A Nevada man who spent nearly two decades living under suspicion has been charged with murder after investigators determined his wife did not accidentally fall from a 1,200-foot cliff in Zion National Park as he claimed, but was allegedly pushed to her death during an anniversary hiking trip in 2006.
Background
David Vander Meer and Bernadette Vander Meer, who lived in Las Vegas, traveled to Utah's Angels Landing trail on what should have been a celebratory morning marking their wedding anniversary. The couple hiked to the top before sunrise to take photographs, according to police statements provided over the years. David told investigators at the time that his wife approached the cliff edge so he could photograph her while he set aside their backpacks. He claimed she fell as he reached into his bag for something, screaming as she plummeted to the rocks below.
The death was initially ruled accidental due to limited evidence and a lack of investigation resources in 2006. Angels Landing had seen previous accidental deaths from falls, though such incidents remained uncommon on the popular trail. However, investigators noted in court documents that they found the circumstances suspicious even then.
The Investigation
In 2022, police received a critical tip from a former member of David Vander Meer's youth group at a church where he served as pastor. The informant alleged that Vander Meer had been using his position to groom minors and had carried on a sexual relationship with a teenage girl in his ministry starting when she was 16 years old, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by KSL.
The now-adult woman told investigators she ended the relationship one day before David left for the anniversary trip. She said they re-engaged approximately two to three months after Bernadette's death. The woman recalled David telling her that 'the only way they could be together is if Bernadette was not alive,' the affidavit states.
Detectives interviewed Vander Meer in 2022 and noticed he began providing conflicting statements about what happened on Angels Landing. Originally, he claimed he was reaching into his bag when Bernadette fell. Later, he said he was moving backpacks out of view of a camera shot. In October 2025, a former supervisor at Vander Meer's church contacted the Washington County Attorney's Office and stated he believed David had pushed Bernadette.
In April 2026, investigators conducted a crucial reconstruction using sunrise and terrain data from Angels Landing. They analyzed lighting conditions on the morning of the incident and discovered that sun did not rise until 34 minutes after Vander Meer called police to report the fall. He had claimed it 'was starting to get light' as they approached the summit.
Police say evidence shows his recollection of visibility that morning could not have been accurate. Court documents indicate David knew his wife was suspicious of infidelity and catching on to his actions, noting Bernadette was unhappy in the marriage and discussed divorce.
In November 2006, Vander Meer filed a life insurance claim after her death was ruled accidental. He received approximately $567,439 in July 2007. Investigators allege he lived 'lavishly' off the payout, buying cars for the woman from his youth group and covering all expenses for trips with church members.
Vander Meer was fired from his pastoral position in 2008 for allegedly providing alcohol to juveniles. The woman he later married divorced him in 2014 over infidelity accusations.
David Vander Meer is charged with murder and insurance fraud. Prosecutors allege he committed murder 'by intentionally pushing his wife.'
Key Takeaways
- Bernadette Vander Meer's death was ruled accidental in 2006 but reclassified as homicide after a 2022 tip about her husband's alleged affair with a minor
- David allegedly told his mistress they could only be together if Bernadette 'was not alive'
- Lighting analysis in April 2026 contradicted his account that it was getting light when she fell
- He collected approximately $567,439 in life insurance benefits after her death
- The couple's marriage was troubled; family says Bernadette threatened divorce over his infidelity
What's Next
David Vander Meer is scheduled to appear in court. Prosecutors will present evidence including the timeline reconstruction, financial records, and testimony from witnesses who say he made conflicting statements about the incident. His defense has not yet issued a public response to the charges.
Bernadette's mother, Laura Gudenkauf, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that her daughter 'was getting ready to leave him' and had threatened divorce if he did not change his behavior.