Episode 287

Summary

Sword and Scale – Episode 287: The Disappearance and Murder of Noema Graber

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Introduction

Episode 287 of Sword and Scale delves into the harrowing true-crime story of Noema Graber, a beloved Spanish teacher from the small town of Fairfield, Iowa. This episode meticulously unpacks the events leading to her disappearance, the subsequent investigation, and the unsettling revelations that followed. Through raw and uncensored audio, including 911 calls, police interviews, and testimonies, listeners are immersed in the dark underbelly of a seemingly peaceful community.

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Background: Fairfield, Iowa, and Noema Graber

Fairfield, Iowa, is depicted as a quintessential small Midwestern town with a close-knit community. Known for its slow-paced life, neighborly interactions, and strong local traditions, Fairfield is home to Maharishi International University, adding a cultural diversity uncommon in towns of its size. Among its residents was Noema Graber, a native of Mexico who had risen to become one of the two Spanish teachers at Fairfield High School (FHS).

Noema’s journey to Fairfield was unconventional. Initially a flight attendant with aspirations to become one of the first women in Mexico licensed to fly passenger jets, she eventually transitioned to teaching to fulfill a calling later in life. Her commitment to education and unwavering standards made her both respected and, for some, a source of frustration.

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The Disappearance of Noema Graber

On November 2, 2021, the tranquility of Fairfield was shattered when Noema Graber went missing after her usual walk in Chautauqua Park. Her disappearance was immediately noticed by her ex-husband, Paul Graber, who reported her missing to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office (00:24). As Paul Graber detailed, Noema was not the type to disappear without reason:

“Noema was the last person who would take off for no reason. I know we say that a lot, but this just simply wasn't in her character.” [06:32]

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The Investigation Begins

The local law enforcement acted swiftly, leveraging Noema’s consistent routine to initiate the search. “Everyone seems to know everyone else,” explains District Attorney Chauncey Moulding, underscoring the significance of a missing person case in a tight-knit community (08:11). The initial search focused on Chautauqua Park, where Noema was last seen.

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Community Responses and Leads

As news of Noema’s disappearance spread, residents flooded the dispatch center with calls providing potential sightings and leads. One notable call came from a doctor who reported seeing what he believed was Noema’s van and a suspicious interaction between two cars in the park (11:55). These leads directed investigators deeper into the investigation, revealing the community's shock and concern.

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Unveiling Suspects: Chayden Miller and Jeremy Goodale

The investigation soon spotlighted two high school students, Chayden Miller and Jeremy Goodale, as primary suspects. Chayden, a 17-year-old ambitious and calculating student, harbored deep resentment towards Noema’s strict grading policies, which he believed jeopardized his chance to join an exchange program in Spain. In contrast, Jeremy, a 16-year-old more socially awkward and easily influenced, became entangled in Chayden’s plans.

User Chayden Miller was introduced as the main orchestrator:

“Chayden was ambitious and calculating. He led the way by repeatedly venting his frustrations about his Spanish grade and how this was going to fuck up his future.” [53:05]

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The Role of Social Media and Confessions

A pivotal moment in the case emerged when Jeremy confided in his gamer friend through Snapchat, alleging that he had killed someone and provided disturbing details about the incident (22:01). Despite Snapchat’s ephemeral nature, investigators were able to trace and verify Jeremy’s confessions, which included images of a bloodied shirt and bleach, further implicating him (38:11).

Additionally, Chayden’s involvement was solidified through interviews and evidence, including a detailed murder plan he had documented, which outlined the procedures for disposing of the body (51:24).

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The Arrest and Legal Proceedings

Chayden’s calculated demeanor and Jeremy’s confession led to their arrests. During interrogations, inconsistencies in Chayden’s statements raised red flags for investigators, who eventually uncovered the truth about their involvement in Noema’s murder. The evidence against them included surveillance footage, eyewitness accounts, and physical evidence found at the crime scene, such as the bat used in the assault (53:36).

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Motive and Impact

The core motive behind the murder stemmed from Noema’s refusal to compromise her grading standards, which ignited intense frustration among certain students, particularly Chayden. His deteriorating relationship with Noema and his parents' strained circumstances amid the COVID-19 pandemic further fueled his resentment. Chayden’s ambition to pursue opportunities in Spain was directly threatened by his declining grades, pushing him to orchestrate the murder to eliminate the obstacle in his path.

“I am very good with body language. And I knew that I did not want to be involved.” [30:26]

This motive reflects a disturbing confluence of personal ambition and academic pressure, highlighting systemic issues within the educational environment.

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Sentencing and Aftermath

Chayden Miller was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 35 years, whereas Jeremy Goodale received a life sentence with parole consideration after 25 years. The sentencing hearings revealed limited remorse from Chayden, while Jeremy expressed a poignant apology for his actions, though some family members questioned the sincerity of his remorse (58:41).

“I like to take this opportunity to wholeheartedly accept responsibility for the role that I played in the murder of Noema Graber.” [58:48]

The case left a profound impact on the Fairfield community, leading to annual memorials in Noema’s honor and prompting discussions about student mental health and the pressures of academic performance.

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Reflections from the District Attorney

District Attorney Chauncey Moulding provided insightful reflections on the case, emphasizing the devastating loss felt by Noema’s family and the community:

“Noema Graber would also not be coming home. She may have been an old school teacher, but she was still loved by many students and certainly loved by her family.” [55:58]

Moulding highlighted the importance of recognizing the signs of student distress and the need for supportive educational environments to prevent such tragedies.

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Conclusion

Episode 287 of Sword and Scale presents a chilling narrative of ambition gone awry, exploring the deep-seated issues within both personal relationships and educational systems. The murder of Noema Graber serves as a sobering reminder of the potential consequences of unchecked frustration and the critical need for mental health support in schools. Through compelling storytelling and authentic audio evidence, this episode not only recounts a tragic event but also invites listeners to reflect on the broader societal factors that contribute to such heinous crimes.

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Notable Quotes

• Paul Graber (Noema’s Ex-Husband):

  “Noema was the last person who would take off for no reason. I know we say that a lot, but this just simply wasn't in her character.” [06:32]

• District Attorney Chauncey Moulding:

  “She gave up that life to move here and teach Spanish. And she was married to Paul, her husband, who unfortunately, Paul died, was a week before Chayden.” [56:10]

• Chayden Miller:

  “I sincerely apologize for the distress that I've caused you and the devastation of the family who borrowed my heart. I am sorry for your loss of them.” [58:50]

• Jeremy Goodale:

  “I'm sorry I didn't stop this from happening in the first place.” [64:14]

These quotes encapsulate the emotional weight and personal accountability intertwined in this tragic case.

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Final Thoughts

The Sword and Scale episode on Noema Graber’s murder is a poignant exploration of how ambition, frustration, and systemic pressures can culminate in unimaginable violence. It serves as both a detailed recounting of the crime and a catalyst for broader discussions on mental health, ethical standards in education, and the importance of community vigilance.

For more gripping true-crime stories, consider supporting Sword and Scale at swordandscale.com.

Transcript

[Mike Boudet]

Sword and Scale contains adult themes and violence and is not intended for all audiences. Listener discretion is advised.

[Paul Graber]

Caden told his friend Dill that Olivia is kind of dating not to be surprised if the teacher comes up missing.

[Mike Boudet]

Didn't expect to hear back from me so soon, did you? I mean, I told you you're getting more Sword and Scale. It's just some people don't listen for some reason. This is season 12, episode 287 of Sword and Scale, a show that reveals that the worst monsters are real. So from now on, episodes that are only available to PLUS members will have a little plus next to the name Easy, right? If you want to get them, you'll have to sign up for plus, go to swordandscale.com or download our app on Android or Apple. You know, things cost money, so sa Sometimes the most dangerous thing we can do is follow someone's lead without thinking about it. It's easy to get caught up in the movement, swayed by a friend's confidence, especially when you're young and naive. We all want to belong. We all want to feel like we're part of something. So there are times where we might be distracted, preoccupied with other things. But sometimes you have to really stop and ask, what the hell am I doing here? What am I following? And where is this all leading me? Because not every leader has good intentions, and not every follower realizes the stakes until it's too late. In the heartland of Iowa, Fairfield is one of those small towns where everyone seems to know everyone else and life moves at a leisurely pace. It's the kind of place where neighbors wave from their porches, Friday night football games are packed, and teachers like Noema Graber are not just part of the school, but part of the community. People don't think twice about letting their kids roam freely or leaving doors unlocked. Fairfield feels safe and predictable. Chautauqua park lies just on the outskirts, surrounded by thick woods and quiet trails that wind through the tall grass and dense trees. The park is where townspeople often take their morning jogs, children play by the pavilion, and Noema Graber likes to walk after school. This ritual wasn't just an exercise, though. It was a means of unwinding after being with students all day long. But on this fall evening, the park would prove to be anything but safe. The trails that provided calm and refuge hid a dark secret. On November 2, 2021, she would go for a walk and never come home. 911 calls started to trickle in as the community's sense of security was ripped apart, leaving them to wonder if any place at all was safe. The first person to notice that Noema Graber was missing was her husband. Actually her ex husband. See, the Grabers were divorced, but they still lived together a lot of the time.

[Paul Graber]

Person. County sheriff's office. Hello, my name is Paul Graber. I would like to report a missing person. I'm curious to know if there have been any accidents last night. Okay, who is the missing person? Her name is Noema Graber. GR. She is a teacher at the high school. And I just received a call from Mr. Stone, the principal, and she has not appeared at work today. Okay, where is she missing from? From 205 West Washington here in town. Okay, and when was the last time.

[Mike Boudet]

That she was seen?

[Paul Graber]

Well, my son and I had been out of town in Texas and she knew we were arriving yesterday after being in Iowa for appointments. We came home expecting her to be here and looked like she had prepared the starts of a meal for us in the evening. But no sign. And I've been wondering all night. I didn't know whether to call or not. I thought she would come in. Certainly she would come in for work today. That Mr. Stone said she is not there. May have physically checked the room.

[Mike Boudet]

Noema was the last person who would take off for no reason. I know we say that a lot, but this just simply wasn't in her character. Noema was a very thoughtful, deliberate person who kept her schedule and did not miss school.

[Paul Graber]

Okay. She did take the automobile. Which car is it? It's a 1997 Honda Odyssey. Okay, and do you know what the license plate is? No, I can. I can dig it up. Who is it registered to? Is it registered to her? Yes, it is. It's the dark blue. Okay. And have you. Is her phone off? Have you tried calling her? Is it just going to voicemail? She has no cell phone. Okay.

[Mike Boudet]

You could tell by the dispatcher's reaction that that's a weird thing to say. I mean, of course it is. It's 2025. How do you not have a cell phone?

[Paul Graber]

I'm sitting right next to her. I'm in the home right now. And. And her phone is there. It's. It's here. It's one that she can only use for calls on WhatsApp and different things. It doesn't have service. A regular phone service. Okay, and what is the last name, the last time you actually spoke to her? On Sunday evening about. Oh, about 8:00 for my brother's home in Dallas, Texas. And she was excited that we're coming back and said that a lot of things had happened. And what does she teach at the high school? Pardon me? Oh, she is a Spanish teacher. She's one of.

[Mike Boudet]

In case you didn't hear him say it, Noema was one of two Spanish teachers at Fairfield High School.

[Chauncey Moulding]

County's about 18,000. It's not an exact figure, but in that ballpark, it's kind of a. You know, it's Iowa. So Iowa's counties are all laid out on a grid. So all things considered, it's a, you know, small Midwestern city with a pretty good and diverse economic base. Certainly one of the more unique towns in the state of Iowa, that's for sure.

[Mike Boudet]

That was District Attorney Chauncey Moulding. Fairfield is where he was born and raised. It has a cultural side that feels unexpected for such a small town. Home of Maharishi International University. People from all over the world attend school and live here, making the tiny town exceptionally diverse. This brings us back around to Noema Graeber, who was native to Mexico. Although she didn't attend Maharishi University, she lived in Fairfield. That was because she met Paul Graeber a few years after graduating high school. She worked as a flight attendant, and he was in Mexico as an exchange student. He flew back to the States but never forgot about Noema. Meanwhile, being a flight attendant wasn't lofty enough for Noema, who was extraordinarily bright and ambitious. She decided she would be a commercial airline pilot instead. So she paid her way through flight school and became one of the first women in Mexico to be licensed to fly passenger jets. 11 years after Paul first met Noema, he was back in Mexico and looked her up. The couple reconnected, married, and raised a family in Fairfield. Only in her 50s did Noema decide she wanted to be a teacher. So being the kind of person that just does what she wants to do, she earned her degree and certificate. For the next nine years, many Fairfield students would learn Noema's native language directly from her.

[Chauncey Moulding]

She goes missing. People go missing, right? It's not. It's always treated as serious, but it's not always presumed that the person that the worst has happened, right? You have to. You have to assume and look. But 99 times out of 100, when somebody goes missing, it's, you know, they either don't want to be found from a significant other they're hiding from, or it's a kid that runs away, whatever it is. But Mrs. Graber's lifestyle and life pattern really was a predictable and b Very. She's not somebody that would just go missing. So her being missing was taken very seriously. And her, you know, she's not somebody that would just not show up to class. You know, she's not somebody that would just not come home to her husband. Her husband happened to be out of town the day that she went missing. So he comes home and she's just not there.

[Mike Boudet]

Almost immediately, residents started calling the dispatch center detailing where they saw her in the days before and after her disappearance.

[Paul Graber]

Hi, my name is Joy Craig, and I just got an email from the school saying that Mrs. Graber is missing. Okay. And I just want to say that I know I saw her at the library on Monday the 1st, because we had a day of the dead celebration. Okay. And she was there, and that was. Okay. And you said that started at five. Yeah.

[Chayden Miller]

So I don't.

[Paul Graber]

It ended at six because we closed at six. And so I know she was there sometime during that period, and I believe she was there by herself. All right. We will get that added into our report.

[Mike Boudet]

A lot of people calling in were parents and students who had just seen Noema at school the day she went missing.

[Paul Graber]

So my son and I were there yesterday at school. We met with her at quarter after one. I think we left about 2:30. And I just was seeing posts on Facebook that people were reporting they didn't know what happened to her in the afternoon. So I thought it would be useful to let you know.

[Mike Boudet]

Calls were coming from everywhere. Like a man who thought he saw Noema and her van in Middletown the day after she went missing. And this doctor leaving the hospital thought she saw Noema's van in the parking lot.

[Paul Graber]

Jefferson County Law Center. Yeah, I was curious. Are you still looking for information about the missing teacher or was she found? Good. What information do you have? Oh, I just saw something unusual when I was leaving work from the hospital. And I don't know if it involves her or not. I just saw like, an argument. You know, two cars pulled into the parking lot when I was leaving about 5:45 on Tuesday evening. And one looked kind of like her van. And she got out and she was upset. She was talking really loudly, and she walked towards the driver's door of the other car that looked like kind of like a sedan or something. Okay. Had more than one person in it. And I don't know it was her. You know, I didn't look real good, but I'm a physician and I just got in my car real quick because I thought maybe there was a fight and there Wasn't hardly anybody else there. You know, this parking lot was pretty empty.

[Mike Boudet]

The thing is, the cops located Noema in record time due to the consistency of her routine. She always took a walk at Chautauqua park at the end of the school day, so that's where they first started looking.

[Chauncey Moulding]

Now, unbeknownst to them, we'd found the.

[Chayden Miller]

Body at that point.

[Chauncey Moulding]

The body was found close to. Close to sundown, but the search pattern located her relatively quickly. She was in a, you know, not a well traveled part of the park, but she was in a public park, you know.

[Mike Boudet]

The police formed a grid and officers started looking near the northeast side where thick underbrush lined railroad tracks, keeping the others in view. One went forward and saw a red wheelbarrow hidden in the shadows with a blue tarp strewn over it. Near this was a cluster of rocks showing faint red drops of what seemed like blood. Careful not to disturb the evidence, the two continued walking westward and came to a paved trail deeper into the park. But then all of a sudden, the officer turned around and spotted a green sweater and dark shirt lying tangled in the brush. The sweater, marked with a brown stain, was twisted amongst branches, and the shirt had a red substance with the unmistakable consistency of blood. Then a call came in from an officer back where the wheelbarrow was seen. He found what appeared to be a human foot, barely visible beneath the tarp, partially covered by the railroad tie. As they regrouped at that location, they had to climb down a steep hill. This is where they uncovered Noema. About a hundred yards east of the trail, under the tarp and wheelbarrow, she had been violently assaulted. Her pants were down around her ankles with her underwear. Her top had slid up or was pulled up, and she was wearing only a white bra lying somewhat on her side. The back of her head was noticeably battered and bloody, with tiny twigs and broken leaves smashed into the hair strands along with dried caked blood. As the search pressed on, other deputies followed new leads streaming in from the dispatch center. One caller in particular would deliver a revelation that changed everything. Fast tracking the hunt for Noema's killer or killers. This was the first homicide in Jefferson county in over 10 years. In the early morning hours after Noema Graber's body was found, residents of Fairfield, Iowa, were about to face the reality of her brutal killing. It was the fall of 2021, and a quiet town known for its peaceful streets and close knit community was suddenly shaken by the kind of tragedy it had rarely, if ever faced. The victim was one of their very Own respected teachers. After quickly finding Noema at the local Chautauqua park, the investigation shifted into high gear. Local law enforcement, alongside state investigators started piecing together the evidence, hoping to make sense of what happened. Leads emerged, calls kept coming in, and a clearer picture of Noema's final hours was starting to take shape. But for detectives, one question loomed largest of all. Who could do this and why? The very person closest to Noema was her ex husband who still lived with her part time. The pair had even discussed getting remarried, something that would make all three of their children happy, but especially their youngest, since he was disabled. Her ex husband, Paul, brought out some startling information. While Noema was well respected amongst her peers, she wasn't liked by all the students, especially the students who didn't work hard for their grades. He also noted that there was a history of grade changing at FHS for quote, unquote favorite people. He specifically pointed the finger at principal Becker. Get this. Paul said former principal Becker wanted his wife fired for not fixing grades. And the current administration immediately fell into the same mindset. The mentality that no child should be left behind, no matter what the circumstances, but especially not if it's their child. Paul said his wife was even confronted by the current principal and his wife in order to give their son a better grade. But Noema's standards would never let her do something like this. It's, you know, unethical. Remember ethics? Remember that shit? She rebutted that the only way she would change their son's grade would be if she changed every student's grade too. Paul reported that former principal Becker threatened his wife physically by telling her he hoped he'd never meet her alone. Becker tried to get her fired, but was unable to only because of a procedural error. Becker was in the room when the vote was taken. The current vice principal had the same negative view of Noema because of her posture on grades. I guess the idea of them being earned and all didn't sit well. If you think our legal system is bad, then don't even bother looking at the educational system. It'll frustrate the fuck out of you. According to Paul, his wife was very old school in the way she thought, you know, earning things and not just being handed them boomer shit. Some people don't like boomer shit and they get very, very angry. Paul said if a student wanted a grade, she expected them to put in the work and didn't believe in just handing them out. He went on to tell police that at one point their house was egged and windows were broken by a huge group of students who also threatened. We'll get you. Meaning they were going to be violent if they didn't get their way. So who would have thought that being a teacher, at least one that takes their job seriously, would make you a target by the very administration who's supposed to be watching over these children? Among the calls flooding into Dispatch and the DA's office, one call stood out and led investigators in a dark direction.

[Paul Graber]

Hi, Jefferson County Law Center. Hey, Theresa, It's Tracy again. Hi. Hey. I have a question. I don't know what PD officers are working or anything, but I was talking with my daughter, and she was talking with me a little more about the boy that she's kind of seeing being friends with this kid that I talked to Barker about. And she gave me a little more info from this. I didn't know if it was something I needed to bring her in and disclose to an officer. Okay.

[Mike Boudet]

Who?

[Paul Graber]

Do you know who the kid is, Tracy? The boy she's seeing, his name is Bill or Dylan or something like that. Okay. This. This Bill. And it has. It's pertaining to this teacher that's guessing yes. So, Dill. Apparently, according to Olivia, a couple weeks ago, this kid. I can't say his name, chasing or Shaden or whatever. Do you know? I do not. Oh, I guess. Olivia said a few days ago, this Chayden told his friend Dill that Olivia's kind of dating not to be surprised that the teacher comes up missing. Right, right. Okay. And so I just didn't know if I needed to bring her in so she could just tell them what she had discussed with the boyfriend. Okay. Yep, yep, yep. And your daughter is Madison or. No. Olivia. Olivia. Olivia. Yeah. Okay. Are they currently still seeing each other, Dill and Olivia? Yeah. I mean, there they talk every night. Okay, so. Okay. And last night told the Shannon boy is the one that told Dale. Yes. And Bill told Olivia because Bill was concerned. Sure. Okay. Let me go ahead and pass on the information on this, Tracy.

[Mike Boudet]

This mother gave two different time frames for when this kid had heard the information. A few days and two weeks. But whether it was days or weeks, this was evidence that some students still had it out for their Spanish teacher. One of those students who admitted he didn't like her and wouldn't be surprised if she disappeared, was named Willard Noble. Chayden Miller, and simply went by the name Chayden.

[Chayden Miller]

What were you getting in Spanish? Oh, I wasn't doing great because. So I started the year like any other, with open Mind ambition. I want to get to work.

[Mike Boudet]

Done.

[Chayden Miller]

I'm not living the kids. I don't see how do people just stay in class on their phone. Like they know that works. It's not that hard, honestly. And it makes your life hell and it really just fucks over your future, honestly. The screamer is very old fashioned. Hates technology.

[Chauncey Moulding]

Yeah.

[Chayden Miller]

Makes you like talent. She sees your phone and she's not that great at English. So there's that. And she kind of just stands in front of the class and like talks about stuff and then look at those word sheets with. I feel like the information has not been covered nearly enough for us. Some kids like Es can do it. She picks favorites. I don't feel good speaking Italy because she's missing. But I just, I wasn't one of her favorites, I think. And she will prioritize her favorites even though they're the ones that are usually doing the best in class. And the way she teaches, it's not like to pass the class and it feels very self taught and you're on your own.

[Mike Boudet]

Jayden tried talking to Noema and even talked to the principal about her. The principal's response was to tell him that he was, ahem, aware of the problem because so many kids through the generations had trouble and tried to get her fired. The principal took copious notes and Chayden remarked that he was a good principal who liked the kids a lot. And that made the principal happy, but who had so much hatred towards Noema that they would attack her and bash her skull in. That's what police wanted to know.

[Chayden Miller]

As Dick mentioned, we're here, you know, helping out with the investigation, trying to figure out what happened with Ms. Graver. What do you think, Avendor? It's not like she's a very routine person. That's what we've heard would be like her to just stop and leave. And when you say she's very routine, what do you, what do you, what do you know about her that would indicate that she's very routine? Well, she's always on time. She's always where she says she'll be when she says that. I don't have too much of a personal relationship with her, but I know people that do. Do you know of anybody out there that would have a serious gripe with Ms. Graber that may want to hurt her in some way? I know there's a lot of kids that fall into the same boat as me in Spanish class and they don't like her. She's kind of an asshole. Sometimes not like her enough to hurt her. I don't know. I heard about her window being smashed. I don't know how long ago that was. And then just yesterday my dad, he had gone and actually had a meeting with her because I had been complaining to him about her and how just Spanish is kind of shitting on my gpa. And so he was like, okay, I'll go talk to her. And he just told me yesterday, Will driving me to therapy that he didn't want to tell me anything because I was still be seeing her. But apparently so I didn't know that it happened all on the same night. Her house got egged and pee peed. And I guess the window was smashed. I guess I had them all at the same time. And that meeting, Ms. Graver had asked him about it. That's how he found out. Asked him because she was suspecting.

[Mike Boudet]

It was clear that a lot of people took issue with Noema. Students, parents, and even the principal. Well, both principals. To be fair, she had a history of students vandalizing her house at least once. But while Chayden felt like his Spanish grade was shitting on the rest of his gpa, he confronted Noema directly and wasn't part of the group that had broken windows.

[Chayden Miller]

And so again, we're not here to come down on you if you were involved in an egging or a TPing, but if you were involved. But if you were involved, we want to get it out on the table now so we can identify that and.

[Chauncey Moulding]

Move on from it.

[Chayden Miller]

Okay, so were you involved? No.

[Chauncey Moulding]

You were not involved.

[Chayden Miller]

And I. No, I have no idea. Usually people like when something like this happens, you can find out. Once again, small town people can be boasty. You never know when a word will slip from someone's mouth and then it can spread. I haven't heard anything and I gotta ask around me to find out. But I bet they're being real quiet. It was pretty serious. I mean smashing a thingy's window, that's a big charge. Actually it's not. Well, if you could very easily become breaking and entering, right? No, not for just. If you smash a window and if you go inside and start making know mess around, that could be an issue. But so for a high schooler, that's pretty. Yeah, that would look good. So tell me this, is there any. Can you think of any reason why somebody might say you were involved in that? Because we butt heads in class. Okay, but like with a little bit more specifically like anybody might say, like hey, listen, I know For a fact, he was involved. Not. I think he was. No. Other than us arguing in class. No, I don't. Okay. Yeah, I wasn't. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. All right. I don't mess. Because it can just so easily go south. I feel like if macabre pulls up, it's just not. It's just a hole.

[Chauncey Moulding]

Right.

[Mike Boudet]

Jaden may not have been involved in vandalizing Noema's house with. With a group of students, but he did know something else about another group and their retaliation against her in the park on the day she went missing. This is what he says happened.

[Chayden Miller]

It was very sketchy, and I am very good with body language. And I knew that I did not want to be involved. Okay. And I got out of there because I want to. I want to completely disassociate myself from anything that would have happened. You wanted to at that time, before anything happened. I said, I need to get out of here. If something goes down, I don't want to be involved at all. And I left. And I didn't assist with anything. I had no. I want to say no knowledge, but I. Something was up. And it sounds like you did have knowledge. Okay. Okay. And I know there's. It's just. I. Something was kind of. I've been in situations where. No, this isn't body language. Okay. Don't shortchange now. I'm not sure changing anything. What I'm saying is that I've been in situations where I may not be involved, but I may be with the people that did it or whatever it was, and things go south very, very quickly as soon as officers show up and whatnot. And I knew. I could feel that this is. This could be very easy to be one of those situations. And so I left. Okay, tell me about the situation. I was at Chautauqua with Jeremy, and I seen this graver's car pull up. And this was yesterday. And I'm sorry, two days ago, Tuesday night. Right. And something didn't. I had had some buy and some prior something from the past few days. And I knew that this is. This is when I'm gonna leave because I don't know what's gonna go down. And Crystal, I did. Okay. And I don't know anything past that point other than the next day. I see that she's not at school.

[Mike Boudet]

This is the part where Jeremy Goodale comes in. Chayden was at Chautauqua park with his friend Jeremy and Jeremy's girlfriend Zoe.

[Chayden Miller]

We were hanging out for a little bit, and we were at the shelter that's. You can kind of see the parking lot even though it's far off. You can see the parking lot. But then Zoe has to leave. She leaves and then something she's into. Right. And thank you, Ms. Grayburg. Don't glaze over. That what didn't seem right. I had heard prior things from the past week about just a lot of people talking about Ms. Straberg and just I knew something, I bet that there were other people at the park posted up, I don't know on the trail or what, but. And I had seen some teenagers when they were coming like in the distance going down and it was sketchy. And I hear and I think something might go down. I need to disassociate myself because I am. I'm staying on the right track. I need to keep clean record. I'm getting all my grades in. I'm getting as much college credit in. I'm not trying to fuck this up by getting. Becoming a suspect because of me being by something that just happened and being a teenager. And so I left.

[Mike Boudet]

And that's what every parent hopes their kid will do, right? Leave the scene when shit starts getting shady. But what about his friend Jeremy? Well, unbeknownst to him, Jeremy has already been implicated in one of many phone calls reporting sightings of Noema from Wisconsin, no less. But Jeremy does not disassociate himself like his friend Chayden does.

[Paul Graber]

Hi, calling regarding maybe some information about a missing woman, Noma Graber. Okay, what's your name? My name is Sean Allen. A L L E N. Yes, it is. Okay, what information do you have? Okay, so I've got a 4. I live in Wisconsin. I've got a 14 year old who has been playing Xbox with a young man named Jeremy. What's his last name? Good. Goodale. G O O D A L E My son and my son's friend from California have been in an Xbox Snapchat relationship with this person for a couple of years. My son comes to me tonight just distressed, just distressed crying. And he's got to tell me something important. And he proceeds to tell me. He tells me that this Jeremy person had shared with my son and my son's California friend that he killed somebody. And there was a group of people and he described some things in detail to do with a bat and a car in it freaked my son out. He kind of blew it off. But then they received this KTVO missing persons thing and now it's got my son just really, really, really freaked out.

[Mike Boudet]

So you know how Snapchat's really big because the messages and pictures are immediately deleted with the correct settings. Two warnings. First of all, the receiver can still screenshot it naduh. And of course the cops can always get their hands on records through a subpoena. Oh, I'm sorry, did you think it was end to end encrypted? Yeah. Right.

[Paul Graber]

And then like I said, last night Ben and Jack received a snap which I think has been self deleted or gone at this point. But this Jeremy allegedly told this tale about what he had done. And then, then my son thinks Jeremy maybe using drugs. And when did Jeremy say all this? Ben, what time yesterday did Jeremy get a hold of you? 10:00 last night, Central time.

[Mike Boudet]

This begged the question, since Jeremy admitted he killed someone, did he say when he did this?

[Paul Graber]

So Ben's thinking between after school and 10:00. Sean, how do you spell your first name? Is that sw E A N? Yeah.

[Mike Boudet]

Okay.

[Chayden Miller]

Yes. Pictures.

[Paul Graber]

Oh, it sounds like Ben and Jack, my son and my son's friend were a little freaked out and we're trying to be sleuths and track where this guy was on Snapchat and took some screenshots and stuff. So does it show that he's in Fairfield? It shows that Jeremy is in Fairfield.

[Mike Boudet]

Apparently Jeremy thought that since Snapchat is anonymous and can be set to delete immediately, it was okay to confess to murder to someone in a different state. Not only did Jeremy confess, but he also gave details like a complete fucking moron. You know, zoomers, the future leaders of society.

[Paul Graber]

Ben was recalling that Jeremy said there was a group of friends that Ben did. They say they hid the car, did something with the. The body. Did any of that? I think they, I think. I don't know. Did he show me a picture about him packing up bleach into a backpack? I'm not sure what he did though with the body. And he said he packing what into a backpack? Ben says Jeremy sent him pictures of what appeared to be a bloodied shirt and bleach going into a backpack.

[Mike Boudet]

Imagine you're a parent and your kid lays this on you. Would you believe him?

[Paul Graber]

Part of me was thinking okay, this has got to be bullshit, but right, Ben, you know, we found the kid on Facebook. Ben knows that he plays tennis. That name is on the tennis rod roster at the high school in Fairfield. Again, somebody weird could have all figured that out and made it up, but. Right, whatever. There's some of those things were lining up. Okay, Sean, I don't know when This. I don't know when this missing persons thing came out. It looks like. Oh, it looks like today.

[Mike Boudet]

The missing persons alert hit the state of Wisconsin just two days after the group of teens allegedly killed Noema. This dad called in because his son received a snap from a gamer friend, Jeremy, who lived in Iowa. Jeremy implicated a whole group of teens, and police were interviewing Chayden, who initially claimed no involvement. But Chayden's story was changing.

[Chayden Miller]

And I get why you came in here, and you spent the first 45 minutes avoiding certain things because they're very, very uncomfortable to talk with. Okay? But even in this new version of it that you're telling me where you were out there and you actually saw Ms. Graber. I saw her pull up. You saw her pull up, and then you decided, oh, I don't want to be a part of this. That doesn't. I don't buy that for a second. Not for a second. She pulled up and here's why. Can I tell you why that doesn't shake out? Sure. Because for 45 minutes, you were in here saying, no chautauqua, barely any Jeremy, nowhere but my house. Then all of a sudden, I confront you with the fact of something that you already knew was true. And then your story changes, but not enough.

[Mike Boudet]

Jaden's story was a slow rollout, like putting your big toe in a lake to see how cold it is. And if you can handle it, then putting your whole foot in and then your leg till you realize you're freezing and you should get the hell out of this leg. Anyway, the story kept changing one little bit at a time.

[Chayden Miller]

Okay? Like I said, we have a lot of people working on this. I can tell in your eyes that you have regrets, okay? But lies in the falsehoods and half truths don't show a person who's remorseful about what they did. We were walking down the path, the road, and it. There were other people. Okay? I'm telling you, this was not a one person thing. There were five, six, seven maybe. Okay? And I'm walking down, and then we get to the. There's another trail that heads off. And then I. A few minutes later, I looked down and I couldn't see who. There were multiple people around and they were moving. Moving what? A body. Okay. And I freaked out. I had a panic attack and I ran.

[Mike Boudet]

But as the officer pointed out already, he wasn't buying it, not for a second. And if Chayden didn't want to immerse himself in the deep waters of truth, he was Going to get a shove.

[Chayden Miller]

We're right back to where we started. You understand, Chayn, you understand how that doesn't shake out? Okay? And as I told you, we have other people putting you a lot deeper involved in this than what you're explaining. Okay? Basically, what we're trying to figure out is whether you're the ringleader or you're just along for the ride, because there's a big difference. I didn't plan anything. I had no input in any plans. And Jade, looking right now, I can tell you a lot of regrets about what happened. Okay? We can't change the past, and it's a bitter pill to swallow.

[Mike Boudet]

With all the interviews being conducted and all the surveillance footage reviewed, there was one person who could either get Chayden off the hook or. Or completely drown him. The kid that sent the Snapchat, Jeremy Goodale.

[Chayden Miller]

I'm glad you're here because we certainly have a lot of things that we kind of need to hash out and whatnot. I've got some questions that I'd certainly like to discuss with Jeremy if possible, but because he's a minor, we need to go through you. Okay? I'm sure at the conclusion of any questions that I have, I'm sure he'll have some questions for me, but ultimately, that's completely up to the two of you. Whether you want to speak any further with me and hear what I have to say, I'd like in the words that this is an investigation of has this grave ever been found? So at this point, and I'll be upfront and honest with you, at this point, human remains have been located. Okay. Those human remains have not been Positively identified as Ms. Graber, but due to a lot of different circumstances, we feel. So this is a murder investigation.

[Mike Boudet]

Jaden eventually accepted public defense, but Jeremy and his dad hired a lawyer right away and didn't speak. It didn't really matter, though, who spoke and who didn't. The cops had Jeremy in Snapchat admitting the murder and showing a bloody shirt. They had footage of Jeremy pushing a wheelbarrow past the school to Chautauqua park that night. They had the kids at school saying Chayden told them, I caught a body with a baseball bat. With all this evidence and more, there was enough probable cause for search warrants. They uncovered the bat, the murder weapon. The footage at the park during the hours of Noema's murder and concealment showed no other teens in the park. It was down to Jeremy and Chayden. All the evidence was pointing to Jeremy as the lead killer. But what didn't make sense was the motive. Jeremy had already taken and passed Noema Graeber's Spanish class. He had literally no skin in the game. It was Tchaydon who was planning a trip to Spain. That depended on whether or not he passed or failed. It was also Chaydon and his dad who went to discuss this grade within hours of Noema's murder. According to her husband, Noema warned him about this meeting with Tchaydon and his parents. She said it wasn't pleasant meeting, and she felt like Chaydon legitimately hated her. She would even turn from the whiteboard to face the class. And every time, she felt like Chaydon's angry stare was burning into her core. Both teens were arrested, and 11 months later, Jeremy offered to give a complete and accurate account of what happened in exchange for leniency.

[Chayden Miller]

But do you recall the first time ever having a conversation with Chayden about Ms. Graver? And not necessarily about what happened, but just a conversation with him about some frustrations or a general awareness of her?

[Chauncey Moulding]

Probably would have been about a month and a half before November 2nd. He would have brought up some. He brought up some frustrations to me, talking about how he was having a hard time and he didn't feel like she was being very adequate or understanding.

[Chayden Miller]

Okay, so probably early in the school year.

[Mike Boudet]

Okay, so hypothetically, of course, exactly how do you approach another person, especially at school, and ask for help in killing a teacher?

[Chauncey Moulding]

It was just like any other day. I was eating lunch in the cafeteria with John and. And Jaden and a few other people.

[Chayden Miller]

That we sit with.

[Chauncey Moulding]

And when I got up to bust.

[Mike Boudet]

My lunch trays, he kind of pulled.

[Chauncey Moulding]

Me aside and said, would you help me if I killed Ms. Greger?

[Mike Boudet]

I mean, I guess it's just like that.

[Chauncey Moulding]

And what was your response? I paused for a moment and looked at him. And then I said, sure, Pretty much.

[Mike Boudet]

I said, yes.

[Chayden Miller]

Okay. And, I mean, that's not a. Not a request that a friend asks you every day. And so what was your immediate reaction?

[Chauncey Moulding]

That, like, hey, he's my best friend. He needs something.

[Chayden Miller]

I'm here to help. Or what kind of thoughts were going through your mind before you say, like, yeah, sure.

[Chauncey Moulding]

I mean, originally was just trying to. Yeah, as soon as he said that.

[Mike Boudet]

I was like, holy shit.

[Chauncey Moulding]

I mean, I guess I'll help you. I'm just trying to be a good friend.

[Mike Boudet]

Just trying to be a good friend. That's what goes through the minds of underdeveloped, idiotic Brains. Remember that.

[Chauncey Moulding]

I would have been feeling pretty nervous at the time. I mean, at this point I was pretty convinced that he was gonna go through with it. And I had already agreed and I just didn't want to seem like a, like a coward or a wuss by.

[Chayden Miller]

Backing out at the last moment.

[Mike Boudet]

While Jeremy was committed enough to his friendship with Chayden to be complicit in murder, it seems the friendship may not have been reciprocated. It sure felt like Chayden tried to pin everything on first, a group of kids and second, Jeremy suspiciously. He asked Jeremy to go to get a wheelbarrow from Chaydon's house later that night. When they moved the body. Was he trying to set him up? This was da Chauncey Mouldings response.

[Chauncey Moulding]

Well, you're asking a question that we on, on our team have asked a few times and I think, I think it was. I haven't watched the proper interview with, with Jeremy in a very long time. But there was a real big part of my thought process that wondered why Chayden couldn't bring the wheelbarrow himself and was it possible that he was setting Jeremy up to be the fall guy? And I don't have enough information one way or the other, but you know, it doesn't make sense to me if we're both sneaking out of our house at midnight for task if you and I live in the same town or we're going to meet at the same place at midnight. I wouldn't ask you to come to my house and grab something. I would bring it myself.

[Mike Boudet]

This isn't to say that Jeremy wasn't completely in on the plan. He was. And nobody forced him to tattle to his gamer friend through Snapchat either. Remember the picture was sent showing Jeremy's face with the caption saying that this was the last face his Spanish teacher would see. It didn't feel like there was a lot of remorse.

[Chayden Miller]

That to me shows somebody that's not.

[Chauncey Moulding]

Ashamed of what he's doing is what I'm getting at.

[Chayden Miller]

And so there had to be some pride, I would think that was between.

[Chauncey Moulding]

The two of you, that you're working.

[Chayden Miller]

Together on this and executing the way.

[Chauncey Moulding]

That you wanted to.

[Chayden Miller]

Is that fair?

[Chauncey Moulding]

There would have been some bravado. Sure, right. Project myself as some cold hearted killer.

[Chayden Miller]

Okay, okay. Now when was the. Let's talk about in terms of the planning.

[Chauncey Moulding]

You agree to help them out, you.

[Chayden Miller]

Agree that, hey, there's a four day weekend coming up.

[Chauncey Moulding]

What are your different options here? Explain what you Mean by options. What are the different options for a plan? Like we could shoot her, we could use baseball bats, we could stab.

[Chayden Miller]

Or we could do all these different things. What's being discussed between you two?

[Chauncey Moulding]

I really just left the planning up to him.

[Mike Boudet]

Detectives were able to back up Jeremy's story after finding a murder list created by Chayden that detailed every implement they would need down to garbage bags. Then under a column entitled procedure were the damning words of a young killer. Stun, move off the trail, empty compartments, load cargo, blanket cargo, deactivate compartment contents, leave the bag by exit and transport safely. Stun, switch glove, deactivate the article to bag. Finalize the win, secure victory. Load into the storage spot. Don't forget to close the door on the ground and switch gloves. Move the sticks, wipe down tools, dispose of articles and grab bag by exit. Done. Just gonna say this once. If you're the type of person that has the limited intellectual capacity to where you have to write things down, otherwise they might slip your mind. And one of those things is a list of items you'll need for murder and how to actually murder. And you have to actually write out the word done at the end of it. You know, I hate to say this, but you might not have what it takes for murder.

[Chayden Miller]

SA.

[Mike Boudet]

In Fairfield, Iowa, a place with small town routines and traditions, students at Fairfield High School were used to getting a pass in some classes, like Spanish. At least some students were. And it seemed the school's administration condoned the lenient grades given out to some no student left behind, you know, all that bullshit. But Noema Graeber's traditional style and strict grading left some students frustrated and resentful, particularly those who think they're entitled to whatever grades they want. Again, particularly a student by the name of Chayden Miller. Chayden and Jeremy were two ordinary high school boys. Both were, you know, somewhat intelligent, I guess, and neither had a criminal record. But Chayden was ambitious and calculating. He led the way by repeatedly venting his frustrations about his Spanish grade and how this was going to fuck up his future. I guess murder wouldn't do that though, right, moron? Right. Jeremy, his loyal friend who'd known him since preschool, was impulsive and easily influenced. So he quickly fell in line with his friends ideas. If you can't lead, follow. That's what they say anyway. On November 2, 2021, the extent of Chayden's hatred became horrifyingly real when search teams found Noema Graber's body concealed under a Tarp and wheelbarrow in a heavily wooded area of Chautauqua Park. On that day, two ordinary students with hopeful futures became hardened killers.

[Chauncey Moulding]

When Shayden and Jeremy were brought in and it was determined that we had probable cause to charge first degree murder for both Jaden and Jeremy. The most difficult part in the initial stages for me personally was just having to sit down with Jeremy's family and Jayden's family and explain to them, look, I'm sorry that you're the one to have to tell you this, but both your sons are in custody and both of them have charges for killing Mrs. Graber and they will not be going on with each other.

[Mike Boudet]

Noema Graber would also not be coming home. She may have been an old school teacher, but she was still loved by many students and certainly loved by her family.

[Chauncey Moulding]

She gave up that life to move here and teach Spanish. And she was married to Paul, her husband, who unfortunately, Paul died, was it a week before of Chadwick. So he was very, very good. The whole Graeber family is some of the most sweet and just open hearted people we've ever dealt with as victims. And they're very, to be completely frank with you, far more forgiving of these two boys than I ever would be. So she was a well regarded teacher. I think that she made a pretty big impact on the kids that she, she taught. She was strict, but she was fair and she was very kind. And I think that she really kind of left an impact on the kids that she taught because there is still like a memorial for her and the kids put something together every year, an annual walk for Mrs. Graver at the park where she was killed.

[Mike Boudet]

Chayden was in fact the leader, planner and mastermind behind the killing of Noema Graeber. Though Chaydon's parents were separated, he lived with his mother and his father lived around the corner. Provided with a doting mom and a sharp mind, he couldn't bear the idea of anything or anyone standing in the way of his plans. After all, they were his plans and the children are our future. Or so I'm told. Noe MacGregor, his Spanish teacher, had become an obstacle. And Chayden didn't like obstacles. Jaden's dream was to join an exchange program in Spain, a plan that he feared his failing Spanish grade would ruin. Ironically, his victim's story started with a similar dream. Noema first met her husband Paul in Mexico when he was an exchange student. Little did she know that by refusing to give in to the demands of this young Man, Chayden, his family, and the school administration. She would lose her life to his ambition. Well, he pled guilty and was given life and the possibility of parole in 35 years. His statement at the sentencing hearing was anything but ambitious.

[Chayden Miller]

I like to take this opportunity to.

[Mike Boudet]

Wholeheartedly accept responsibility for the role that.

[Chayden Miller]

I played in the murder of Human River.

[Chauncey Moulding]

I would like to apologize for my actions, first and foremost for the family.

[Chayden Miller]

I'm sincerely sorry for the distress that I've caused you and the devastation of the family who borrowed my heart. I am sorry for your loss of them.

[Mike Boudet]

Some of Noema's family didn't quite believe in Chayden's sincerity.

[Chauncey Moulding]

To this day, it's clear to me that he feels no genuine remorse. No doubt he's sorry for himself, sorry.

[Mike Boudet]

He'S here, sorry for what's coming, perhaps sorry for his family. But I don't believe he feels genuine.

[Chauncey Moulding]

Remorse for slaughtering Noemi Graver.

[Mike Boudet]

I believe Willard Chad Miller should be sentenced to life in prison with the requirement that he actually served no less.

[Chauncey Moulding]

Than 35 years before becoming eligible to.

[Chayden Miller]

Be considered for the possibility of parole.

[Mike Boudet]

Sadly, Jeremy's dad died of cancer. After becoming weakened from the stress of this whole ordeal, his only son committed an act that would stain his life, and he would never see his son as a free man again. The funeral was held the day before Chayden's sentencing, making it all that much sadder. Jeremy Goodale was Chayden's opposite in many ways. Whereas Chayden had friends, he was socially awkward. Jeremy was the more popular of the two, but somehow played the role of follower to Chayden's lead. He was easily influenced and quite vulnerable. The only boy with four older sisters. You might think there was plenty of estrogen in the household, but his parents separated when he was just 10, and his mother moved to a different state with her boyfriend. This was Jeremy's dad. At the sentencing hearing right before he died, you know.

[Chauncey Moulding]

His mom kind of abandoned him.

[Mike Boudet]

What he said through his tears was that Jeremy's mom kind of abandoned him. From then forward, their relationship was strained and eventually stopped altogether. Jeremy's dad did the best he could to keep the family farm going, but he had to sell it when Jeremy was 12. Then 2020 came along, and Jeremy's dad attributes the school closings and isolation as playing a role in Jeremy's deteriorating mental health.

[Chayden Miller]

And how was Jeremy performing with his.

[Chauncey Moulding]

Schoolwork when everything was online? Not very well. You know, I was a single parent at that time. I had to Go to work. I had to provide for the family. And I was to leave a 14 year old kid at home by himself. He had to be online because that's how they were getting their studies. It was an utter disaster. You could imagine he was not doing his work.

[Chayden Miller]

He was. No matter what I seemed to do.

[Chauncey Moulding]

Since he had access to the Internet, you know, I couldn't. I couldn't keep him from playing video games. And that's pretty much what he did all day.

[Mike Boudet]

His dad went on to say that he sought out three different mental health therapists for his son. But weirdly, he never got to have a single session with any of them. Two of them died suddenly before the first appointment, and one lost his license just before the first session. Weird. After the lockdowns and loneliness of 2020, Jeremy came to school hungry for a connection. In his need to belong, he was easily influenced by Chayden. Maybe Jeremy didn't realize how far things would go. In his mind, it was too late to back out of the dark plan for fear of coming off to his friend as weak. But unlike Chayden, Jeremy was plagued by remorse after fully realizing the horror of what he'd been a part of. Caught between his own sense of guilt and his loyalty to Chayden, he became tangled in a scheme that was never truly his.

[Chauncey Moulding]

I want to say I'm grateful for this chance to speak my peace. I offer my sincerest apologies to the Graeber family. But I know my words will never be enough. I've had time to think on what to say. And I'm sorry.

[Chayden Miller]

Truly sorry.

[Chauncey Moulding]

What I've taken can never be replaced.

[Chayden Miller]

Every day I wish I could go.

[Chauncey Moulding]

Back and stop myself, prevent this loss and this pain that I've caused everyone.

[Chayden Miller]

Everyone in the community and outside of it. Those closest to me and those closest.

[Chauncey Moulding]

To the Graper family as well as the Graeper family.

[Chayden Miller]

I didn't know how taking the Scraper's life would affect you.

[Chauncey Moulding]

I can't comprehend losing a loved one in such an awful way.

[Chayden Miller]

I'm sorry I didn't stop this from happening in the first place.

[Mike Boudet]

Jeremy went on to finish with a sincere and poignant apology. He was given life with the possibility of parole after 25 years. Jeremy's need for connection made him vulnerable to Chaydon's control. Chaydon had the charisma to lead, but didn't seem to have the conscience behind it. Jeremy was isolated after years without his mom, a dad who worked long hours, and the loneliness of the pandemic. So he followed Jaden, likely because he craved the excitement and didn't want to lose the friendship. The problem with following the wrong person is that it can lead you to places that you never wanted to go. The search for connection, approval, or even just something to believe in can cloud our judgment. We are, after all, emotional animals, reactive, and not all that disciplined. Sometimes it takes us a while to learn a very important lesson. Sometimes it takes us a little maturity. And that lesson is that with the wrong leader, the price of following might just be more than you're prepared to pay. All right, we did our part. Now it's time for you to do yours. Go tell a friend about your favorite podcast, swordandscale.com SA.