Jeremy Goodale is one of the two Fairfield High School students who murdered their Spanish teacher Nohema Graber when she gave his friend a bad grade. Goodale and his friend Willard Miller pleaded guilty to first-degree murder earlier this year in April. According to USA Today, prosecutors charged both as adults in the crime committed in 2021.
The outlet reported that Miller received a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 35 years. He remains in state custody as of November 4, per the Iowa Department of Corrections. For Goodale, prosecutors are seeking 25 years to life as part of the plea agreement.
Jeremy Goodale’s sentencing hearing reveals new details in the case
USA Today reported that witness testimonies presented during Jeremy Goodale’s sentencing hearing revealed new details about the case. The Iowa Department of Public Safety Division of Criminal Investigation Special Agents Trent Vileta and Ryan Kedley testified as key witnesses. Vileta claimed that a friend of the two students shared screenshots and messages from Snapchat that proved important to the case.
Per the screenshots and messages, Goodale reportedly made an incriminating post that stated, “Time to hide a body.” The post also comprised a jug of Clorox bleach. A second post was his selfie that said, “POV you’re my Spanish teacher and this is the last thing you see.”
Fairfield Police Lt. Julie Kinsella mentioned that Willard Miller, who was sentenced in July, wanted to murder his Spanish teacher. He was reportedly upset after Nohema Graber gave him a bad grade that made him ineligible for an exchange trip to Spain. Kinsella claimed that the 17-year-old was “basically flunking Spanish.” Kinsella further added, “So he came up with the idea of killing Mrs. Graber because she was flunking him in Spanish and he asked Jeremy Goodale to assist him.”
According to CNN, Goodale and Miller attacked Graber. The duo bludgeoned the 66-year-old to death with a bat on November 2, 2021, during a meeting with Miller to discuss his poor grade. The mother-of-three’s family reported her missing that same day. Police found her body hidden under a tarpaulin, wheelbarrow, and railway sleepers in a local park the following day.
In July, Judge Shawn Showers sentenced Miller to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 35 years. Meanwhile, prosecutors are seeking 25 years to life for Goodale, now 18.
