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National

Christopher Jarvis cold case reopened as police suspect foul play

Police say a dad whose family has for 16 years endured the pain of his disappearance met with foul play before he went missing.

New evidence has come to light and the cold case of Christopher Jarvis has been reopened. 

Every milestone in the years since he went missing has become a painful reminder for his children Bree, Cale and Kyden Jarvis.

"We just want some answers," Cale Jarvis said.

"No-one wants to go to bed at the end of the day still wondering, and that's what we've been doing for the past 16 years.

"We've all started families now, and my father's never met any of his grandkids.

"Doing all that without your dad is very difficult." 

Cale said a tattoo of his father on his shoulder was a constant reminder of his love. 

"He and I were best mates," he said. 

Police suspect foul play

Police believe someone has been "living with the secret" of what happened to Mr Jarvis for 16 years. 

Authorities initially labelled Mr Jarvis's disappearance as not suspicious, but further digging by the Missing Persons Squad found the potential involvement of another person or people. 

Squad officer Alicia Reivers said it was likely Mr Jarvis met with foul play. 

"We have received new information which has brought us here today," Detective Senior Constable Reivers said.

"There are multiple persons of interest ... we believe there's people in Warrnambool that have information that could assist us."

She would not be drawn on what the new evidence was. 

What we know so far 

Mr Jarvis was last seen about 6am on June 13, 2006, when he left the house he shared with his partner and stepchildren on Warrne Road in Wangoom.

He was expected to arrive at work, a freight company in Warrnambool, shortly after.

But staff from his workplace contacted his partner at 7.30am when he still hadn't arrived.

His car – a silver 1991 Ford station wagon with the licence plates RVA 469 – was found at 8am on fire at Thunder Point , a popular coastal lookout in Warrnambool.

Former State Emergency Service Warrnambool leader Gerry Billings said a search of the area continued for a week.

A caravan was set up as operations headquarters.

Volunteers searched the dense coastal scrub on "hands and knees" to eliminate the immediate area around the car. 

Then they started along the cliff tops, along the beaches and in the water. 

Mr Billings said professional fisherman became pivotal to the search due to their knowledge of the the ocean. 

"It's a little bit emotional to think of a family out there that's missing a parent," he said.

"I hope the family gets a result." 

Police urge anyone with further information regarding Mr Jarvis's disappearance to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 300 000 or submit a confidential report.

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