.
When he didn’t arrive at work, staff contacted Chris’ partner at around 7.30am.
At approximately 8am, Chris’ car – a silver 1991 Ford station wagon – was located on fire at Thunder Point, a popular coastal lookout in Warrnambool.
The investigation was originally handled by the local area as a missing person and initial enquiries suggested his disappearance was not suspicious.
However, the investigation was reinvigorated with the provision of new information from the public to the Missing Persons Squad.
Further enquiries made by police identified circumstances which would suggest the involvement of other people.
Quotes attributable to Crime Command Assistant Commissioner Bob Hill:
“Our heartfelt thoughts are with the Jarvis family today. The past 16 years have been an incredibly difficult time for them.
“As much as this is about holding those responsible to account, we are hopeful that these arrests bring us closer to providing the answers the family has been desperately seeking and deserves.
“I would like to thank members of the public who provided crucial information to police regarding this matter – as is often the case, such information provided investigators with the last missing piece of the puzzle to advance the investigation.
“In this instance, it has gone a significant way to giving much deserved answers to a grieving family.
“While we now have the opportunity to put this matter before the criminal courts, our efforts to locate the remains of Christopher continue.”
