Fairfield teens plead guilty in murder of Spanish teacher

Fairfield teens plead guilty in murder of Spanish teacher
Hunter
04/18/23

Just days before the first trial of two teens accused of bludgeoning a Fairfield High School Spanish teacher to death after a dispute over a bad grade, both pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in Jefferson County Court.

Willard Miller was set to go to trial this week, with Jeremy Goodale agreeing to testify against Miller. The Press-Citizen reports that Court TV planned to carry the proceedings live beginning Friday.

Miller and Goodale were both 16 when charged with the November 3, 2021 murder of 66-year-old Nohema Graber. Several classmates approached police to show Snapchat messages, allegedly by Goodale, implicating himself and Miller in the killing.

At Tuesday ‘s hearing, Goodale said that Miller planned the murder and asked Goodale to assist. Miller hit her in the head with a baseball bat, and Goodale said he hit her again when Miller’s blow failed to kill her.

Prosecutors recommended Miller get a sentence of life in prison with eligibility for parole in 30 years. They recommended Goodale get life with parole eligibility in 25 years. The two will be sentenced at a later date.