Details Emerge in Murder of Retired Auburn University Professor
During a court hearing on Wednesday, more information came to light regarding the death of a retired professor from Auburn University. Julie Gard Schnuer, 59, was discovered with fatal injuries in a wooded area of Kiesel Park in Auburn, Alabama, on September 6.
Harold Rashad Dabney III, 28, has been charged with two counts of murder, specifically capital murder related to kidnapping and theft. According to reports, during the hearing, Lee County Circuit Judge Jeffrey Gerald Tikal confirmed there was probable cause and has referred the case to a grand jury.
Detective Taylor Clark from Auburn Police provided details, mentioning that surveillance footage captured Schnuer arriving at the park around 9:38 a.m. in a red Ford F-150, with her dog. The police were alerted after receiving a 911 call about a pool of blood, which led them to her body, situated some 80 to 100 feet from the sidewalk.
A total of two blood pools were located, and it appeared Schnuer’s body had been dragged, according to Clark. Her cellphone, dog leash, and a visor were found nearby, covered in blood, approximately 10 to 15 yards from the body. A post-mortem examination revealed that Schnuer had been stabbed multiple times, suffering wounds to her neck, chest, and arms.
Police also noted that video surveillance showed a figure resembling Dabney searching for Schnuer’s vehicle before driving away in it shortly after, around 10:39 a.m. The murder weapon has yet to be found.
Schnuer worked as professor emeritus at Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine from 2003 until her retirement in 2021. The university expressed condolences, stating, “Auburn University officials extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Gard Schnuer on his tragic death.”
A former student, Ashley Rutter, shared her memories of Schnuer with AL.com, remarking how she would often run in Kiesel Park daily. Rutter described her professor as welcoming, quick with a joke, and someone who would stand up for her beliefs without hesitation.
