A youth pastor accused of murdering his first wife nearly two decades ago has taken his own life in a Las Vegas jail cell, leaving behind a handwritten suicide note and will, according to newly released police records. David Vander Meer was arrested last month on murder and insurance fraud charges over the 2006 death of Bernadette Vander Meer, who fell from a Utah cliff, after investigators reopened the long-dormant case. He died from self-inflicted injuries at the Clark County Detention Center before he could be extradited to Utah or stand trial.

A Metropolitan Police Department report released on Wednesday states that Vander Meer, a former school counsellor and yoga instructor, was found face down and unresponsive in his cell late on 24 June, roughly 30 minutes after officers had last checked and found him awake and sitting upright. An officer conducting routine visual checks spotted him lying on the floor shortly before 11:30pm, and Officer Shulz performed chest compressions until detention centre medical staff arrived. Bernadette's death was ruled an accident at the time despite investigators describing the circumstances as suspicious; authorities have not disclosed the contents of the note or will, and many details of his injuries remain redacted.