Son of missing Wangoom man Chris Jarvis thought father took own life

The son of a missing man spent 16 years believing his father had taken his own life until a former Victorian police officer was charged with his murder.

Chris Jarvis with three of his four children before he went missing. Picture: Supplied

The son of missing Wangoom man Chris Jarvis spent 16 years believing his father had taken his own life.

Cale Jarvis, who was a teenager when his dad vanished, told the Herald Sun he always doubted his father could stage his own disappearance and sever contact with his four children.

But what may have really happened on June 13, 2006, emerged earlier this month when family members were called to a meeting at Warrnambool police station.

There, Victoria Police missing persons squad detectives who had been secretly working on the case told them that they believed Mr Jarvis had been murdered.

Their theory was that he had been attacked, his body disposed of and his car set alight at Thunder Point, a cliff-lined beauty spot on the coastal edge of Warrnambool.

Cale, now a 31-year-old working man with a family of his own, said to be delivered such news was an extraordinary experience.

Christopher Jarvis’ burnt out car.

The car was located on fire at Thunder Point, a popular coastal lookout in Warrnambool.

“Foul play had never once crossed my mind. They (the investigators) said they had a quality lead to work off. We weren’t told what was happening in detail,” Cale said.

“There was a bit of disbelief and jubilation that something was happening.”

Police this week made their move, arresting Warrnambool man Glenn Fenwick, 59, and Steven Johnson, 70, of Wangoom.

They were later charged with the murder of Mr Jarvis.

Mr Johnson, a former police officer who left the force in the 1980s, was Mr Jarvis’ landlord and lived on the property next door.

Cale, his mother Belinda, sisters Nicole and Bree and younger brother Kyden now hope the next step is police being told where Chris’ body lies.

“That’s where we’re at now,” he said.

“All we need are the remains so we can lay our father to rest properly. That’s a thing the majority of the population get to do.”

Cale remembers the time of his dad’s disappearance as having a big impact on his mental health and on that of others

He recalled the feeling of knowing nothing, the sideways looks at school and the sudden extra burden of being the eldest son.

Former police officer Steven Johnson has been charged with murder. Picture: Supplied

“It was extremely traumatic. I had to pull the big boy boots on a lot earlier than expected,” he said.

Mr Jarvis said the family was deeply grateful for the work of detectives Danny Passingham and Alicia Reivers of the missing persons squad.

They have spent the past four years quietly trying to bring answers to the Jarvis family.

“It’s just been astronomical. We’ve thanked them countless times to their faces. They’ve gone over and beyond,” he said.

The reaction of the local community has been astonishing, he said, with a steady stream of messages expressing their support

Mr Johnson and Mr Fenwick are accused of murdering Mr Jarvis after he left for work at a Warrnambool transport company early on the morning of June 13, 2006.

Both are on remand.

Investigators are working to find out where the body of Mr Jarvis is.

Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit the website www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.