One of two Iowa teenagers who beat their Spanish teacher to death over bad grades was sentenced to life in prison Wednesday — with blood pouring from his nose in court as he tearfully apologized to his family.
Jeremy Goodale, 18, was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole in 25 years for his role in killing Nohema Graber, 66, with a baseball bat on November 2, 2021.
Goodale and Willard Miller, 17, pleaded guilty earlier this year to the first-degree murder of their teacher, who they first stalked in a park in Fairfield and then beat to death when they were both 16.
Goodale had blood pouring from his nose during Wednesday’s hearing as he sobbed as he apologized to the deceased educator’s loved ones.
“I’m sorry, really sorry. What I took is irreplaceable,” said Goodale, at times in tears.
“Every day I wish I could go back and hold myself back, avoid this loss and the pain I caused everyone,” he added.
Jeremy Goodale, 18, had a bloody nose when he was sentenced. The Juvenile Law & Crime Network was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole in 25 years. Law&Crime Network
Prosecutors said the teenager decided to kill Graber because he had given Miller a bad grade. Miller, worried about not being able to join the study abroad program, orchestrated the murder and the two teenagers ambushed the teacher in a park he knew every day.
Judge Shawn Showers stated that it was clear Goodale was remorseful and did not consider the consequences, but he was a smart boy who could have easily prevented the murder.
Both teenagers were charged as adults, but because they were 16 at the time of the murder, they are not subject to Iowa’s requirement that those convicted of first-degree murder serve life without parole.
The teenagers stalked and killed their teacher Nohema Graber in 2021. Facebook / Nohema Graber
Before Goodale was sentenced, 10 members of Graber’s family gave victim impact statements. During a statement read by Tom Graber, the victim’s husband’s brother, Paul, questioned the validity of Goodale’s remorse.
“I must say your actions to me cut it short,” Tom Graber said. “You are now an adult. You are over 18, yet you have your lawyer to represent you … arguing on your behalf to escape punishment for this horrific crime. That doesn’t sound like regret to me.”
Goodale appeared to hold back tears as members of Graber’s family read victim impact statements. Law&Crime Network
In July, Miller was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 35 years.
With Postal wire
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
