Left inset: Harold Dabney III (Auburn Police Department). Right inset: Dr. Julie Gard Schnuelle (Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine). Background: Kiesel Park in Auburn, Ala., where Harold Dabney III allegedly murdered Dr. Julie Gard Schnuelle on Saturday (Google Maps).
Details have emerged about the alleged murder of an Alabama professor emerita and “beloved member” of the veterinary and university community who was killed while walking her dogs, with police revealing in court how she was stabbed seven times and dragged about 25 to 30 yards off the trail she was on. The woman”s phone, a visor she was wearing, and a dog leash soaked in blood were allegedly found about 10 to 15 yards away.
Harold Rashad Dabney III, of Montgomery, is charged with capital murder for the fatal assault of retired Auburn University professor Dr. Julie Schnuelle in Kiesel Park, located in the 500 block of Chadwick Lane in Auburn, on Sept. 6, according to local police.
Dabney allegedly attacked and killed Schnuelle after she arrived at the park around 9:38 a.m. that Saturday. He left her body in a “wooded area within the park” and then fled in her F-150, according to cops. A passerby discovered Schnuelle and called 911.
On Wednesday, an Auburn police detective provided testimony at a preliminary hearing for Dabney and described how he responded that day and found Schnuelle in the woods, according to AL.com.
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The detective and other law enforcement officers arrived at the park around 1:54 p.m. and were told by the witness that they first spotted a pool of blood on the walking trail before locating Schnuelle’s butchered body. Dabney had allegedly stabbed her in the neck, chest, forearm, and hand before leaving her to die.
According to the detective, at least two different pools of blood were seen and reported on the walking trail by authorities upon their arrival. A search of the area led to Schnuelle being found off the trail and behind a tree, AL.com reports. The detective said it appeared she had been dragged to the location by Dabney, who was allegedly caught on surveillance video using Schnuelle’s key fob to enter her F-150 and drive away.
The next day, authorities received a report around 8:30 a.m. about a “suspicious person” at St. Matthews Baptist Church in the 2300 block of Beehive Road — around 4 miles away from Kiesel Park — who turned out to be Dabney, according to the detective. Cops searched him and allegedly found a credit card belonging to Schnuelle in his underwear, per the detective. Schnuelle’s F-150 was later located near the 6500 block of Wire Road, about 3 miles away from the church, in a wooded area.
“After further investigation, Dabney was confirmed to be the suspect responsible for the homicide, and he was charged with two counts of capital murder,” police officials reported at the time. The detective said Wednesday that blood was found inside the F-150, along with Dabney’s fingerprints.
Auburn University officials, as well as friends and family, released statements to local media outlets after her death describing Schnuelle as a “welcoming” and “spunky” professor emerita who was known to “help you out” when needed.
“Dr. Gard Schnuelle retired as a professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences, in the Large Animal/Food Animal section in 2021,” Schnuelle’s bio said on the Auburn website.
A former student, Dr. Ashley Rutter, told AL.com that Schnuelle frequently visited Kiesel Park — specifically the dog park, as do many veterinary students.
“She ran there every day,” Rutter said.
Dabney was ordered held Wednesday without bond. His case has been sent to a local grand jury.
