Man who killed Lauren Jarvis in her Edmonton home sentenced to 10.5 years in prison

The man convicted of killing his downstairs neighbour Lauren Jarvis in Edmonton in 2023 has been sentenced to 10-and-a-half years behind bars — with credit for time served.

The 34-year-old Ryan Farrell, who admitted to killing Jarvis, pleaded guilty to manslaughter on Wednesday. He was originally charged with second-degree murder.

The sentencing was met with disbelief by Jarvis’ friends and family, who struggled to make sense of the decision following the hearing.

“Lauren Jarvis was taken from us,” the woman’s brother Spencer Jarvis said. “And Ryan will likely live a full life after prison. While my family and Lauren’s friends will likely serve a lifetime without her.”

“They never said anything in there to say why he got a lesser degree,” added friend Jaydan Kallis. “We still don’t know.”

Cassandra Wildermuth, Jarvis’ best friend, feels the justice system failed them.

“Our system is still broken, we’re never going to get Lauren back,” Wildermuth said.

“This isn’t justice, this isn’t close to justice.”

Farrell attacked Jarvis, 27, on April 2, 2023, inside her home in a four-plex at 109 Avenue and 122 Street, just west of Edmonton’s downtown. He was living at the same address but in a different suite. The two did not know each other.

According to an agreed statement of facts, Farrell struck Jarvis with a walking cane multiple times in the head, then strangled her with a rope.

Her body was found wrapped in a carpet with her head covered, and her feet and hands bound with duct tape.

Investigators later found evidence of the crime and some of Jarvis’ belongings inside Farrell’s suite.

An autopsy confirmed Jarvis died of asphyxia and blunt force trauma.

Wildermuth, who was the last to speak to her on the day she was killed, was also on the scene when police found her friend’s body.

“This could happen to anybody,” Wildermuth said Thursday. “This could happen to one of your family members.”

In court, Farrell sat motionless in the prisoner’s box — wearing an orange jumpsuit – and declined to speak when offered the chance by a judge.

No motive was offered for the crime in court documents.

“‘I am sorry,’ something along those lines would have been better than nothing,” Wildermuth said after the hearing.

On May 31, Jarvis’ loved ones will hold a walk in her honour in Kinsmen Park to celebrate her legacy.

“I want people to remember how loving she was and how much support she gave to those around her,” said Wildermuth.