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

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

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