About Youth Group Cult : My Experience of David Vander Meer
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.
In this final episode of Youth Group Cult I'll talk about filing a report that reopens the case into Bernadette's accidental death case. I'll also walk through what it was like to experience David's arrest and death. This is the conclusion of the series. Thanks for listening.
29 Aug 2026
Episode 5 : My Last Moments with David
In this episode I share about my last interactions with David. How I participated in his second wedding and how he participated in mine. I'll also talk about learning details and information that shaped my last conversation with David where I told him that I didn't trust him and was not interested in continuing my friendship with him.
22 Aug 2026
Episode 4 : The House on Eldora Street
In this episode I share about what it was like living with David at the Vander Meer family home on Eldora Street in Las Vegas. From the lies and deceit to the wildly inappropriate behavior David instigated, living at the house on Eldora Street was anything but normal. This was where the cracks in our friendship began to form.
15 Aug 2026
Episode 3 : Bernadette and Her Death
In this episode I talk about my friendship with Bernadette, my last interactions with her, and learning about her death. A coffee conversation I had with her 20 years ago revealed suspicions that would be validated years later. I'll also share about my involvement in her funeral and a portion of the song I wrote and sang at it.
8 Aug 2026
Episode 2 : Normalizing Cult-like Behavior in the Church
In this episode hear about how David normalized cult-like behaviors in the church. David desired a cult-like devotion to himself and was the instigator of inappropriate behaviors for youth group students. These are accounts of interactions I had with David while I was a student in his youth group.
1 Aug 2026
Episode 1 : Introduction
Episode 1 : Introduction
Introducing Youth Group Cult : My Experience of David Vander Meer. In this debut episode, learn about the who, what, and why behind this show. I'll also speak about the moment I met David and what will be covered in this podcast. Episodes will be released weekly and each have their specific focus. Thanks for listening.
You can find the Youth Group Cult podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Youtube. Reach out to youthgroupcult@gmail.com (mailto:youthgroupcult@gmail.com) for questions or comments.
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15 ratings
Spotify
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5 ratings
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