A green space not far from a university frequented for its trails and dog park became the site of a murder after a former professor was said to have been ambushed while walking her dog.
(Video Credit: KHOU 11)
Saturday, roughly six miles away from Auburn University, professor emerita Dr. Julie Gard Schnuelle was found killed in a wooded portion of Kiesel Park. Now prosecutors are vying for the death penalty for the suspect believed to have stabbed the 59-year-old mother to death before allegedly driving off in her truck.
Reports of a suspicious person led investigators to the arrest of 28-year-old Harold Rashad Dabney III on Sunday, who was subsequently charged with two counts of capital murder — one for allegedly causing her death during a kidnapping and the other during the commission of a robbery.
A press release from the Auburn Police suggested that the suspect had stolen Schnuelle’s Ford F-150 before abandoning it. “Officers in contact with Dabney made observations that led them to believe Dabney had involvement with the homicide that occurred the previous day,” said the authorities as the suspect was being held without bond at Lee County Jail.
Members of the Auburn community were shaken by the murder, including former students of Schnuelle, who had been a professor at the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine from 2003 to 2021.
Speaking with AL.com, which reported that the dog was located unharmed, Dr. Ashley Rutter commented on her former professor, “She was always so welcoming. She was spunky and ready to make jokes. But if she saw something she didn’t like, she would always stand up for you and for herself.”
“She’d be there to defend you and help you out,” added Rutter, who also spoke to Schnuelle’s time at Kiesel Park, “She ran there every day.”
As CBS News reported that prosecutors were seeking the death penalty for the suspect at his arraignment, with a preliminary hearing slated for October 8, the school issued its own statement about the murder and said, “The Auburn University community extends its sincere condolences to Gard Schnuelle’s family and loved ones for their tragic loss.”
“She was a cherished educator, mentor, and colleague whose dedication to students and passion for theriogenology and veterinary medicine left a lasting impact on Auburn,” continued the university. “Dr. Gard Schnuelle’s legacy of compassion, scholarship, and service will continue to inspire generations of veterinarians.”
Likewise, Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville, whose tenure as head football coach at the college from 1999 to 2008 coincided with Schnuell’s time as a professor, posted a message to X on behalf of himself and his wife, “Suzanne and I are devastated by the news of this tragic loss in our community. We are praying for the victim’s family and loved ones and for justice to be served.”
Suzanne and I are devastated by the news of this tragic loss in our community. We are praying for the victim’s family and loved ones and for justice to be served. https://t.co/DN60wtcfYw
— Coach Tommy Tuberville (@SenTuberville) September 7, 2025
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.