An "evil" killer who battered his teacher to death with a baseball bat over his bad grades smirked in court before being sentenced to life in prison.
Willard Miller and Jeremy Goodale, who were 16 at the time, beat to death 66-year-old Spanish teacher Nohema Graber in a park where she regularly walked after school.
Judge Showers asked Miller to step forward before sentencing him to life in prison when he was seen smirking after the "heinous act" saw his eligibility for parole extended to 35 years - despite the state prosecutor asking for the 30 years.
The killer will be in his early 50s before he comes eligible to even apply for parole.
Miller admitted to helping plan and carry out the killing but denied hitting the teacher after the teacher's body was discovered under a tarpaulin, wheelbarrow and railroad ties.
Judge Showers told Miller he could not sentence him to life without parole given his age but the law does allow him to implement a mandatory minimum.
He said he found Miller's "intent and actions were sinister and evil. There is no excuse."
During sentencing, Miller said that he accepted responsibility for the killing and apologised to the Graber family.
"I would like to apologise for my actions, first and foremost to the family," he said. "I am sincerely sorry for the distress I have caused you and the devastation I have caused your family." He also apologised to his own family and Goodale's family.
Miller was the first sentenced after he pleaded guilty as part of an agreement in which prosecutors recommended a term of between 30 years and life in prison, with the possibility of parole.
Ten of Graber's relatives either read or submitted victim impact statements that described the woman as kind, caring and devoted to her family, students and church. Several also blamed Miller and Goodale for the recent death of Graber's husband, who suffered from cancer but delayed treatment amid his depression over the murder.
“I hope you open your soul to the lord and maybe ask for forgiveness there first because you're on a spiral straight to hell,” Graber's brother-in-law, Jim Graber said while staring at Miller.
Under Goodale's agreement to plead guilty, prosecutors had recommended a sentence of between 25 years and life with the possibility of parole. Goodale's sentencing is scheduled for August, but his lawyers have sought a delay in the hearing.
Thursday's sentencing hearing at the Jefferson County Courthouse in Fairfield initially focused on investigators who described how officers found Graber's body. They also talked about social media postings that led them to question and then arrest Miller and Goodale.
Prosecutors also played recordings of police interviews with both teens and displayed photographs of the crime scene, including graphic images of Graber's body.
Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation agent Trent Vileta recalled police finding Graber's body under a tarp in Chautauqua Park. A wheelbarrow and railroad tie had been placed over the tarp, making it hard to see the body, with only a shoe and a hand visible.
After pulling back part of the tarp, Vileta said the only significant injury to Graber appeared to be a severe head wound.
In the interview, Miller initially said he knew nothing about Graber's disappearance but later said he saw other people carrying her body in the park.
Goodale testified earlier that he and Miller had planned the killing for about two weeks and that both of them struck the victim and then hid her body. Goodale said Miller had initiated the plan. Miller admitted helping but denied hitting Graber.
The two were charged as adults, but because of their age they were not subject to a mandatory sentence of life without parole for first-degree murder. Miller is now 17 and Goodale is 18.
