DES MOINES, IA - On Wednesday, November 15th, the teen charged and convicted with the beating death of a high school Spanish teacher was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after serving 25 years.
According to the Associated Press (AP), a judge sentenced 18-year-old Jeremy Goodale for his role in the murder of 66-year-old Nohema Graber, a Spanish teacher at Fairfield High School. Back in April, Goodale and his friend, Willard miller, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder.
The deadly attack took place back in 2021 after the two teenage boys brutally attacked the teacher because she had given Miller a bad grade. At the time of the incident, both boys were 16-years-old. The two ambushed the teacher and beat her to death in a park with a baseball bat.
After killing Graber, the teenage boys used a wheelbarrow to move her body to a spot near railroad tracks, where they then covered it with a tarp and placed the wheelbarrow and a railroad tie over the tarp.
Evidence showed that Miller and Goodale struck the 66-year-old teacher while she was taking a routine walk after school. Miller admitted to helping plan and carry out the killing, but denied ever actually hitting Graber. Goodale then testified that Miller initiated the plan to kill the teacher and that each of them struck her with the bat.
At the sentencing on Wednesday, November 15th, Goodale apologized to the teacher's family, the community and his own family. Through periods of crying, he said, "I'm sorry, truly sorry. What I've taken can never be replaced. Every day I wish I could go back and stop myself, prevent this loss and this pain that I've caused everyone."
According to the New York Post, as Goodale was sobbing, blood started pouring out of his nose. Judge Shawn Showers noted that it was clear Goodale was "remorseful and didn't consider the repercussions" of his actions, but that he was a "smart boy who could have easily prevented the murder."
Both teens were charged as adults, but because they were 16-years-old at the time of the murder, they are not subject to an Iowa requirement that those convicted of first-degree murder serve life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Prior to sentencing, 10 members of Graber's family give victim impact statements. During those statements read by Tom Graber, the brother of the victim's husband, questioned the authenticity of Goodale's remorse.
Tom Graber said, "I just say your actions to me undercut that. You're now an adult. You're over the age of 18 and yet you have your counsel to represent you ... arguing on your behalf to escape punishment for this horrific crime. That doesn't sound like remorse to me."
The judge's decision to sentence Goodale to life with the possibility of parole after 25 years matched the request by prosecutors. Goodale's defense attorney said that he should be sentenced to life with no mandatory minimum sentence before he is eligible for parole. In July, Judge Showers sentenced Miller to life in prison with a possibility if parole after serving 35 years.
According to the Associated Press (AP), a judge sentenced 18-year-old Jeremy Goodale for his role in the murder of 66-year-old Nohema Graber, a Spanish teacher at Fairfield High School. Back in April, Goodale and his friend, Willard miller, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder.
The deadly attack took place back in 2021 after the two teenage boys brutally attacked the teacher because she had given Miller a bad grade. At the time of the incident, both boys were 16-years-old. The two ambushed the teacher and beat her to death in a park with a baseball bat.
After killing Graber, the teenage boys used a wheelbarrow to move her body to a spot near railroad tracks, where they then covered it with a tarp and placed the wheelbarrow and a railroad tie over the tarp.
Evidence showed that Miller and Goodale struck the 66-year-old teacher while she was taking a routine walk after school. Miller admitted to helping plan and carry out the killing, but denied ever actually hitting Graber. Goodale then testified that Miller initiated the plan to kill the teacher and that each of them struck her with the bat.
At the sentencing on Wednesday, November 15th, Goodale apologized to the teacher's family, the community and his own family. Through periods of crying, he said, "I'm sorry, truly sorry. What I've taken can never be replaced. Every day I wish I could go back and stop myself, prevent this loss and this pain that I've caused everyone."
According to the New York Post, as Goodale was sobbing, blood started pouring out of his nose. Judge Shawn Showers noted that it was clear Goodale was "remorseful and didn't consider the repercussions" of his actions, but that he was a "smart boy who could have easily prevented the murder."
Both teens were charged as adults, but because they were 16-years-old at the time of the murder, they are not subject to an Iowa requirement that those convicted of first-degree murder serve life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Prior to sentencing, 10 members of Graber's family give victim impact statements. During those statements read by Tom Graber, the brother of the victim's husband, questioned the authenticity of Goodale's remorse.
Tom Graber said, "I just say your actions to me undercut that. You're now an adult. You're over the age of 18 and yet you have your counsel to represent you ... arguing on your behalf to escape punishment for this horrific crime. That doesn't sound like remorse to me."
The judge's decision to sentence Goodale to life with the possibility of parole after 25 years matched the request by prosecutors. Goodale's defense attorney said that he should be sentenced to life with no mandatory minimum sentence before he is eligible for parole. In July, Judge Showers sentenced Miller to life in prison with a possibility if parole after serving 35 years.
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Comments
2023-11-17T14:14-0600 | Comment by: Bud
Our youth is completely confused and do not have appropriate direction. I pray he will find the true God and hear the gospel to find truth peace in his heart. The world cannot deliver this!