A former youth pastor who was scheduled to appear in court Thursday regarding the decades-old murder of his wife is now dead, a Las Vegas judge announced in court.

The judge said, “He’s not here; he’s deceased,” before adjourning the hearing. Court proceedings were set for David Vander Meer, 49, who had been charged earlier this week with murder and insurance fraud tied to the death of his then-29-year-old wife, Bernadette Vander Meer, in 2006.

Las Vegas police said Thursday that a 49-year-old male inmate at the Clark County Detention Center—who had been housed there since June 22—was transported to a local hospital for “self-sustained injuries” and was pronounced dead. Police said the Clark County Coroner’s Office would release the official cause of death and identify the inmate, noting the cause and manner of death were pending.

According to court records, Vander Meer allegedly collected life insurance money worth about $567,000 and used it to live “lavishly.” Prosecutors said he also bought vehicles for a girl he allegedly groomed and another member of the youth group and took the youth group on several all-expense-paid trips.

Vander Meer applied for $150,000 life insurance policies for himself and his wife in 2005, later raising them to $550,000 each in November 2005—less than a year before Bernadette Vander Meer’s death.

Authorities said the couple traveled to Zion National Park, Utah, in August 2006 to celebrate their anniversary. Prosecutors said Vander Meer told investigators he went to move their backpacks so he could take a photo, and that while his back was turned he heard his wife scream as she fell. At the time, investigators were told he did not see her trip or hear anything before she died.

Initially, Bernadette Vander Meer’s death was ruled an accident and the case was closed, though court records indicated investigators had thought the circumstances were suspicious. In April 2022, law enforcement received a tip from a former youth group member alleging Vander Meer used his “position of special trust” to groom kids. Investigators later re-interviewed the individual and other youth group members as part of the renewed probe.

In October 2025, Barry Diamond, the senior pastor of the church Vander Meer previously worked at, told the Washington County Attorney’s Office that he believed the death was not an accident and that Vander Meer pushed Bernadette. The church leader said multiple youth group members recalled inappropriate relationships with Vander Meer, including sexual relationships.