Shocking Update: Former Youth Pastor Arrested For Murdering Wife, Dies In Police Custody
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
This is an iHeart Podcast. Guaranteed human. Hey there, folks. It is Friday, June 26th, and it was just yesterday. Robach and I were here telling you about a wild story that a former youth pastor is being charged with murder for killing his wife 20 years ago. Well, he was supposed to be in court yesterday to make his first court appearance. He's dead.
What happened in the latest update about the former youth pastor arrested for his wife's death?
And with that, welcome to this episode of Amy and T.J., Robes, you first brought this story to me, and you go back 20 years from start to finish. This is a bizarre story. Now this?
Yeah, and I do think police have some explaining to do. Aren't there protocols that are supposed to be in place? Didn't we learn something, I don't know, from Jeffrey Epstein? How is it that... an inmate and someone who I would argue many people have waited decades to see finally have his day in court. They want to see justice prevail. This has been a long time coming, how he's able to, and I think this is a fair way to put it, take the easy way out.
Yes, so there it is. Yes, they do say he did die by suicide, die by his own hand. They haven't given the details about how he was able to do that, but he has been in jail, I believe, since Monday. Robes in Las Vegas and was expected to be in court yesterday. It was on Thursday. But Robes, to your point, I don't know how it goes either. I don't know. There are rounds that are to be done. I don't know if... Anything would have risen to the level of him being on some type of suicide watch that hasn't been talked about. But Rome's, no, you're not supposed to. I mean, I guess you can't keep it all from happening. But yes, to your point, it seems like a disappointment for a lot of people who've been waiting.
He's gotten away with murder, a lot will tell you, for two years.
Yeah, and it is an incredible disappointment. And we even talked about how this was going to be a remarkable trial if it went to trial, if he didn't plead guilty. Because he's been able to live his life, get married and divorced multiple times, continue to be a youth pastor up until recently, and have access to young women who he is reportedly, and at least one young woman says he's spent many, many years grooming young women for his own sexual desires. So here's a guy who was able to get away with all of this, including, yes, murdering his wife, according to prosecutors. In 2006. And so finally, finally, he gets arrested. Finally, he's held accountable. And he's about to be extradited to Utah. And he's dead.
How did hosts react to the news of the suspect's death in custody?
When you put it all that way, this wasn't the first thing that came to my mind. But you're right, Rose, and how you set all that up. Five days, four days? Rogues, he got caught, and four days later, he's dead. So there'll be answers that nobody's going to give, that his wife's family is never going to get answers about exactly what happened. But this man's name is David Vandermeer, and Rogues, you were the one who brought this story to my attention. He was a youth pastor. all those years ago in Las Vegas. He's 49, or he was 49 when he passed, but he and his wife, as we explain, we keep going back and forth to explain why we're talking about Vegas and Utah. He's a Vegas youth pastor, but in 2016, his wife took a trip to Utah.
It's supposed to be an anniversary hike.
Yes, it was supposed to be an anniversary sunset hike. They were both 29 years old.
We have sunrise.
Sorry, I said sunset. Thank you. I meant to say sunrise.
Maybe sunset is more romantic.
Yes, but no, but the sunrise thing I get. So he told police that he and his wife set out when it was dark. They had headlamps. They went up and chose, and I mentioned this yesterday, one of the most dangerous places hikes in America. The hike is called Angels Landing. It's in Zion National Park. I have hiked this hike. It is frightening in the daytime with several people around holding onto ropes. So yes, to do it with a headlamp, fine. They made it up to the top. I think it's about a 1,500-foot steep rock formation. So if you look this up online, you'll see what I'm talking about. And so he claims that she's standing on the edge.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–0:30
2
What happened in the latest update about the former youth pastor arrested for his wife's death?
0:30–2:40
3
How did hosts react to the news of the suspect's death in custody?
2:40–13:59
4
What is the original Angels Landing hiking incident that led to Bernadette's death?
13:59–17:20
5
What inconsistencies and evidence surfaced about the 2006 anniversary hike death?
17:20–17:55
Speakers
2 identifiedMore from Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes Present
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