The Auburn community is in mourning following the tragic loss of a cherished professor, Dr. Julie Gard Schnuelle, who was the victim of a vicious assault at Kiesel Park. Authorities have apprehended Harold Rashad Dabney III, a 28-year-old from Montgomery, on two counts of capital murder related to the stabbing. In Alabama, capital murder involves an intentional killing with certain aggravating circumstances. While the specific warrants have not yet been disclosed, it is likely that the charges involve murder during a robbery—as the police mentioned that Dr. Schnuelle’s truck was stolen—and potentially murder during a kidnapping. Prosecutors may elect to file multiple charges based on different ways the capital murder statute was allegedly breached, but we await the official documentation.
The attack
On the morning of Saturday, Sept. 6, Schnuelle visited Kiesel Park, Auburn’s largest public park, to enjoy a walk with her dog—a pastime she treasured. The authorities report that she was ambushed in a wooded section of the park that day. Her dog was later found safely and is currently being looked after by her family and friends.
Law enforcement received a call at approximately 2:07 p.m. regarding a woman’s body located in the woods of Kiesel Park on Chadwick Lane. Lee County Coroner Daniel Sexton arrived at the scene and confirmed that Schnuelle had died from injuries consistent with a sharp object, likely a knife. Her remains were then sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences in Montgomery for a thorough examination.
Suspect in custody
The next day, Sunday, Sept. 7, Auburn Police were alerted to suspicious activity near the 2300 block of Beehive Road, which is only a short distance from Kiesel Park. Harold Rashad Dabney III was found in the area, and the officers swiftly connected him to the homicide through their investigation.
The inquiry determined Dabney as the suspect in Schnuelle’s death. Preliminary information reveals he stole her red Ford F-150 truck from the park and later abandoned it on Wire Road near the Farmer in the Dell pumpkin patch. A helicopter was later observed flying from the area after the truck was located on Sunday.
Dabney was apprehended around 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, charged with two counts of capital murder, and subsequently taken to the Lee County Jail, where he remains held without the possibility of bail.
Remembering Dr. Schnuelle
Dr. Schnuelle was a retired professor of Large Animal and Food Animal Medicine at Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. She held advanced degrees including a PhD and was board-certified in theriogenology, the specialty of animal reproduction.
She was widely respected in the bovine veterinary community and known for her scholarship, compassion, and dedication to mentoring future veterinarians. Former students and colleagues describe her as both brilliant and kind, a teacher who deeply cared for the animals she treated and the people she taught.
Beyond her professional achievements, she was a wife, mother, friend, and caregiver. Friends say her love of animals extended beyond her work, often seen walking her dog at Kiesel Park, where she lost her life.
A park in mourning
Kiesel Park is Auburn’s largest park, stretching 124 acres with gardens, a pond, a pavilion, a dog area, and a 2.25-mile walking trail. It is home to Auburn CityFest, the Fall Sundown Concert Series, and countless weddings, family gatherings, and community events.
Residents say the idea of a violent stabbing in broad daylight, at a place considered one of Auburn’s safest and most cherished public spaces, has shaken their sense of security.
Multi-agency effort
The Auburn Police Department expressed gratitude to agencies that assisted in the case, including the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, State Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Lee County Emergency Management Agency, the Alabama Department of Corrections, and the Lee County District Attorney’s Office.
Police also thanked the public for their vigilance, noting that numerous tips helped investigators quickly locate Dabney and recover key evidence.
What’s next
The homicide investigation remains active. Police have not said what led to the attack or whether Dabney knew Schnuelle or targeted her at random. Those answers may come out in the weeks ahead as the case moves into the courts.
For now, Auburn is left mourning the loss of a woman who gave decades of her life to animals, students, and the community she called home.
Anyone with information that could aid investigators is urged to call the Auburn Police Division at 334-501-3140, the tip line at 334-246-1391, or dial 911.
