Iowa teens kill Spanish teacher using baseball bat, police say

Teens from Iowa are charged for murdering Spanish teacher with baseball bat

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Two teenagers from southeast Iowa used a baseball bat to kill their high school Spanish teacher last fall. One described in a social media post how they followed the woman, carried out the attack and hid her body, police state in court documents publicly released on Tuesday.

A judge rejected defense lawyers’ request on Tuesday that the media be excluded from a hearing later this week at which the teens will attempt to be tried in the juvenile system instead of adult court.

Jeremy Goodale and Willard Miller, both 16, are being charged with murder in the death of Fairfield High School Spanish teacher Nohema Graber, 66.

Graber’s body was found Nov. 3 hidden under a tarp, a wheelbarrow and railroad ties after she was reported missing earlier that day. Her body was found at the Chautauqua Park in Fairfield, about 95 miles southeast of Des Moines.

The search warrant information had been sealed by a judge until this week containing details about the case.

The document states that a witness who knew Goodale showed Goodale’s Snapchat messages to police that indicated Miller and Goodale “were involved in the planning, execution, and disposal of evidence” related to Graber’s death.

The messages described how Goodale and Miller followed Graber, how she was killed, where her body was left, where her car was parked and how the teens disposed of and concealed evidence.

Messages included that a baseball bat was used to kill Graber. The teacher suffered “inflicted trauma to the head” according to court documents.

Alleged motive and other details remain concealed from public view. The teen’s attorneys have asked the court to keep the majority of the information about the evidence under seal and had requested the media and the public be excluded form Thursday’s hearing on whether the teens will be tried as adults or juveniles.

Judge Shawn Showers denied the request for the private hearing on Tuesday. Showers said the defense attorneys did not show the teen’s right to a fair trial would be irreparably damaged if the hearing was open.

Goodale and Miller will be charged as adults as required by Iowa court procedures, which state anyone 16 or over charged with a forcible felony is automatically waived to adult court “and is subject to the same criminal procedures and penalties as adults.”

The adult sentence for first-degree murder in Iowa is life in prison. In 2016 the Iowa Supreme Court banned judges from imposing murder sentences of life without parole for offenders under the age of 18, saying it amounts to cruel and unusual punishment under the Iowa Constitution.

Goodale and Miller would likely serve lengthy prison sentences if convicted as adults. In juvenile court the two would be released from custody in less than two years, when they turn 18.

Goodale’s trial is set for August 23rd and Miller’s trial is planned for November 1st.