AUBURN, Ala. — A retired Auburn University veterinary professor was stabbed to death Saturday morning, Sept. 6, 2025, while walking her dog in a wooded area of a local park, authorities said, in a seemingly random attack that has left the university community reeling.
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Dr. Julie Gard Schnuelle, 59, of Auburn, was found unresponsive around 2 p.m. in Kiesel Park after a 911 caller reported discovering a body near the 500 block of Chadwick Lane. The Lee County coroner ruled her death a homicide caused by multiple sharp force injuries consistent with a knife attack. Her dog was unharmed at the scene.
Auburn police arrested Harold Rashad Dabney III, 28, of Montgomery, on Sunday morning following reports of a suspicious person about four miles from the park. Authorities identified Dabney as the suspect after linking him to the crime and recovering Schnuelle's stolen red Ford F-150 truck, which he allegedly took from the scene and abandoned nearby. He faces two counts of capital murder, including murder during a robbery and murder during a kidnapping, and is being held without bond in Lee County Jail. No motive has been released, and police have not indicated any prior connection between the suspect and victim.
Schnuelle, a professor emerita in the Department of Clinical Sciences at Auburn University's College of Veterinary Medicine, served on the faculty from 2003 until her retirement in 2021. She specialized in theriogenology, with expertise in dairy production medicine, bovine embryology and canine reproduction. She earned her veterinary medicine degree from Auburn in 1996 and a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences from the university. Colleagues and former students described her as a "force" and "bright light" in the field, known for her compassion, dedication to mentoring aspiring large-animal veterinarians and welcoming personality.
"She was a cherished educator, mentor and colleague whose passion for veterinary medicine left a lasting impact on Auburn," the university said in a statement. "Her legacy of compassion, scholarship and service will continue to inspire generations of veterinarians." Auburn extended condolences to Schnuelle's husband, Archie, a licensed marriage and family therapist, and her two children.
U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., a former Auburn football coach, said he and his wife were "devastated" by the loss and prayed for justice. The killing has raised concerns about safety in the 124-acre park, a popular spot for runners and veterinary students that was long considered a secure community space.
The investigation involves multiple agencies, including the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, FBI and Lee County District Attorney's Office. Schnuelle's body was sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences for autopsy, and police continue to seek tips from the public.
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