That's it for the hearing. Thanks for following today. If they set sentencings later today, I will include those in the article.  

The hearing is adjourned. 

Goodale looked over in the gallery as he left. Not sure who he was looking at but likely family. 

Judge accepts Goodale's plea. A presentencing order will be conducted for use at sentencing. 

They will look at dates and set sentencing later. 

Judge: There is an agreement that Goodale will not challenge plea.    

Goodale: He understands judge isn't bound by plea agreement. He still wants to plead guilty.   

Brown: Iowa law doesn't say a judge can't give probation or deferred, but don't expect this to happen in this case.

Judge goes over 902.1-Iowa law on first-degree murder for someone under age 18: Life in prison without parole, life with parole and minimum set by court, or life with parole.   

 

Judge: The penalty is usually life in prison without parole but because he was 17, he will have the possibility of parole. 

Prosecution will recommend a minimum of no less than 25 years and defense can recommend a sentence. Max is life sentence with chance to parole. 

Also, Goodale is jointly and severally liable for $150,000 restitution to Graber's heirs or estate.  

Judge is going over this trial rights that he is giving up by pleading guilty. 

Goodale: He understands he is waiving those rights.  

Goodale: He discussed any possible defenses with his lawyers. 

Brown: Asks judge to include minutes of testimony in the plea - Goodale helped plan crime. They started planning it two weeks before. Miller asked Goodale to assist because of the grades Miller received in Graber's Spanish class. 

Goodale: Miller struck Graber first with his bat and he was lookout. Miller hit her in back of head. 

Goodale also struck her to make sure she died. 

 

Goodale: I met Miller at park and he understood Miller had intent to kill Graber. Miller brought bat and other supplies to kill her. After he struck Graber. They moved her off trail. Goodale then struck her and she died. They removed evidence. Thas is his recollection.

Miller came up with plan to kill Graber. Goodale didn't bring anything. Miller asked him to assist him.   

Brown: On Nov. 2, 2021 Goodale struck Graber or aided and abetted Miller and killed her. He acted with premeditation, willfullness and specific intent or aided and abetted Miller.  

Miller: He pleads guilty. 

Judge is going over his rights and factual basis for plea.

 

 

Judge Showers: Goodale, 18, will plead this morning. 

Brown: He is pleading guilty to first-degree murder. Prosecution  will recommend minimum 25 years with max of life with parole. Goodale has cooperated with prosecution. Miller didn't. That the basic difference between the two and reason for lesser prison time.  

Goodale just came in the courtroom. 

Background: Miller and Goodale, now both 17, are charged as adults with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit a forcible felony in the fatal assault of Spanish teacher Nohema Graber, 66, on Nov. 2, 2021.

The teens are accused of killing Graber with a baseball bat. 

Miller told investigators about his frustration that Graber was hurting his grade-point average, according to previous hearings. 

Authorities learned, during the investigation, that Graber arrived at Chautauqua Park about 4 p.m. Nov. 2 for her daily walk, according to court documents. Graber’s van was seen leaving the park about 4:42 p.m.

The van was then seen on Middle Glasgow Road after 5 p.m., and a witness described two males in the front seat. The same witness then saw two thin, white males walking along Middle Glasgow.

Graber’s van was found at the end of that road about a half-mile from where the two males were walking, court documents stated.

Another witness told investigators that he was contacted about 5 p.m. and asked to pick up Goodale and Miller on Middle Glasgow Road, according to the documents.

Miller initially denied any involvement in the teacher’s disappearance but then later said he knew about what happened but didn’t participate, court documents stated. He told authorities the killers were a “roving group of masked kids” who forced him to provide his wheelbarrow to help move the body and drive her van from the park.

 

   

Jeremy Goodale, other teen charged in Graber's murder, will have a hearing at 10:15 a.m. He may also plead. It was set for a pretrial hearing. #fairfieldmurder

Miller didn't move during the hearing. He just looked straight ahead without any visible emotion. He walks out without saying anything to anyone - family - in the gallery. #fairfieldmurder

Judge: He will talk with lawyers in chambers on a possible sentencing date. Brown: He thinks a presentencing investigation is needed because he is a juvenile and he has a chance for parole. #fairfieldmurder

Brown: He can only challenge the sentence, not guilty plea, in accordance with plea agreement. #fairfieldmurder

Judge says he is not bound by plea agreement. Miller: Says he understands. #fairfieldmurder

Miller: Has no questions on sentencing. He understands the penalties. #fairfieldmurder

Asst. Iowa AG Scott Brown said prosecution will recommend a minimum of 30 years. #fairfieldmurder

Judge Showers says max sentence is life in prison. Range of minimums court can set. He was a juvenile when this crime occured, so he will have the possibility to parole with a life sentence. There could be restitution. #fairfieldmurder

Judge Showers is going over his trial rights, if he would have chosen to go trial as planned to start next week. Miller said he understands he is waving all those rights.#fairfieldmurder

Branstad said she discussed other defenses - ability to form intent and diminished capacity at this time. Miller agreed with her those aren't viable in this case. #fairfieldmurder

Miller denies striking Graber, Christine Branstad, his lawyer, said. #fairfieldmurder

Scott Brown said Miller planned to kill Graber. Miller struck Graber with baseball bat, as well as Goodale. Cover up and destruction of evidence are also in the minutes of testimony. #fairfieldmurder

Miller says he and Goodale were in the park. He acted as a lookout when Goodale struck Graber. He knew Goodale was going to kill her. He assisted him. Acted with maliceaforethought and with premeditation. #fairfieldmurder

Miller, 17, struck Nohema Graber or aided and abetted Jeremy Goodale in striking Graber on Nov. 2, 2021. Acted with premeditation and specific intent to killing Graber. #fairfieldmurder

Miller says he wants to plead today. Judge is going over his rights and make sure factual basis is met. #fairfieldmurder

Miller is pleading guilty to first-degree murder. Minimum would be 30 years in prison and life with possibility of parole, according to plea agreement. #fairfieldmurder

Willard Chaiden Miller, one of the teens charged with beating to death their Spanish teacher in Fairfield, will plead this morning. #fairfieldmurder