Local police believe a retired Auburn University professor was arrested in 2023 on a gun-related felony charge, but later agreed to plead guilty to several misdemeanors instead.
On Saturday, police in Auburn, Alabama, discovered 59-year-old Julie Gard Schnuel deceased in a wooded area of Kiesel Park. Her injuries were consistent with an attack. Officers responded to a 911 call reporting her death. Interestingly, Schnuel’s dog was with her at the time but emerged unscathed.
Harold Rashad Dabny III, 26, has been arrested and charged with two counts of capital murder in connection to Schnuel’s death. According to police, he was apprehended on Sunday following a call about a “suspicious person,” which led officers to believe he was involved in the incident.
Dabney is also accused of stealing Schnuel’s Ford F-150.
An arrest warrant indicates that Dabney had been arrested on December 27, 2023, for a gun-related felony and multiple misdemeanors in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Virginia Beach police noted that Dabney, who was homeless at the time, was found sleeping in a vehicle in a business parking lot. He reportedly refused to provide any information, stating he was “messed up.” A search of the vehicle revealed a handgun hidden under the driver’s seat, a shotgun in the back, as well as white pills and an open container without a serial number.
Prior to the December incident, Dabney had no criminal history and had recently been employed but was unemployed when arrested. Authorities stated he showed a “refusal to assert the truth” during his bail hearing.
Dabney faced charges for felony possession of a modified shotgun, tampering with firearm identification, unlawful concealment of weapons, public intoxication, and trespassing.
Court records indicate that while the felony charge was dropped, Dabney pleaded guilty to the misdemeanors and received a sentence of 12 months of unsupervised probation.
Schnuel served as a professor at the Auburn University School of Veterinary Medicine from 2003 until her retirement in 2021. In a statement, the university expressed its condolences, highlighting her significant contributions to both students and the field of veterinary medicine.
Auburn described Schnuel as a “valuable educator,” noting her passion for teaching and lasting impact on the veterinary community.
Dabney is currently being held at the Lee County Jail.
