Authorities in Auburn, Alabama, have reported the tragic death of Julie Gard Schnuel, a 59-year-old retired professor, whose body was discovered in a wooded area of Kiesel Park on Saturday. Preliminary investigations indicated she had suffered injuries consistent with an assault. At the time of her death, she was walking her dog, which fortunately was unharmed.
Harold Rashad Dabney III, a 26-year-old man, has been arrested and charged with two counts of capital murder relating to Schnuel’s death. According to police, officers made contact with Dabney after responding to a tip regarding a suspicious person; observations suggested his involvement in the crime.
It’s reported that Dabney had stolen Schnuel’s Ford F-150. He was previously arrested in December 2023 in Virginia Beach on a gun-related felony, along with several misdemeanors. Police records indicated that Dabney, who was living in his car, was found uncooperative when approached by officers.
During the police search of his vehicle, law enforcement uncovered a handgun, a shotgun, and various illegal substances. Interestingly, Dabney had no known criminal history prior to this incident; he had been unemployed at the time of his arrest. Although he faced serious charges, prosecutors eventually allowed him to plead guilty to the misdemeanors instead of proceeding with the felony charges, which resulted in a 12-month unsupervised probation sentence.
Schnuel’s tenure as a professor at Auburn University lasted from 2003 to 2021, and she was also recognized as a local veterinarian for the USDA in Alabama and Mississippi. The university expressed its condolences, describing her as a cherished mentor whose influence in veterinary medicine would live on through her students.
In the meantime, Dabney remains in custody at the Lee County Jail as the investigation continues.
