David Howard Vander Meer, charged in Zion cold case, dies in custody in Las Vegas
Jun 25, 2026, 10:27 AM
The man charged this week with pushing his wife off Angel's Landing to her death in 2006 died this morning while in custody in Las Vegas. (Scott G Winterton, KSL)
(Scott G Winterton, KSL)
LAS VEGAS — The man arrested this week for allegedly pushing his wife off Angel’s Landing in 2006 has died while in custody, according to media reports in Las Vegas.
Several news organizations in Las Vegas are reporting that during a scheduled extradition hearing Thursday morning for David Howard Vander Meer, the judge informed the court that Vander Meer was deceased.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department also released a statement that on Wednesday, “a 49-year-old male inmate at the Clark County Detention Center was transported to University Medical Center (in Las Vegas) to be treated for self-sustained injuries. On (Thursday), medical personnel at UMC pronounced the inmate deceased.”
Las Vegas police did not identify the deceased inmate, but noted that he had been in custody since Monday for being a “fugitive from another state.”
On Tuesday, the Washington County Attorney’s Office announced that Vander Meer, 49, had been arrested in Las Vegas and charged in 5th District Court with murder, a first-degree felony, and insurance fraud, a second-degree felony, in connection with the death of Bernadette Vander Meer, 29, on Aug. 22, 2006.
Bernadette fell approximately 1,200 feet off Angel’s Landing while the two were visiting Zion National Park for their anniversary, according to an arrest warrant affidavit filed with the charges.
“At the time, due to lack of evidence and limited investigation, Bernadette Vander Meer’s fall was ruled an accident and the case was closed — although investigators felt the circumstances were suspicious,” the charges state.
After receiving several tips from members of the youth group over which David Vander Meer was formerly a pastor, the case was reopened.
As an investigator began looking into Vander Meer’s past as a youth pastor, “I learned about his inappropriate behavior with the children/minors in his youth group ministry, which he oversaw as the youth pastor. I learned of David’s infidelity and unfaithfulness during his marriage to Bernadette, which went on for years prior to Bernadette’s passing. I learned about David’s deceptive nature and descriptive storytelling, which led several witnesses to believe David had pushed Bernadette to her death,” the affidavit states.
In December, investigators met with the woman, who was a teen when she began an inappropriate relationship with David Vander Meer, according to the affidavit.
“(She) recalls David never talked about their future together, but did make one statement that has always stuck with her. Prior to Bernadette’s passing, (she) recalls David telling her, the only way they could be together is if Bernadette was not alive,” the affidavit states.
A cause of death was not immediately released.
This story will be updated.
Other reading: Hiker dies after falling off popular trail at Zion National Park
