A retired Auburn University professor, Dr. Julie Gard Schnuelle, was tragically killed while walking her dog in Kiesel Park, Auburn, Alabama, on Saturday (September 6). The 59-year-old veterinarian was found dead in a wooded area of the park, with injuries consistent with a knife assault, according to Auburn police. Her dog was unharmed.
Harold Rashad Dabney III, 28, has been charged with two counts of capital murder in connection with Schnuelle’s death. The charges likely include murder during a robbery and murder during a kidnapping. Dabney was arrested on Sunday morning and is being held without bond at Lee County Jail. Preliminary reports suggest he stole Schnuelle’s red Ford F-150 truck, which was later recovered.
Dr. Schnuelle was a beloved member of Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, where she worked in the Department of Clinical Sciences until her retirement in 2021. The university released a statement expressing their sorrow over her death.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have not yet disclosed the motive behind the attack or whether Dabney knew Schnuelle personally. Her body has been sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences for a postmortem examination. Dabney’s legal proceedings will determine whether he faces the death penalty or life imprisonment without parole, as capital murder is the most severe charge in Alabama.
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