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Man arrested in wife’s Angels Landing death found dead ahead of court appearance

The charges came after the investigation into the death of Bernadette Vander Meer was reopened following a tip.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Angels Landing at Zion National Park, on Tuesday, August 12, 2025.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Angels Landing at Zion National Park, on Tuesday, August 12, 2025.

By  Michael Martin | FOX 13
 | June 25, 2026, 9:19 a.m.
| Updated: 9:25 a.m.

The man arrested on murder charges in the Angels Landing death of his wife died of self-inflicted injuries just ahead of his first scheduled court appearance.

David Vander Meer was arrested in Nevada earlier in the week on murder and insurance fraud charges brought by the Washington County Attorney’s Office.

Vander Meer had claimed his wife, Bernadette, had fallen from the top of the popular trail at Zion National Park when the two were visiting in 2006.

The exact circumstances surrounding Vander Meer’s death aren’t known, but were announced by the Las Vegas judge who was set to oversee his extradition hearing.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department originally said they had found an inmate, later identified as Vander Meer, at the Clark County Detention Center on Wednesday with self-sustained injuries. Vander Meer was taken to the hospital but was declared dead early Thursday.

Read the full story at fox13now.com.

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By Michael Martin | FOX 13