David Vander Meer, a former Las Vegas youth pastor, died just days after being arrested and charged with murdering his wife, Bernadette, who fell thousands of feet to her death while hiking in Utah's Zion National Park in 2006. At a scheduled extradition hearing on Thursday, a Las Vegas judge announced Vander Meer's death, according to KSNV. The Las Vegas Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Case Reopened After New Information
In 2022, investigators reopened the inquiry into Bernadette Vander Meer's fatal fall from Angels Landing after receiving new information that David had groomed and been sexually involved with a minor in his youth group ministry at that time, according to a court affidavit. The woman, now an adult, told investigators that David had said they could only be together if Bernadette was not alive, court documents show. Local authorities had initially ruled the death an accident, but prosecutors recently accused David of being responsible. He was arrested on Monday and charged with murder.
Details of the Incident
In August 2006, David and Bernadette Vander Meer hiked in Zion to celebrate an anniversary. David told investigators he walked away to move their backpacks before a photograph when he heard Bernadette scream. He said he turned around and found her missing. Before Bernadette's death, David secured life insurance for both of them, increasing their policies from $150,000 each to $550,000 each. After her death, he received a life insurance payout of $567,439 and subsequently lived “lavishly,” according to investigators. He also faced a charge of insurance fraud.
Family Reaction
A 2006 obituary for Bernadette said she was survived by “her adoring husband, David.” Earlier this week, when prosecutors announced David's arrest, Bernadette's mother hailed the move, saying her daughter was “vindicated” to 8 News Now. Bernadette's father, Richard Gudenkauf, told the station: “We’ve been waiting on the Lord for this day.”
