A 28-year-old Alabama man has been charged with capital murder after a retired Auburn University professor was brutally stabbed while walking her dog in a city park.
Dr. Julie Gard Schnuelle, 59, a beloved veterinarian and educator, was found dead Saturday afternoon in Kiesel Park in Auburn.
The Victim
Schnuelle was a longtime faculty member at Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.
She taught in the Department of Clinical Sciences from 2003 until her retirement in 2021.
Former students described her as a “bright light” and a “force” who inspired countless veterinarians.
Authorities said Schnuelle’s injuries were consistent with a knife assault.
She was found in a wooded area of the 124-acre park after a 911 call at around 2 p.m.
Her dog was unharmed and is now with family members.
The Suspect
Harold Rashad Dabney III of Montgomery was arrested the next morning.
He was charged with two counts of capital murder and booked into Lee County Jail without bond.
Police believe he stole Schnuelle’s red Ford F-150 after the attack and later abandoned it near a pumpkin patch.
In Alabama, capital murder is an intentional killing with aggravating factors.
It carries a maximum penalty of death or life imprisonment without parole.
Warrants suggest Dabney may face charges of murder during a robbery and murder during a kidnapping.
Community Response
Auburn University called Schnuelle “a beloved member of the Auburn Family.”
Former students recalled her as spunky, courageous, and fiercely loyal to those she mentored.
“She was a force in this world, such a bright, bright light,” one alumna said.
Kiesel Park, normally considered a safe public space, has been temporarily closed.
Residents expressed shock that such violence occurred in broad daylight in a family-friendly area.
“It’s beyond devastating,” one former student told AL.com.
Political Reaction
U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., said he and his wife were “devastated by the news of this tragic loss.”
He pledged prayers for Schnuelle’s family and justice for her killer.
Local police also thanked the public for investigative tips that helped track the suspect.
