Willard Miller and Jeremy Goodale: Teens, 18 and 17, plead guilty to killing teacher over low grades
FAIRFIELD, IOWA: Two Iowa teenagers have pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in connection with the fatal beating of their high school Spanish instructor, Nohema Graber, which occurred in November 2021. In separate court appearances on Tuesday, Willard Miller and Jeremy Goodale changed their pleas and admitted to killing Graber with a baseball bat, possibly over a disagreement regarding class grades.
Graber's body was found at Chautauqua Park in Fairfield, Iowa, hidden under a tarp, wheelbarrow, and railroad ties. Prosecutors have recommended a sentence between 30 years and life in prison with the possibility of parole for Miller and between 25 years and life in prison with the possibility of parole for Goodale.
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Nohema Graber murder: 16-yr-old who BATTERED Spanish teacher to death will be tried as adult
Nohema Graber murder: Prosecutors claim Fairfield Spanish teacher was killed over bad grades
The teenagers were charged as adults because of the severity of the crime
The teenagers were charged as adults because of the severity of the crime, even though they were 16 at the time of the killing and were not subject to mandatory life without parole. At present, Goodale is 18 and Miller is 17. Goodale had previously agreed to testify against Miller at his trial, which was set to begin later in the week, KCRG reported.
Prosecutors, as per the report, said that the evidence shows both Miller and Goodale struck Graber with a bat. Miller admitted to helping in planning and carrying out the killing but denied ever hitting Graber. Goodale testified that Miller initiated the plan to kill Graber and they both struck her.
According to court filings, the investigators as per the report said Miller met with Graber on the day of the murder to discuss his poor grade in her class. Miller told police he was frustrated with the way Graber taught Spanish and over how the grade in her class resulted in a lower GPA.
'Were involved in the planning, execution, and disposal of evidence'
After the meeting, Graber drove to a park where she often went for daily walks after school. Witnesses reported her van leaving the park less than an hour later with two males in the front seat. Her body was later found hidden in the park, and the two teenagers were arrested and charged with murder in the first degree and conspiracy to commit a forcible felony.
Investigators have cited evidence from Goodale's Snapchat history. In the Snapchat messages, Goodale revealed that they "were involved in the planning, execution, and disposal of evidence" in Graber's murder. Snapchat messages also as per the reports reveal how the pair had "surveilled" Graber and provided additional details about how they killed her, disposed of her body, and covered up the evidence.