The front lawn of Fairfield High School was filled with people Friday night as students, staff, friends, and family gathered for a candlelight vigil for 66-year-old Nohema Graber, the Spanish teacher and mother who was found dead in Chautauqua Park Wednesday following a day-long missing person investigation.

Students and friends shared cherished memories from the school’s front steps, including 2017 Fairfield graduate Briseyda Jimenez, “She used to help me a lot when my brother passed away. I used to go to her house and just cry to her about it and now that I see that this is happening, it just breaks my family’s heart. And I’m just so thankful that she was part of us, because she helped me a lot.”

Pastor Nick Adam of St. Mary Catholic Church of which Graber was a member spoke about her and led the crowd in prayer. Hope Lutheran Church Pastor Ryan Dexter remarked that he didn’t know Graber personally, but many of his congregation were friends, colleagues, and students of hers, and he has spent time this week speaking with those in need of support, “We have to communicate together, we have to care for one another, and when we see those red flags we have to be willing to be as I say, ‘Rude enough to intrude.’ get involved. I’d rather say something that’s a concern and be wrong than for something to go wrong.”

Sixteen-year-olds Jeremy Everett Goodale and Willard Noble Chaiden Miller both of Fairfield are charged with first-degree murder, a class A felony, and conspiracy to commit a forcible felony, a class C felony. Court documents show that on the morning of Wednesday, November 3rd, Graber was reported missing by family, and a multi-agency search of the areas she routinely frequented was conducted. Graber was known to routinely walk within the city park in the afternoons. Law enforcement found her remains Wednesday afternoon, concealed under a tarp, wheelbarrow, and railroad ties. Preliminary investigation indicates she suffered trauma to the head. A GoFundMe online fundraiser has been made to support Graber’s family, which has so far raised over $29,000.