'A senseless act': 2 teens charged with killing Fairfield, Iowa Spanish teacher
Two southeast Iowa high school students have been charged with the murder of their Spanish teacher.
Police confirmed human remains discovered on Nov. 3 in Chautauqua Park in Fairfield were those of Nohema Graber, who had been reported missing earlier that day, according to a news release from the city of Fairfield posted on Facebook.
Graber, 66, had taught Spanish at Fairfield High School since 2012. Police allege two Fairfield students — Willard Noble Chaiden Miller, 16, and Jeremy Everett Goodale, 16 — killed her.
Both have been charged with first-degree homicide and first-degree conspiracy to commit homicide and will be charged as adults "based on the circumstances and their ages," according to the news release.
Fairfield students were dismissed from classes early Thursday, and classes were canceled Friday.
The president of the Iowa State Education Association, Mike Beranek, expressed heartbreak over Graber's killing Thursday afternoon.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family, friends and her colleagues ... An act like this is unspeakable, and we are torn that one of our education family is a victim to such a senseless act," Beranek wrote in a statement.
"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."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Andrea Sahouri covers social justice for the Des Moines Register. She can be contacted at asahouri@registermedia.com, on Twitter @andreamsahouri, or by phone 515-284-8247.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Fairfield, Iowa teens accused of killing Spanish teacher Nohema Graber
