Former Vegas Youth Pastor Charged with Murder 20 Years After Wife’s Death

A former Las Vegas youth pastor, David Vander Meer, has been charged with murder and insurance fraud nearly 20 years after his wife, Bernadette Vander Meer, fell 1,200 feet to her death in Zion National Park. The case was initially ruled an accident, but new evidence has led to a renewed investigation.

U.S. marshals arrested Vander Meer on Monday, linking him to the 2006 death of his wife. Court records indicate that investigators initially found the circumstances suspicious but lacked sufficient evidence to pursue the case further.

The investigation was re-opened last year after Vander Meer’s former senior pastor, Barry Diamond, informed authorities that he believed the death was not an accident and that Vander Meer may have pushed his wife. This claim has prompted a deeper look into the events surrounding the tragedy.

Vander Meer had previously increased his and his wife’s life insurance policies from $150,000 to $600,000 shortly before her death. The affidavit notes that this change did not prompt a more thorough investigation into potential foul play.

Vander Meer received a life insurance payout of over $567,000 in 2007, which has raised questions about the circumstances of his wife’s death. As of Wednesday, he remains in custody at the Clark County Detention Center, with no information provided on his legal representation.

Investigators received a tip in 2022 from a former youth group member who accused Vander Meer of using his position of trust to groom children. This allegation, along with the recent claims about his wife’s death, has intensified the scrutiny around his past actions.

A former member of Vander Meer’s youth group, identified as SH, told investigators she had a sexual relationship with him that began when she was 16. She ended the relationship before Vander Meer’s trip to Zion National Park, citing her belief that it was wrong.

Source: Read the original report

Source record preserved at time of reporting.