Iowa teenager will testify against co-defendant in murder of high school teacher
Rachel Schilke
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An Iowa teenager will testify against his fellow defendant in the murder trial of their Spanish teacher, whom they are accused of beating to death.
Jefferson County Attorney Chauncey Moulding said during a court hearing on Wednesday that Jeremy Goodale, 17, agreed to testify against co-defendant Willard Miller. Both teenagers are charged with first-degree murder and first-degree conspiracy to commit homicide after they allegedly beat their Spanish teacher, Nohema Graber, 66, to death in November 2021. Investigators determined she had extensive head trauma.
IOWA TEENAGER’S POSSIBLE MOTIVE DISCOVERED IN MURDER OF SPANISH TEACHER
Prosecutors said last year that the motive behind Graber’s death appeared to be frustration over a bad grade, which directly connects Miller and Graber. Messages between the two teenagers show they knew of her disappearance.
Goodale has not reached a plea deal, according to court records via CBS News, so it is unclear what he will receive in exchange for the testimony if anything.
Miller’s trial is scheduled for April, originally March 20, and Goodale’s trial is set for May, which was originally set for December 2022 but was postponed due to a judge ruling in favor of a continuance for his trial and moving it to Scott County.
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During Wednesday’s court hearing, Miller’s legal counsel argued on behalf of their motion to suppress evidence from the interviews the teenagers gave to investigators. Miller’s defense also accused police of lying on search warrant applications to comb through Miller’s phone, computer, and Snapchat account and pushing their client into involuntary questioning. Miller has a pending appeal in the Iowa Supreme Court to suppress similar issues after the motion was denied.
He changed his statements several times relating to how much he was involved in Graber’s disappearance, originally stating that he was frustrated with her methods of teaching but did not know about her being missing. Then, he changed his answer, saying he knew she was missing but did not participate. Finally, he said that “a roving group of masked kids made him help” move the body for the “real killers.”