Gazette Daily News Briefing, April 19
This is Stephen Schmidt from the Gazette Digital News Desk, and I’m here with your update for Wednesday, April 19.
Wednesday will have a chance for rain in the morning and a chance for rain in the evening, with a break in the middle. According to the National Weather Service, it will be cloudy with a high near 70 degrees in the Cedar Rapids area. Rain chances are predicted at 30 percent before 11 a.m., dipping down to near 0 percent, then back above 40 percent by 7 p.m. At this time the heavy rain appears to be predicted to fall early Thursday morning.
Two Fairfield teens pleaded guilty Tuesday to first-degree murder for killing a high school Spanish teacher in 2021 over what prosecutors said was a bad grade, but one wouldn’t admit to striking her with a baseball bat — instead saying it was his co-defendant who killed her.
Willard Noble Chaiden Miller, 17, pleaded to first-degree murder, or aiding and abetting in that crime, during a hearing in Jefferson County District Court. He contended that he acted as lookout for 18-year-old Jeremy Goodale as he struck and killed Nohema Graber with a baseball bat on November 2, 2021. The 66-year-old Graber was a Spanish teacher at Fairfield High School.
Goodale testified Tuesday during his hearing that it had been Miller who had planned the assault, brough the bat, and struck Graber. Goodale testified he helped Miller move Graber off the park trail, where he struck her and she died.
Assistant Iowa Attorney General Scott Brown said the prosecution contends Miller was part of planning the murder and he also struck Graber with the baseball bat. Brown said that Miller also helped cover up the crime and destroyed evidence.
Brown said the prosecution believes the murder was committed due to Graber giving a bad grade, and it was Miller who was in her class that year, not Goodale.
Brown said the prosecution will recommend a minimum of 30 years in prison for Miller, with the possibility of parole. He said they will be recommending 25 years for Goodale, because he cooperated with the investigation.
Graber, who grew up in Mexico, had been a Spanish teacher at Fairfield High since 2012. She left behind three children — Christian, Nohema Marie and Jared — and a former husband, Paul.
The Iowa City Police Department has begun scouring the Iowa River and Ralston Creek in search of a 20-year-old Muscatine man who was last seen early Saturday, according to authorities.
Cristian Martinez was last seen walking west in the 100 block of W. Harrison Street, south of downtown, about 12:56 a.m. Saturday. His phone had died earlier in the evening and his loved ones have been unable to reach him.
Based on the direction Martinez was walking, police are concerned he may have ended up at the Iowa River. The Iowa City Police Department worked with Johnson County Emergency Management and the Army Corps of Engineers to reduce the flow from the Coralville Reservoir to help search the river for Martinez.
Boats and drones have been used to search the river. Police have also searched nearby railroad tracks and Ralston Creek, and have obtained surveillance video from Iowa City, the University of Iowa, Johnson County and other private video. They’ve also reviewed Martinez’ bank account and cellphone activity, according to a news release
