Auburn, Alabama, is reeling from the tragic loss of Dr. Julie Gard Schnuelle, a cherished former professor at Auburn University, whose life was cut short in a violent attack at Kiesel Park. Just moments ago, Auburn police announced the arrest of 28-year-old Harold Rashad Dabney III from Montgomery, charging him with two counts of capital murder in connection with her death.
This swift development, shared in a press release, brings hope for justice in a case that has shaken the tight-knit community. On Saturday, September 6, 2025, Dr. Schnuelle, 59, visited Kiesel Park, a sprawling 120-acre green space known for its walking trails and dog park, to walk her dog, a routine she loved. Around 2:07 p.m., authorities received a call reporting a deceased person in a wooded area of the park.
Responding officers found Dr. Schnuelle, who had suffered fatal injuries from sharp force trauma, likely caused by a knife or similar object, according to Lee County Coroner Daniel Sexton. Her body was sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences for a complete autopsy.
Her unharmed dog was found nearby, and her red Ford F-150 truck was stolen from the scene.
The following day, Sunday, September 7, around 8:30 a.m., police responded to a call about a suspicious person near Beehive Road, just miles from the park. Officers identified Dabney and, through observations and further investigation, linked him to the homicide. The stolen truck was later found abandoned on Wire Road near a local pumpkin patch, aiding the case.
Dabney was arrested and is now held without bond in the Lee County Jail, facing charges that reflect the severity of the crime, including murder during a robbery.
Dr. Schnuelle was a revered figure in Auburn’s veterinary community. A graduate of Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, she earned a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and taught large animal and food animal sciences until her retirement in 2021 as a professor emerita. Colleagues and students remember her as a brilliant educator and compassionate person, with one friend noting her as a “force in this world” despite her petite stature. Auburn University issued a statement expressing deep sorrow, calling her a “beloved member” of the community. The death of the Auburn professor has stunned the local community.
Just weeks before her death, she taught a professional certification class for veterinarians, underscoring her lasting impact. The investigation remains active, with Kiesel Park closed as a crime scene, secured by yellow tape. Auburn police, assisted by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the FBI, the Lee County Emergency Management Agency, and others, continue to seek public tips related to the Auburn professor murder.
