Las Vegas school counselor left suicide note at jail, police say

A Las Vegas school counselor accused of killing his wife at Angels Landing left a suicide letter while in custody at the Clark County Detention Center, a report released Wednesday stated.

David Vander Meer, who also worked as a yoga instructor, had been arrested in Summerlin last month and scheduled for a court appearance, but at the hearing a judge said that Vander Meer had died.

A Metropolitan Police Department report stated that Vander Meer was found alone and unresponsive in his cell on June 24.

He was taken to the University Medical Center for self-sustained injuries and died the next day, the report stated.

Metro, which operates the detention center, did not explain how he was able to so severely injure himself while in custody.

Vander Meer was arrested on murder and insurance fraud charges in the death of his first wife, Bernadette Vander Meer. She was 28 when she died on Aug. 22, 2006, after falling from Angels Landing at Zion.

Authorities said the death was considered suspicious, but it was ruled an accident at the time and the case was closed.

The Washington County, Utah, attorney’s office said in an affidavit leading to David Vander Meer’s arrest that it received a tip in 2022 that the former youth pastor had been using his position to groom children, and that he had engaged in a sexual relationship with one of those children.

Another tip came in October of last year, when David Vander Meer’s former boss at the church contacted the office to say he did not believe the death was an accident.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

If you’re thinking about suicide, or are worried about a friend or loved one, help is available 24/7 by calling or texting the Lifeline network at 988. Live chat is available at 988lifeline.org.