goodale-and-miller

Both teens accused of the 2021 murder of Fairfield Spanish teacher, Nohema Graber, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder Tuesday. During two separate hearings in the Iowa District Court for Jefferson County, the prosecution and defense discussed the details of plea agreements for 17-year-old Willard Miller and 18-year-old Jeremy Goodale.

According to the plea agreement for Miller, prosecutors have recommended a minimum sentence of 30 years in prison with the possibility of parole, and a maximum sentence of life. The recommended sentence for Goodale is a minimum of 25 years with the possibility of parole, and a maximum sentence of life in prison.

The hearings came just days before Miller was scheduled to stand trial, while Goodale’s trial was scheduled to begin next month. With a guilty plea waiving both Miller and Goodale’s right to a trial, they will now undergo separate sentencing hearings. Dates for the hearings have not yet been determined.