Memorial walk for Lauren Jarvis: loved ones honour her memory, demand justice

Casandra Wildermuth’s evocative image reveals exactly how she feels about the loss of her best friend Lauren Jarvis.

“Think about your heart being ripped out of your chest, truthfully,” said Wildermuth.

“Things are never going to be the same.”

Jarvis, 27, was found dead in her home in Edmonton’s Westmount neighbourhood on April 2. An autopsy confirmed she died of asphyxia.

Thirty-two-year-old Ryan Farrel, who lived in the same address but in a different suite, was charged with second-degree murder. Police say the two were not well acquainted.

“There’s a lot of crime that is happening in this city, and a lot of homicides that are unfortunately not getting noticed. And I’m sorry, this one will be noticed,” said Wildermuth.

Family and friends of Jarvis gathered Sunday to walk in her memory, while also raising money for the Victims of Homicide Support Society – a group that has helped Jarvis’ loved ones navigate her death.

Megan Jarvis described her sister as a sassy and kind person.

“She had a very strong personality that brightened any room, and she just made everyone laugh and happy, and she was a good person,” said Megan.

“How she got taken out of this world is very unfortunate and we don’t want this to be a statistic. It’s really sad and was the most awful way to go, so we want her name to be more than just a name on the news.”

Victims of Homicide Support Society says it is there to provide emotional support to anyone who lost a loved one to murder.

“Every homicide, it devastates a small community, it’s not just the immediate family,” said board member Darlene Sim.

“There are counselors that come, psychologists, we will point you in the direction that you need to go, whether it’s just sitting by yourself, knowing someone is there caring for you, or if you want to talk, we get angry, we laugh, we try to move forward the best we can with life, after the shock of having a family member murdered.”

Sim says the grieving process can be different for everyone.

“Wherever you are in your grief, however you feel, however you’re coping with it, it is fine,” she said.

“You can be angry, expressing your anger is great. If you have to break things, break things. If you need to talk to people, if you need to isolate, do whatever works for you. There’s no correct way of grieving, there’s no timeline for grieving. If it takes you a year, a month, a decade to be able to get back into your life, take the time you need.”

Justice for Lauren: Memorial walk organized for Edmonton homicide victim

Friends and family of Jarvis hope to make the walk an annual tradition.

“Honestly, it’s very touching that everyone is here to support us, and I feel a lot of love. There will be a lot of laughter and tears I think,” said Wildermuth.

“We want this to be for everyone. This is in honour of Lauren, and anyone affected by homicide, please join.”