Former youth pastor David Vander Meer charged with murdering wife 20 years after her fatal 'fall' kills himself in jail

US News
- Metro
- Long Island
- Politics
World News
Page Six
Sports
- NFL
- MLB
- Olympics
- NBA
- NHL
- College Football
- College Basketball
- WNBA
Post Sports+
Sports Betting
Business
Opinion
Entertainment
- TV
- Movies
- Music
- Celebrities
- Awards
- Theater
Shopping
Lifestyle
- Weird But True
- Sex & Relationships
- Viral Trends
- Human Interest
- Parenting
- Fashion & Beauty
- Food & Drink
- Travel
Health
- Wellness
- Fitness
- Health Care
- Medicine
- Men’s Health
- Women’s Health
- Mental Health
- Nutrition
Real Estate
Alexa
Media
Tech
Science
- Space
- Environment
- Wildlife
- Archaeology
Astrology
Video
Photos
Pod Force One
NY POSTcast
- Today’s Paper
- Covers
- Columnists
- Horoscopes
- Crosswords & Games
- Sports Odds
- Podcasts
- Careers
- Email Newsletters
- Official Store
- Home Delivery
- Tips

Email New York Post

Switch between CA and NY editions here.

Edition

trending now in US News

Hoarder parents accused of murder, ‘terrible neglect’...

Pastor’s family claimed neighbor was tormenting them before...

Meteorologist fired after whining over Emmy snubs, ripping bosses...

Grandma likely poisoned and stabbed grandkids, daughter in...

Parenting influencer’s 2-year-old daughter drowns in...

Alito gets snippy with Sotomayor after rare rebuke in SCOTUS...

NYC enacts rent freeze on 1M stabilized units after Mamdani is...

Final words for Florida’s oldest death row inmate executed...

Shop now

Prime Day ends tonight! Score these last-minute deals US News

Former youth pastor charged with murdering wife 20 years after her fatal ‘fall’ kills himself in jail

By Jared Downing Published June 26, 2026, 1:46 a.m. ET

See more of our coverage in your search results.

Add The New York Post on Google

A former youth pastor killed himself in a jail cell Thursday, three days after he was charged with the murder of his young wife on their anniversary two decades ago.

David Vander Meer, 48, died in custody after he was arrested Monday for the murder of Bernadette Vander Meer, who plummeted to her death on a notorious Utah hiking trail 20 years ago, authorities told KSVN.

Vander Meer’s former church boss tipped off investigators that the tragedy “was not an accident” and that “David had pushed” Bernadette, according to Washington County court documents.

The ex-man of God killed himself after he was thrown behind bars, although authorities have not revealed the specifics, citing only “self-sustained injuries,” according to the local outlet.

Vander Meer and his wife were hiking to the top of Angels Landing in Zion National Park to celebrate their wedding anniversary on August 22, 2006 when she fell to her death.

Explore More

Casper O&#039;Brien died from a heart disease in November, 2025.

Hoarder parents accused of murder, ‘terrible neglect’ of obese son, 7, who died weighing 255 pounds

Pastor’s family claimed neighbor was tormenting them before viral beatdown

Meteorologist fired after whining over Emmy snubs, ripping bosses in viral tirade

The alleged homicidal holy man told cops he was busy setting up a camera for sunrise photos when he heard his 29-year-old wife “scream as she was falling.”

Bernadette’s body was found hours later at the base of Angel’s Landing, Fox13 reported.

Angel’s Landing is a notoriously terrifying rock formation with narrow ridges and 1,000+ foot drop-offs.

Bernadette Vander Meer smiling. — Bernadette Vander Meer was pushed to her death by David Vander Meer in Utah in August 2006. Fox13

Due to a lack of evidence, Bernadette’s fall was ruled an accident, and the case was closed, although investigators felt the circumstances around her death were suspicious, court documents said.

While Vander Meer was a youth pastor, he allegedly began having a sexual affair with an underage girl when she was 16, and had told her that they could only be together if his wife were “not alive,” documents added.

Bernadette had reportedly grown suspicious of her husband’s infidelity in the year before her death, while the pastor was paying rent for a place to have sex with the underage girl, the affidavit said.

Start your day with all you need to know

Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.

Thanks for signing up!

The girl, who was by then of legal age, ended the four-year affair with Vander Meer the day before the married couple set out on their trip to Zion National Park.

The youth pastor was allegedly axed from his church job within a year or two after Bernadette’s fatal plunge, with prosecutors stating he allegedly threw booze-filled parties for underage members at his house.

Two years after Bernadette died, Vander Meer tied the knot with the girl he allegedly groomed.

People walk past an unstaffed entrance station at Zion National Park near Springdale, Utah. — The couple was hiking in Zion National Park when Bernadette Vander Meer fell to her death. AP

The couple divorced in 2014 over allegations of infidelity, the filings detailed.

Vander Meer, however, had not been charged with any crimes for having a sexual relationship with a minor.

The documents also allege that Vander Meer increased his wife’s insurance policy from $150,000 to $600,000 shortly before her untimely death.

In 2007, he received a life insurance payout totaling approximately $567,439, according to court documents.

Berndette’s coworker of six years at the New York New York Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas also raised alarm bells about her sudden death — telling police she was “concerned” about some circumstances around what happened, Fox13 reported.

The coworker said that Vander Meer was a no-show at work functions and alleged that after the couple sold a condo years earlier, he purchased a $50,000 Cadillac SUV with insurance paying off the loan, the outlet said.

Filed under

Read Next Final words for Florida's oldest death row inmate executed...

Trending Now in US News

This story has been shared 43,878 times. 43,878
Hoarder parents accused of murder, ‘terrible neglect’ of obese son, 7, who died weighing 255 pounds
This story has been shared 28,036 times. 28,036
Pastor’s family claimed neighbor was tormenting them before viral beatdown
This story has been shared 25,818 times. 25,818
Meteorologist fired after whining over Emmy snubs, ripping bosses in viral tirade
This story has been shared 22,131 times. 22,131
Grandma likely poisoned and stabbed grandkids, daughter in horrific upstate NY murder-suicide: cops

Listen Now

Now on Page Six

See All

Video

JPMorgan exec fired after brazenly stealing Knicks trash can in viral video

Now on Decider

See All

Covers

Today's Cover

Front Cover Back Cover

Flip for back cover

Browse Covers

David Vander Meer died in custody after he was arrested for the 2006 murder of his wife Bernadette Vander Meer. David Vander Meer/Facebook

Bernadette Vander Meer was pushed to her death by David Vander Meer in Utah in August 2006. Fox13

The couple was hiking in Zion National Park when Bernadette Vander Meer fell to her death. AP

You are viewing 1 of 3 images

Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'

Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.

The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.

Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.

But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.

'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.

'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'

The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.

Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'

A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs

Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts

But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'

A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.

'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.

Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.

'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.

'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.

'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.

'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'

'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.

'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'