Teacher Killed by Two Students

‘We all know we’re going to die’: Murdered teacher gave newspaper interview about mortality at Day of the Dead exhibition the day before she was ‘killed by two students from her school’

• Mexican-born teacher Nohema Graber, 66, spoke about the inevitability of death one day before she was found dead in Chautauqua Park, Iowa
• A day before she was killed Graber said at a Day of the Dead exhibition, ‘We know we’re all going to die. It’s our way of laughing at death’ 
• Two 16-year-old students from her school, Fairfield High, allegedly  killed her and dumped her remains under a wheelbarrow, tarp and railroad ties
• Cops said Willard Noble Chaiden Miller and Jeremy Everett Goodale, both 16, plotted to murder Graber as she took one of her regular strolls through the park last week 

A Mexican-born Spanish teacher gave a prophetic newspaper interview about mortality at a Day of the Dead exhibition the day before she was allegedly killed by two students from her high school.

Nohema Graber, 66, spoke about the inevitability of death just one day before Willard Noble Chaiden Miller and Jeremy Everett Goodale, both 16, from Fairfield High School, Iowa, allegedly killed her.

Cops said the pair plotted to murder Graber as she took one of her regular strolls through Chautauqua Park last week and they were accused of dumping her remains under a wheelbarrow, tarp and railroad ties. 

The Mexican native taught her Spanish classes about how the Day of the Dead was celebrated in Mexico and said she adored having food associated with the holiday, like pan de muerto, or bread of the dead, and tamales.

The Day of the Dead is celebrated on November 1 and 2 each year in Mexico.  

Graber taught Spanish at Fairfield High School for nine years.

A day before she was killed Graber spoke at Fairfield Library’s Day of the Dead exhibition.

‘We know we’re all going to die,’ she told The Union. ‘It’s our way of laughing at death.’ 

These are the two 16-year-old boys accused of killing their high school teacher and concealing her corpse in a park in southeast Iowa. Willard Noble Chaiden Miller (left) and Jeremy Everett Goodale, both 16, have been charged as adults with first-degree homicide and conspiracy to commit first-degree homicide

She gave a prophetic newspaper interview about mortality at the exhibition, which celebrated the Mexican Day of the Dead holiday

Cops and prosecutors have yet to reveal a motive for her murder, although police said were investigating whether the suspects were upset about a bad grade, suggesting they may have had classes with Graber.

A county prosecutor told DailyMail.com no further details about why Graber was killed would be shared but did say there is currently no suggestion the killing was racially motivated. 

Her son Christian and daughter, called Nohema Marie, both took to Facebook in the aftermath of their mom’s killing to say they forgave her alleged murderers. 

Graber was last seen alive on November 2 and was reported missing by her concerned family the next morning.

Her remains were found on November 3. 

She had suffered head trauma, although a cause of death hasn’t been revealed.    

Cops alleged Miller and Goodale discussed the murder on social media after the killing, but haven’t offered further detail on the nature of those postings, what platform they were made on, and whether they were public or private.

Court documents released Thursday detailing the criminal complaints against the two teens reveal that Miller admitted to investigators that he took part in the murder.

During the interview with detectives, Miller allegedly admitted he was at the park as the murder was taking place, provided materials used in the murder and helped hide Graber’s body, the complaint reveals. 

Goodale was said to have worn bloodied clothes, although investigators still haven’t said who they suspect of beating the teacher to death.  The alleged killers’ school – where Nohema taught – was closed Friday, with students being offered counseling to cope with the shocking death of the well-regarded teacher, who was described in one tribute as ‘an absolute angel.’ 

The newly released documents also reveal that an associate of both Goodale and Miller provided information detailing social media exchanges between the two teens that indicated Goodale knew specific details pertaining to Graber’s disappearance and death.

A search warrant was then executed by Jefferson County police, who searched Goodale’s residence, uncovering ‘multiple clothing items appearing to have a substance consistent in appearance with that of blood,’ the complaint states. 

The court documents also reveal that investigators questioned an additional teen, this one an ‘associate’ of only Goodale, who reported meeting with Goodale at the park the day that Graber disappeared. 

Investigators added in their report that the clothes the witness described matched a blood-spattered outfit cops seized from Goodale’s home, adding in the report that the clothes ‘contained a substance consistent in appearance with blood.’

According to police, the witness ‘described Goodale as wearing clothing consistent in appearance to that which was seized’ during the search. 

The witness also told lawmen that they saw Miller at the park.

Miller and Goodale, both 16 and students at the school, have been charged as adults with first-degree homicide and conspiracy to commit first-degree homicide, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department said. 

The shocking details emerged as Graber’s son and daughter both took to social media to say they forgive their mom’s alleged killers.

Graber’s body was found concealed under a tarp, wheelbarrow and railroad ties at Chautauqua Park, where she frequently walked in the afternoons

Son Christian wrote: ‘I’m sorry I can’t respond to the all of the messages but I’ll just say what I’ve been told. My mother passed away. 

‘As I understand it was pre attempted murder by two students. I forgive them and feel sorry that they had that anger in their hearts. 

‘There’s no point in being angry at them. We should hope that they can find peace in their lives. 

‘My mother was an angel of a woman and was one of the kindest souls. 

‘She gave me the gift of the Spanish language and helped many of her students over the years. 

‘She was well loved in the community and around the world. 

‘Thanks to everyone who reached out. I may ask for some help with things in the following days but in the end everything will be ok. Te amo madre.’

Meanwhile, daughter Nohema Marie wrote: ‘We’ve lost an absolute angel in our family. 

‘It is all thanks to her for instilling a love of travel and languages that my brothers and I have continued to experience the world throughout our lives. 

‘We had the wonderful fortune of growing up in a home filled with such an abundance of warmth and love. 

Police said that Graber, pictured here with her three children, suffered head trauma before her homicide death, but did not reveal a cause of death as of Thursday

Graber’s remains were found on Wednesday, hours after she was reported missing, at the Chautauqua Park in Fairfield, located about 95 miles southeast of Des Moines, where police say she was known to walk after school finished for the day

Graber’s body was discovered hidden under a tarp, wheelbarrow and an assortment of railroad ties at the Fairfield park on Wednesday

‘I will miss her loud laugh and dancing with her to any music that was playing, she had so much joy in her eyes and such a deep sense of faith.

‘To the two teenagers that so cruelly took her life, it is clear they need more love and light in their hearts.

‘I agree with my oldest brother Christian, all we can do is forgive. 

‘I am filled with so much gratitude to have had such a strong and beautiful woman as my mother. 

‘And from the outpouring of messages, it’s incredibly touching to know that her presence impacted so many. 

‘What a blessing she is, we know that her soul lives on in heaven.’ 

Daughter Nohema Marie wrote on social media: ‘We’ve lost an absolute angel in our family,’ before adding, ‘I will miss her loud laugh and dancing with her to any music that was playing, she had so much joy in her eyes and such a deep sense of faith. To the two teenagers that so cruelly took her life,’ she continued, ‘it is clear that they need more love and light in their hearts. ‘She then, like her older brother, went on to forgive the two teens charged in her death

Authorities said the two juveniles will be tried as adults, citing circumstances and their ages. They are both being held on a $1million bail, records show. 

Court documents filed Thursday from their initial appearance in court indicate they did not yet have attorneys. Both appeared via video conference. 

Magistrate Stephan Small ordered a state public defender to represent Goodale. Documents said Miller did not request a court-appointed attorney and it wasn’t immediately clear who would represent him. 

According to court filings made public Thursday afternoon, Graber suffered ‘inflicted trauma to the head.’ Her body was found concealed under a tarp, wheelbarrow and railroad ties at the park, where she frequently walked in the afternoons. 

It’s believed the crime was carried out late Tuesday afternoon.

Police received the tip from an ‘associate’ of Goodale that the teen posted details about planning the killing and a possible motive on social media, according to the court documents. The filings did not detail the teen’s possible motive for killing his teachers.

Investigators said they also talked with an additional witness who saw the two teens at the park on Tuesday afternoon. 

A search warrant at the suspects’ homes uncovered clothing items that appeared to have blood on them, police said. 

Police confronted Miller, who ‘admitted to being in Chautauqua City Park as the murder was taking place,’ a criminal complaint states, ‘providing materials utilized in committing the murder, and aiding in actions taken to conceal the murder.’ 

Graber, originally from Xalapa Mexico, taught Spanish classes at Fairfield High School since 2012, though it was not disclosed whether she had been the teens’ teacher. She previously taught in the Ottumwa Community School District. 

‘An act like this is unspeakable, and we are torn that one of our education family is a victim to such a senseless act,’ a statement from Iowa State Education Association President Mike Beranek read.

‘Every day educators work tirelessly to protect the students in their care. With full hearts and deep commitment, educators have been the backbone of our state and our nation during this unprecedented time. We cannot understand this, or any violence aimed at such guardians.’ 

Fairfield students were dismissed from classes Thursday and all classes on Friday were canceled, the district said. The school said its counseling services will remain open for students and staff.

‘We extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and loved ones of Mrs. Graber,’ Fairfield superintendent Laurie Noll said in a statement Thursday. ‘At this time our students’ and staffs’ wellbeing is our top priority. As a community, we will remain united in this time of tragedy.’

The investigation remains ongoing, with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation assisting the Fairfield Police Department, Fairfield Fire Department, Iowa State Patrol, Jefferson County Emergency Management, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and Jefferson County Attorney’s Office.