Former Youth Pastor Accused Of Killing Wife Of 20 Years After Her Fatal Fall At Zion National Park

A erstwhile younker pastor and existent schoolhouse counsellor from Las Vegas has been arrested successful relationship pinch nan decease of his wife, who fell to her decease while hiking astatine Zion National Park astir 2 decades ago.

David Vander Meer was taken into custody Monday successful Las Vegas by U.S. Marshals, according to a connection released by nan Washington County Attorney’s Office successful Utah, The Salt Lake Tribune reported. He faces allegations of execution and security fraud stemming from nan Aug. 22, 2006, decease of his wife, Bernadette Vander Meer.

The criminal investigation into nan 2006 incident was precocious reopened aft rule enforcement officials received an undisclosed tip, nan prosecutor’s agency stated.

Details regarding what prompted nan apprehension warrant stay unavailable, arsenic nan accompanying affidavit is presently nether seal, Washington County Deputy Attorney Phillip Soelberg told nan Las Vegas Review-Journal.

At nan clip of nan incident, parkland officials reported that Bernadette Vander Meer, 29, died aft falling astir 1,200 feet from nan Angels Landing way during a hike pinch her husband.

Following nan arrest, an online unit directory for Somerset Academy Lone Mountain, a nationalist charter schoolhouse wherever David Vander Meer was employed arsenic a counselor, removed his profile.

Bernadette Vander Meer had worked astatine nan New York-New York Hotel & Casino connected nan Las Vegas Strip. An obituary published successful August 2006 by nan Review-Journal described her arsenic a devoted woman and girl who had a passion for shape performance, euphony and nature.

The way she fell from, Angel’s Landing, is known for being 1 of nan astir vulnerable routes successful nan U.S. According to Deseret Morning News archives, fatalities astatine nan tract person included nan 2004 decease of a 14-year-old connected a Boy Scout outing, nan 1997 decease of a 36-year-old man who was rappelling down nan stone statement and nan 1989 decease of a 28-year-old man who fell 150 feet.

In 1997, the outlet reported, 36-year-old Patricia Bottarini of Medford, New Jersey, fell astir 500 feet arsenic she was hiking to nan park’s Observation Point pinch her husband, James Bottarini. In 2002, he went connected proceedings successful national tribunal on charges related to Patricia Bottarini’s death, of which he was acquitted.

Jail records bespeak that David Vander Meer is being held astatine nan Clark County Detention Center arsenic a fugitive from different state. He is scheduled to look successful nan Las Vegas Justice Court Thursday morning.

The Independent has contacted Somerset Academy Lone Mountain officials for comment.