FAIRFIELD — One of the two Fairfield teens convicted of killing their high school Spanish teacher was sentenced to life in prison Thursday, with the possibility of parole after 35 years.
None of the 10 family members of Nohema Graber, 66, who spoke at the sentencing of Willard “Chaiden” Miller, 17, could understand why he had committed such a “heinous and brutal” act — beating Graber to death with a baseball bat because she’d given him bad grades.
The other teen convicted in the slaying, Jeremy Goodale, 18, is scheduled to be sentenced in August, though his attorneys are seeking a delay.
In the family statements, delivered in Jefferson County District Court in Fairfield, they said Graber loved to teach Spanish and always helped and cared for her students.
Tom Graber, Graber’s brother-in-law, talked in his victim impact statement about the “enormous” impact of her death on their family, Fairfield students, the school and community. It also deprived her husband, Paul Graber, 68, of her love and contributed to his death June 29, he said.
Tom Graber said his brother was deeply depressed and wasn’t taking care of himself as his wife would have insisted. He had cancer and his condition worsened after Miller and Goodale killed his sister-in-law in Fairfield’s Chautauqua Park on Nov. 2, 2021.
Christian Graber, Nohema’s son, told the court he feels sorry for Miller and his mother and grandmother, "who seem like decent people."
He said he thinks Miller may have "potential" to be a decent person someday — though he doesn’t see it right now — and offered to help him.
Deanne Graber, Nohema’s sister-in-law, said in her victim impact statement that Nohema had a “rock solid faith” and had encouraging, positive words in any situation.
Marilyn Fuest, another sister-in-law, said in her statement, read by another person, that every person Nohema met became her friend.
“People called her an angel,” Fuest said. “She loved people and prayed for them earnestly.”
Jim Graber, a brother-in-law, said Nohema had a lot of impact on a lot of people, but it only took two — Miller and Goodale — to impact so many more in a much different way.
“Killing someone over a grade is just insane,” he said.
He called Miller a “cold blooded, premeditated murderer” and said he didn’t believe Miller was remorseful. He said he hoped Miller would open his soul to God because, otherwise, he was on a “spiral straight to hell.”
Other family members also doubted Miller’s remorse.
Teen apologizes
During the hearing, Miller said he accepted responsibility in Graber’s death and apologized to the Graber family. He also said he was sorry about Paul Graber’s death.
Miller told his family he was sorry and that he “loves them so much.”
He also apologized to the community, to Graber’s church, to Goodale’s family and to law enforcement for lying to them. He said he is just now realizing the “magnitude” of his actions.
Eighth Judicial District Shawn Showers considered all the juvenile factors in making his sentencing but noted the “heinous and brutal” nature of the crime and how Miller planned the fatal attack and recruited Goodale to help him.
He also noted that “evil doesn’t have a birthday” and the years in prison will give him time to rehabilitate, receive an education and grow and mature.
Miller’s lawyer argued against any mandatory minimum and the prosecution argued for a mandatory minimum of 30 years. The judge settled on a minimum of 35 years.
Details revealed
Two Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation special agents testified about the slaying and revealed more details of evidence against Miller and Goodale. Video recordings of Miller and Goodale’s interviews with police were played during sentencing.
In their April pleas, Miller and Goodale admitted to striking Graber, Miller’s Spanish teacher and Goodale’s teacher the previous year, or aiding and abetting the other in striking her with a baseball bat on Nov. 2, 2021.
Goodale said Miller struck her more than once; Miller denied striking her. Miller said he was “lookout” for Goodale who struck her with the bat, which he admitted during the interview.
Special Agent Ryan Kedley said Miller told several different versions of what happened during his interview, including that a band of masked individuals had attacked Graber in the park and he saw them carry away what he thought was her body.
Miller planned the killing about 10 days to two weeks before Nov. 2. Miller started asking others to help.
Investigators found an email with a list of items on his phone, which Goodale told them about. The list included a baseball bat, hammer, knife, garden gloves, plastic gloves, trash bags and wet wipes, which were found at the crime scene in the park. The email also laid out “prep” for the attack and procedure on how to carry it out.
Special Agent Trent Vileta said Miller also admitted to watching Graber to track her habits, such as her walk in the park after school.
Investigators also found Google searches on Miller’s phone, including one from Oct. 24, 2021, which stated "Do students receive credit for class if professor is seriously injured or dies during course.“
Graber’s body was found in the park after her husband reported her missing Nov. 2, Vileta said. Her body was wrapped in a tarp with a wheelbarrow and railroad ties over it.
Vileta said Graber’s shirts had been removed, and a turtleneck and another shirt were found up in the trees where the body was found.
She didn’t have any injuries on her arms and legs, except for a scratch of two. She did have severe head injuries.
Investigators also found the wheelbarrow — used to move Graber’s body from where she was killed to where her body was hidden — was found near the railroad tracks.
John Burnett, a close friend of Goodale’s, gave police information about what happened to Graber and that she was killed because she gave Miller bad grades, Vileta said.
He also had some Snapchat screenshots of conversations he’d had with Goodale, which implicated Goodale and Miller in Graber’s slaying.
Vileta said Miller was already a suspect because of statements from another person.
Graber's vehicle was found on Middle Glasgow Road, where it dead ends, Vileta said. Burnett told police where to find the van.
Vileta said a baseball bat was found in Miller's bedroom in a corner against the wall. The bat didn’t have DNA on it, but Vileta said it could have easily been cleaned.
Other teens who were interviewed said Miller told them that if Graber came up missing not to contact police.
Fairfield police Lt. Julie Kinsella said investigators discovered Miller wanted to study abroad in Spain and needed a good grade in Spanish — the possible motive.
They also discovered he had bragged to another friend about killing Graber. And they found Snapchat messages from Miller to Burnett and other gaming friends about striking Graber with a bat.
Mike Heinricy, warden at the Iowa Medical and Classification Center at Oakdale, testified about the youthful offender program where Miller will be placed until he’s 18. Once he turns 18, he will likely be sent to the Iowa State Penitentiary based on his murder conviction.
The youthful offenders are kept separate from the adult inmates and they have the opportunity to finish their high school education, taught life skills and receive one-on-one counseling and other mental health services.
Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com
