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Prosecutors' love triangle theory. Youth pastor accused of wife's murder. Plus, June Diane Raphael.
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Witness S.H.: The Teenage Girlfriend Who Became Wife #2
At 17:32 · chapter starts 16:55
The crack that opened the case wide came from a witness identified only by her initials: S.H. She told investigators Vander Meer began grooming her when she was 14 years old and the relationship turned sexual when she was 16 — while he was still married to Bernadette. The night before the couple drove to Zion National Park, S.H. tried to end the relationship. David told her the only way they could ever be together was if Bernadette 'was not alive.' The next morning, Bernadette fell off the cliff. After her death, S.H. became David Vander Meer's second wife — before he married again a third time.
Key witness S.H. told investigators that David Vander Meer began grooming her when she was 14 and the relationship became sexual when she was 16, while he was still married to Bernadette.
The night before David and Bernadette drove to Zion, witness S.H. tried to break off her relationship with David. He told her the only way they could ever be together was if Bernadette 'was not alive.' After Bernadette died, S.H. became David's second wife.
The night before David and Bernadette left for Zion, witness S.H. tried to break off her relationship with David, who told her the only way they could be together was if 'Bernadette was not alive.'
David Vander Meer collected approximately $567,000 in life insurance proceeds after Bernadette's death, and the morning they left for Zion, Bernadette told her mother they had recently increased their coverage.
David Vander Meer collected $567,000 in life insurance after Bernadette's death. That morning, Bernadette told her mother they had recently increased their coverage and tried to show her the policy online — but the password had been changed. She said she'd figure it out later. She never got the chance.
