Fairfield teen accused of killing teacher wants trial delayed

FAIRFIELD — One of two teenagers accused of killing a Fairfield High Spanish teacher last year wants his November trial delayed to give him more time to complete depositions and discovery in the case.

Willard Noble Chaiden Miller, 16, filed a one-year speedy trial waiver on Thursday, and is asking a judge for a scheduling conference to set a new trial date.

His trial was previously set for Nov. 1. The trial has been moved out of Jefferson County to Pottawattamie County because of extensive pretrial publicity.

Miller and Jeremy Everett Goodale, 17, are each charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit a forcible felony in the slaying of teacher Nohema Graber, 66, on Nov. 2, 2021. The teens are accused of killing Graber with a baseball bat, according to court documents.

Goodale also previously asked the court to delay his trial to Dec. 5. Eighth Judicial District Judge Shawn Showers moved his trial to Scott County because of extensive pretrial publicity.

According to unsealed search warrant in March, Miller told investigators he provided a wheelbarrow used in hiding Graber’s body. A witness who lived near the park where Graber’s body was found told police he remembered seeing a male pushing a wheelbarrow toward the park about midnight Nov. 2, 2021.

The teens schemed over social media to kill Graber, who had taught at Fairfield High since 2012, according court documents. They monitored her routine before ambushing her on her daily walk in the park, killing her with a baseball bat and later hiding her body, according to court documents.

If convicted, the teens face life in prison but will have a chance for parole because they are juveniles.

Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com