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Perry County woman charged in 1987 homicide of husband

Perry County District Attorney Lauren Eichelberger and the Pennsylvania State Police announced murder charges in the 1987 death of Carl Jarvis.

PERRY COUNTY, Pa. — The Perry County District Attorney's Office announced that Pennsylvania State Police have charged Judith Jarvis, 76, with the 1987 murder of her husband. 

Perry County District Attorney Lauren Eichelberger and the Pennsylvania State Police announced the murder charges in the 1987 death of Carl Jarvis at a press conference on Tuesday, Dec. 13. 

According to the police affidavit, on Aug. 10, 1987, at 12:11 a.m., PSP received a call from Judith Jarvis reporting an argument between herself and her husband. 

At approximately 12:47 a.m., officers arrived on the scene at what is now 59 Cherry Valley Rd. in Millerstown. Police met with Judith outside the home, where she told them that she had not been inside since her phone call with police. 

An investigation revealed that Carl and Judith Jarvis were the only two people inside the home that evening. 

After receiving no response inside the home, police entered. They found Carl Jarvis's body in the west-end bedroom, on the floor in a 22-inch space between the end and the wall, according to the affidavit. 

A gunshot wound was observed in the back of the victim's head and an exit wound was in the front. A .22 revolver with a six-inch long barrel and a two-inch long trigger guard was found on the bed. 

An initial autopsy determined that Carl Jarvis had died as a result of extensive head injuries due to a single gunshot wound to the back of his head. A forensic pathologist examined the body and concluded that the victim would have been incapable of voluntary movement following the trauma to the brain, making it essentially impossible for Jarvis to shoot himself and end up in the position he was found in. 

At the time, no charges were filed. 

During the initial investigation, police submitted pajamas worn by Judith Jarvis on the night of the incident to the Pennsylvania State Police Laboratory. An analysis identified stains on the clothing as human blood, containing antigens consistent with type "O" blood. Judith claimed that the blood would likely be hers from a "goose bite." 

However, Carl Jarvis's blood type was identified as type "O." 

In 2020, police resubmitted the pajamas, along with hair collected from the victim for DNA analysis. 

Test results identified the blood located on the right sleeve of Judith's pajamas as a DNA match for Carl Jarvis. 

In 2022, police sought another interview of the case by a forensic pathologist, who came to the same conclusion that Carl's cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head and his manner of death was a homicide. 

On Dec. 13, Judith Jarvis was taken into custody. She was arraigned and is currently in Cumberland County Prison with bail denied. 

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