Teen who killed teacher over bad grade cries and has nosebleed as he's sentenced
An Iowa teen found guilty of beating his High School Spanish teacher to death in 2021 was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison with a chance at parole in 25 years.
A judge sentenced Jeremy Goodale for his role in killing Nohema Graber, a 66-year-old teacher at Fairfield High School. Goodale, 18, and a friend pleaded guilty earlier this year to first-degree murder in the beating death of Graber.
The two high school students used a bat to kill Graber after stalking her as she took her daily walk in a large park in Fairfield, a small Iowa city about 100 miles (160km) southeast of Des Moines.
READ MORE:
The murder was over a poor grade Nohema had given Goodale (Facebook)Before being sentenced, Goodale apologised to the teacher’s family, the community and his own family. “I’m sorry, truly sorry. What I’ve taken can never be replaced,” Goodale said, at times through sobs. “Every day I wish I could go back and stop myself, prevent this loss and this pain that I’ve caused everyone.”
Nursery apologises after child with Down's syndrome ‘treated less favourably’
Prosecutors said Goodale and his friend Willard Miller, both 16 at the time, decided to kill Graber because of a bad grade she had given Miller. Prosecutors have said Miller first suggested the two kill Graber after becoming worried that the poor grade would prevent him from participating in a study abroad program.
Before being sentenced, Goodale apologized (AP)Judge Shawn Showers ticked through 25 factors he had to consider before issuing his sentence of life with a 25-year minimum. He said it was clear Goodale was remorseful and didn’t consider the repercussions of killing Graber, but Showers noted the teen is a smart person who could easily have stopped it from being carried out.
The judge’s decision matched a requested sentence by prosecutors. Goodale’s lawyer had said he should be sentenced to life with no mandatory minimum sentence before he is eligible for parole.
For all the latest news, politics, sports, and showbiz from the USA, go to The Mirror US
Both Goodale and Willard Miller were tried as adults (AP)
The perps pleaded guilty in April to killing Nohema (Facebook)The two students were charged as adults, but because of their age they were not subject to an Iowa requirement that those convicted of first-degree murder serve a mandatory sentence of life without parole. In July, Showers sentenced Miller to life in prison with a possibility of parole after 35 years in prison.
Goodale and Miller pleaded guilty in April to killing Graber. After killing Graber, they used a wheelbarrow to move her body to a spot near railroad tracks, where they covered it with a tarp and placed the wheelbarrow and a railroad tie over the tarp.
Graber was born in Xalapa, Mexico. After graduating from high school, she worked as a flight attendant and later earned her license as a commercial airline pilot. Following her marriage, she moved to Fairfield in 1992 and later got a teaching certificate. She had worked at Fairfield High School since 2012. Her husband, Paul Graber, died of cancer after his wife’s death. The couple had three children.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
