In November 2021, it was reported that two 16-year-old teenagers, Jeremy Goodale and Willard Miller, were accused of ambushing their teacher, Nohema Graber, and beat her to death with a baseball bat . Following the alleged attack, they reportedly hid her body in a nearby park and bragged about it on social media.
Who Was Teacher Nohema Graber
Nohema Graber, who was 66 years old at the time of her death, was described by those who knew her as a loving mother and an exceptional community leader, teacher, and friend. She was a familiar figure in Fairfield’s Latino community and had been teaching Spanish at Fairfield High School since 2012.
Nohema Graber was born in Xalapa, Mexico, which is the capital of the state of Veracruz and located approximately 180 miles (289 kilometers) east of Mexico City. She relocated to Fairfield, Iowa in the 1990s, the hometown of her ex-husband Paul Graber. Although the couple divorced five years ago, they reportedly remained on good terms.
The disappearance Nohema Graber, the Spanish teacher in Fairfield high school, Iowa, was reported on November 2, 2021.
As per a criminal complaint, investigators reported that Nohema Graber was last seen at Chautauqua Park, which was a location she frequented for afternoon walks.
The police discovered her body the following day in the same park, concealed under a tarp, wheelbarrow, and railroad ties. Detectives noted that their initial investigation suggested that Graber had suffered head trauma.
The Killers
Court documents indicate that law enforcement received a tip suggesting that Jeremy Goodale had posted information on social media about planning the attack on Nohema Graber, as well as a potential motive for the crime.
According to court documents, the details that were reportedly posted on social media by Jeremy Goodale included, but were not limited to, the motive for killing Nohema Graber, the planning and execution of the means to commit the murder, and deliberate attempts to conceal the crime.
Willard Miller initially denied any involvement in Nohema Graber’s death, but later claimed that he had knowledge of the incident without participating in it. Miller alleged that a group of masked individuals had killed Graber and forced him to dispose of the body.
Investigators reported that witnesses had observed two males driving Graber’s van out of the park less than an hour after the teacher arrived. The van was later found abandoned at the end of a rural road, and a witness picked up the two teenagers as they walked along the same road.
Goodale allegedly bragged about the murder to a friend on Snapchat. A witness provided photos of a Snapchat conversation with the teen that implicated himself and Miller by name in Graber’s killing.
Motive Behind The Crime
According to reports, Willard Miller told the police that he was frustrated with the way Nohema Graber taught Spanish and was angry that the low grade he received from her was lowering his overall GPA.
Investigators reportedly found evidence that in 2021, Willard Miller had met with Nohema Graber at Fairfield High School to discuss the poor grade he had received in her class on the afternoon of her murder. Following this meeting, Graber drove her van to a park where she was known to take daily walks after school, according to authorities.
Due to the nature of their alleged crimes, Willard Miller and Jeremy Goodale were charged with first-degree homicide and first-degree conspiracy to commit homicide. They will be tried as adults.
Recent Development
In a news article released by the New York Post on March 30, 2023, it has been reported that Jeremy Goodale has agreed to testify against his former friend, Willard Miller, during the latter’s upcoming trial.
In a surprising development in the case, it has been reported that Jeremy Goodale will provide information about Willard Miller’s purported involvement in the brutal killing.
As of now, it remains unclear whether Jeremy Goodale has entered into a plea deal in exchange for his testimony against Willard Miller.