Former youth pastor dies day he was set to appear in court for the 2006 death of his wife

Key Points:

• David Vander Meer, a former youth pastor charged with the 2006 murder of his wife Bernadette and insurance fraud, was found dead in a Las Vegas detention center on the day he was scheduled to appear in court.
• Bernadette Vander Meer's death was initially ruled an accident, but new investigations revealed David's alleged long-term sexual relationships with underage girls from his youth group and suspicions that he pushed his wife to her death.
• Court records show David collected over $567,000 from his wife's life insurance and lived lavishly, while also grooming and engaging in inappropriate relationships with minors, including one who testified about their sexual relationship starting when she was 16.
• Investigations uncovered inconsistencies in David's account of his wife's death and testimony from church members and youth group attendees who suspected foul play and inappropriate conduct by David.
• David Vander Meer was fired in 2008 for providing alcohol to underage youth and later married one of the girls he groomed, with their marriage marked by instability and infidelity before divorcing in 2014.