Graber, 66, 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
Two 16-year-old students were charged with homicide in the death of a high school teacher whose body was found concealed in a park in southeast Iowa, authorities said Thursday.
Investigators said Nohema Graber, a 66-year-old Spanish teacher at Fairfield High School, was reported missing on Tuesday and her remains were found later that day at the Chautauqua Park in Fairfield, located about 95 miles southeast of Des Moines, The Ottumwa Courier reported.
Willard Noble Chaiden Miller and Jeremy Everett 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.
Authorities said the two juveniles will be tried as adults, citing circumstances and their ages. They are both being held on a $1 million 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
Fairfield High School (pictured), where Graber taught for the last nine years, cancelled classes on Thursday and on Friday after learning about the tragedy. However, the school's counseling services will remain open for impacted students
Police received a tip that Goodale posted details about planning the killing and a possible
