The Tragic Cold Case of Sherri Jarvis

"Who cares?"

- Sherri Ann Jarvis

WARNING: This post discusses sensitive details relating to sexual abuse, violence, and murder. There also is content relating to running away. Viewer discretion advised!

Some aspects of this story are W.I.P, I just wanted to release it today, but it's still mostly readable. Expect this to be updated throughout the next month or two!

Today marks the 45th anniversary since the infamous, cold case murder of Sherri Jarvis, a teen girl who has touched people online for years.

Sherri Ann Jarvis c. 13 (1966 - 1980)

Sherri Jarvis was a teenaged runaway who was brutally murdered in 1980. It's a relatively simple murder, but a lot of details on the case and the investigation that followed for decades would prove to be heartbreaking. As not only was Sherri's killer unknown, but neither was her identity.

With the thanks of genetic genealogy, Sherri's name- and life, was given back in 2021, much to the delight of everyone. Sadly, her murder remains unsolved.

I want this post to be a dedication to Sherri's stolen life, and all that was put to give her back the identity she deserved, along with discussion on what might've happened to her.

So...let's jump in.

The Life of Sherri Jarvis

Sherri Ann Jarvis, who went by "Tati" to her friends, was born on March 9th, 1966, in Stillwater Minnesota.

Sherri Jarvis, at ages 11 and 12 respectfully.

Sherri was described as a fun-loving, energetic and street smart girl who loved listening to music and horse-riding. You can just tell by her continuous child-like smile in all of her school photos.

However, for as jovial as the young girl was, she was also a bit of a rebel, and described by some as a "troubled teen". In 8th grade, she was frequently skipping school for reasons that are unclear. 

CPS looked at the truant and removed her out of her home, into a juvenile detention center for troubled teens, sometime in 1979. Sherri lived in her new home for some months...until around her 14th birthday.

March, 1980

Sherri Jarvis turns 14. But instead of celebrating it with a party, Sherri is planning to make a get away. 

Sometime after their daughter ran away, her parents received a letter from Sherri, describing how they wouldn't hear from her again until she was about 18 to 21 years old.

Accompanying the letter was this photo:

Sherri Jarvis (somewhere in Colardo).

I can imagine this image was taken by a sympathetic local who Sherri asked to take a photo of her. You can really tell how jovial Sherri was, as always, with a playful and more developed smile.

Tragically, this same beautiful, happy picture would be her last recorded photo. The precious, wonderful, young, albeit troubled teen girl would soon have her smile erased from this world as well.

The Jarvis Family

Karolynn Jean Zinski Zumbrunnen (1940 - 2019) and  Don Jarvis Sr. (1940 - 2019), Sherri's parents.

Sherri's family never stopped searching for her. Her parents kept their telephone the same in hopes of their beloved daughter calling one day. They even hired a private investigator a few times, but they never found any leads.

Sadly, both of Sherri's parents died without ever knowing what happened to her.

Little did they know, Sherri would soon adopt a placeholder identity a few months afterwards, for decades to come.

October 31st, 1980

Halloween 1980 was probably spent in different ways for many people. For example, a 17-year-old boy named Carl Koppelman would be hanging out with his friends at a Halloween party.

Carl Koppelman (left), dressed as a prison inmate.

However, Sherri Jarvis would be spending Halloween, alone, in search of meeting someone.

At about 6:30 P.M, in a gas station, a man reported seeing Sherri asking directions for directions to the Ellis Prison unit nearby, to meet someone. According to his later account, the witness would say she had been let out of a 1973 and 1974 blue Cheverton or Caprice with a white, male driver.

After leaving the station, Sherri travelled north on Sam Houston Avenue. She eventually went to a now defunct truck stop alongside I-45. She went into the restaurant, where she asked a waitress for directions to Ellis Prison, once again. She said she had a "friend" there,

The kind waitress then drew up a map for the girl, but was a bit concerned about her safety, so she asked for her age. Sherri falsely claimed she was 19. The waiter, somewhat dubious of this, asked where her parents were. She simply replied with two words.

"Who cares?"

The banter ended with the waitress asking where her where she was from, and Sherri claimed to be from Aransas Pass or Rockport. Sherri left the diner, likely to find the person she was meeting.

That would be the last time Sherri Jarvis would be seen alive.

And for 40 years, the last time Sherri was known by her name.