A former youth pastor took his own life in prison on Thursday, just three days after being charged with the murder of his wife on their wedding anniversary two decades prior.
David Vander Meer, 48, was arrested on Monday for the death of Bernadette Vander Meer, who fell to her death on a well-known hiking trail in Utah 20 years ago. Authorities confirmed his death in custody to KSVN.
According to reports, a leader from Vander Meer’s church informed investigators that the tragic incident was “not an accident” and claimed that “David pushed” Bernadette.
While specifics have not been disclosed, local outlets indicate that Vander Meer committed suicide after being incarcerated, though officials have referred to it only as “self-inflicted harm.”
On August 22, 2006, the couple was hiking to celebrate their anniversary at Angel’s Landing in Zion National Park when the fatal incident occurred.
Authorities had originally ruled Bernadette’s death an accident due to a lack of evidence, despite some investigators feeling suspicious about the circumstances. Vander Meer’s claims to police suggest he was preoccupied with taking photos of the sunrise when he heard his wife scream and thought she was falling.
Bernadette’s body was found hours later at the base of Angel’s Landing, a location notorious for its steep cliffs and challenging terrain.
Documents reveal that Vander Meer had a history of inappropriate relationships, starting with an underage girl when he was 16. Allegedly, he mentioned that they could only be together if his wife was “not alive.”
A year before Bernadette’s death, she suspected her husband of cheating, especially when she learned he was paying rent for an apartment where he supposedly had sexual encounters with underage girls.
The girl involved, who became of legal age, ended her relationship with Vander Meer just before their trip to Zion National Park.
Following Bernadette’s fall, Vander Meer was reportedly dismissed from his church role within a couple of years and faced accusations of holding inappropriate gatherings for minors at their home. Two years after losing his wife, he married the young woman he had previously groomed.
The couple divorced in 2014, amid allegations of further infidelity, but Vander Meer was never charged in relation to the underage relationship.
Moreover, shortly before Bernadette’s death, Vander Meer had increased her life insurance policy from $150,000 to $600,000. In 2007, he collected about $567,439 in insurance benefits.
Concerns surrounding Bernadette’s sudden death were raised by her coworkers, who described feeling uneasy about the circumstances and noted alarming behaviors, such as Vander Meer missing work engagements and purchasing a $50,000 Cadillac SUV with insurance proceeds intended to pay off a loan.
