20 years after his wife fell to her death in Utah, a youth pastor’s story unravels | CNN

Richard Gudenkauf walked his daughter down the aisle in September 1996 with a frown on his face. The bride, Bernadette, was a vision in her white dress and matching pearls, big doe eyes peering out from behind her veil. Her mother, Laura Gudenkauf, watched her daughter glowing, happy to finally be marrying the man she had met years earlier during a theater production at church. From the start, Richard had a bad feeling about the groom, David Vander Meer. He wasn’t happy about David marrying his daughter, a vibrant young performer, rooted in her faith, engaged in her community. Bernadette had always been a star in Richard’s eyes. But it was at a crowded nightclub one night that he realized just how bright her light could shine. There was a karaoke stage in the corner, where a small audience listened to amateur singers crooning above the din of the larger crowd. Bernadette got up to perform, and she was only four or five notes in when a hush fell over the entire club. They were captivated. That’s when Richard knew, she’s really good. Bernadette did what she could to get her voice out there, performing in character as Betty Boop and recording demo CDs with covers from the like

Jul 12, 2026 → Jul 12, 2026