Daijiworld Media Network – Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Jun 25: A former youth pastor from Las Vegas has been arrested and charged with murder and insurance fraud nearly two decades after his wife died in a fall at Utah's Zion National Park, reopening a case that was initially ruled an accident.

David Vander Meer was taken into custody by US Marshals on Monday in connection with the death of his wife, Bernadette Vander Meer, who fell approximately 1,200 feet while hiking at the national park on August 22, 2006.

According to court documents, investigators at the time considered the circumstances surrounding the fall suspicious but lacked sufficient evidence to pursue criminal charges. The case was subsequently closed and classified as an accidental death.

The investigation was revived last year after Barry Diamond, a senior pastor at a church where Vander Meer had previously worked, approached authorities and expressed his belief that Bernadette's death was not accidental.

Court records indicate that Vander Meer had increased both his and his wife's life insurance coverage from USD 150,000 to USD 600,000 shortly before her death. Following the incident, he reportedly received more than USD 567,000 in life insurance benefits in 2007.

Investigators also examined allegations involving Vander Meer's personal relationships. According to the affidavit, a former youth group member alleged that she had been involved in a sexual relationship with Vander Meer beginning when she was 16 years old.

The woman later told investigators that Vander Meer had allegedly told her the only way they could be together was if his wife was no longer alive. She also claimed Bernadette suspected her husband was having an affair.

Authorities said the relationship resumed after Bernadette's death, and the two eventually married in 2008 before divorcing in 2014.

The affidavit further states that Vander Meer had previously been dismissed from his church position following allegations that he hosted parties involving underage church members where alcohol and gambling were present.

Bernadette and David Vander Meer, both aged 29 at the time, had travelled to Zion National Park to celebrate their wedding anniversary. Vander Meer told investigators they began hiking to Angel's Landing before sunrise wearing headlamps.

He claimed that after reaching the summit, he moved their backpacks while preparing to photograph the sunrise and, upon turning around, discovered his wife was missing. He later reported hearing her scream as she fell.

Bernadette's father, Richard Gudenkauf, said he had long doubted the accident theory.

"I did a lot of hiking with her. She was a mountain goat. For her to fall off a cliff? No," he told local media.

Vander Meer remains in custody in Las Vegas. Authorities are expected to initiate extradition proceedings to bring him to Utah, where the case will be prosecuted.