Former youth pastor accused of pushing wife off cliff in Zion National Park dies days after arrest - BERITAJA

A erstwhile Las Vegas younker pastor who was accused of pushing his woman disconnected a cliff while hiking successful Zion National Park died Thursday — conscionable days aft he was taken into custody, authorities said.

David Vander Meer, 49, was being held astatine Clark County Detention Center connected first-degree execution and security fraud charges stemming from the decease of his wife, Bernadette, 2 decades ago. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said he was taken to a infirmary for “self-sustained injuries” connected Wednesday and was later pronounced dormant connected Thursday.

The charismatic origin and mode of decease will beryllium released by the Clark County Coroner’s Office, constabulary said.

Vander Meer had told investigators that he and his woman were celebrating their 10-year day erstwhile they hiked to the apical of Angels Landing — a gangly stone statement successful Zion National Park — successful 2006. He claimed she fell to her decease while he was about 5 to 10 feet away, mounting up a camera to return her image arsenic the sun rose.

Her decease was initially ruled an accident, and Vander Meer later submitted a life security declare pinch a payout totaling about $567,439, authorities said.

That was the extremity of things until past October, erstwhile the Washington County Attorney’s Office successful Utah received a extremity from Barry Diamond — elder pastor of Legacy Christian Church, wherever Vander Meer had worked arsenic a younker pastor — that Bernadette whitethorn person been pushed to her death.

An apprehension warrant was issued for Vander Meer connected June 16, and he was taken into custody Monday.

Diamond told investigators that Vander Meer had inappropriate and intersexual relationships pinch younker group members astatine the church, according to an affidavit. One girl, identified only arsenic SH, was about 14 years aged erstwhile Vander Meer allegedly began grooming her pinch gifts, typical attraction and knee touches and hugs successful 2002. According to the affidavit, she said their narration became intersexual erstwhile she turned 16.

Vander Meer later allegedly bought her a concealed phone. According to the affidavit, SH said Vander Meer told her the only measurement they could beryllium together was if “Bernadette was not alive.”

Vander Meer took retired life security policies for him and his wife, pinch values yet exceeding $550,000 successful March 2005, investigators said.

When SH was 18, she said Vander Meer told her to move retired of her parents’ location and to rent an flat pinch different woman from church. For complete a year, she says Vander Meer paid for her rent, according to the affidavit.

Ahead of the fateful travel to Zion, Bernadette was increasing suspicious about Vander Meer’s behavior. According to the affidavit, she penned 2 handwritten notes expressing sadness successful her marriage, and co-workers said she could not moreover acquisition caller activity apparel because she gave each her money to Vander Meer.

A time earlier their travel to Zion, SH ended what was past a four-year narration pinch Vander Meer, telling him it was incorrect and she wanted to prosecute personification her property astatine church, tribunal documents say.

The 2 would resume their narration a fewer months aft Bernadette’s death.

After receiving the life security payout, Vander Meer allegedly bought SH and different younker group personnel a car. He besides purchased a location and took respective trips, authorities said.

Diamond said he later fired Vander Meer aft learning that he threw parties for underage religion members, pinch intoxicant and gambling. In 2008 Vander Meer — past unemployed — entered a backstage matrimony statement pinch SH to get wellness benefits done her job, according to authorities.

They publically joined successful 2010, but divided successful 2014.

In 2022 the lawsuit involving Bernadette’s decease was reopened for authorities to travel up connected allegations reported by a erstwhile younker group member. Investigators interviewed SH about her narration pinch Vander Meer, but nary charges were filed.

In October, caller accusation confirmed Vander Meer’s narration pinch SH, prompting authorities to renew the investigation.