Youth Group Cult : My Experience of David Vander Meer

society, culture, documentary, true crime · EN

On June 22nd, 2026, former youth pastor David Vander Meer was arrested in Las Vegas for the death of his first wife, Bernadette, which had happened almost 20 years earlier. Two days later, David took his own life while awaiting extradition to Utah, since Bernadette's death had happened in Zion National Park back in 2006. David was my youth pastor, my friend, and for a short time, my roommate. I was also a key part of his arrest. This podcast is a telling of my experiences with David and my involvement in the case against him. I hope it helps shed a light on the problems that come with assuming safety and trust simply because of a job title.