Judge: ‘Sufficient’ evidence merits trial for Fairfield teens accused of killing teacher

DES MOINES — A judge said Friday there was enough evidence to go to trial against two Southeast Iowa teenagers charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the death of a high school Spanish teacher.

Willard Noble Chaiden Miller and Jeremy Everett Goodale, both 16, are accused of killing Nohema Graber, a 66-year-old teacher at Fairfield High School, which both teens attended. Authorities have not said whether she taught either of them.

She was reported missing Nov. 2 and her remains were found later that day at a Fairfield park neat the school were she was known to take daily walks. Earlier court filings stated that Graber suffered “inflicted trauma to the head.”

Records show minutes of testimony were filed but kept sealed as allowed under Iowa law. The minutes typically outline a crime in detail significant enough for a judge to approve them and hold the defendants over for trial.

Judge Joel Yates said he reviewed the information and the minutes of testimony and found "they contain evidence which, if unexplained, is sufficient to warrant a conviction by a trial jury.“

"Being satisfied from the showing made that the case should be prosecuted, I approve the trial information,” he wrote.

Yates set an arraignment for Miller and Goodale for Nov. 29. He ordered both teens to continue to be held on the previously set $1 million bail apiece. Attorneys for both have requested a hearing for bond reduction, which Yates has set for Nov. 23. A trial date has not been scheduled.

An attorney for Goodale declined to comment, and an attorney for Miller did not immediately respond to messages.

Graber's body was found concealed under a tarp, wheelbarrow and railroad ties at the Chautauqua Park in Fairfield, about 95 miles southeast of Des Moines, police have said.

Police received a tip that Goodale exchanged details about planning the killing over social media, according to court documents, but records did not disclose details of the messages or what they reveal about a motive. The documents indicated police investigators also found clothing that appeared to contain blood at the homes of the teens.

Documents also said Miller admitted to being at the park when Graber was killed, and to providing materials used to kill her and conceal her death.