Two Iowa teens accused of murder may have killed a Spanish teacher over bad grades, according to Fairfield prosecutors, while the defense is seeking to suppress information obtained by investigators.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Willard Noble Chaiden Miller and his accomplice, Jeremy Everett Goodale, 16, are accused of killing 66-year-old Nohema Graber in November 2021. Both teens were students at Fairfield High School in Fairfield, where Graber had been teaching Spanish since 2012.
According to a criminal complaint, both suspects appeared to know the specific details regarding Graber’s death, as allegedly evidenced through a social media exchange. The exchange included how the teacher died, Miller’s involvement, and the motive.
CBS News reports that investigators learned that on November 2, 2021, Graber called Miller into her classroom concerning his grades.
Court documents reportedly “identify Goodale’s admissions that he acted in concert with another person to bring about Graber’s death.” Miller reportedly told investigators that he was frustrated at his GPA being lowered due to his grade in Graber’s class.
‘The poor grade is believed to be the motive behind the murder of Graber which directly connects Miller,” court documents filed by Jefferson County Attorney Chauncey Moulding and Assistant Iowa Attorney General Scott Brown stated.
A hearing is scheduled for Wednesday to establish whether evidence will be thrown out. The defense is seeking to suppress the evidence and to quash the search warrants that include evidence taken from Williams’ cellphone and Snapchat account.
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Court documents indicate that Miller initially denied involvement in the victim’s death but later admitted he knew about it but didn’t participate.
Investigators obtained search warrants for both suspects’ homes and found clothing that appeared to have blood on them. A witness who knew the suspects told police they saw the suspects at the park on the day Graber was murdered.
Miller ultimately admitted he was at the park and gave investigators details on how the crime happened and how it was covered up, according to the criminal complaint.
“A search warrant was then executed by Jefferson County police, who searched Goodale’s residence, uncovering ‘multiple clothing items appearing to have a substance consistent in appearance with that of blood,” the complaint read.
Police found Graber’s body “concealed under a tarp, wheelbarrow, and railroad ties.” The criminal complaint stated Graber had head trauma.
Goodale and Miller Complaint by Leigh Egan
Both suspects remain behind bars without bail. Check back for updates.
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Feature Photo: Jeremy Goodale, left, and Willard Miller/Police Handout; Center, Nohema Graber/Facebook]
