Auburn, AL – On Saturday, an animal lover was brutally stabbed to death while walking her dog at Kiesel Park in Auburn. Retired Auburn University professor Dr. Julie Gard Schnuelle, who regularly visited the park, was killed by 28-year-old Harold Rashad Dabney III.
A Sept. 6 city news release recounts the initial details:
On Sept. 6, 2025, Auburn Police responded to Kiesel Park located in the 500 block of Chadwick Lane in reference to a call reporting a deceased person. Officers located a 59-year-old deceased female in a wooded area within the park. The victim had injuries indicating the death was caused by an assault, and Auburn Police detectives are actively engaged in a homicide investigation. A red Ford F-150 (photo attached) was discovered missing from an area near the crime scene.
According to sources, Schnuelle’s dog faithfully stayed by her side after she was murdered; the dog was unharmed. Her killer was found and arrested on Sunday – he is facing two counts of capital murder. The stolen F-F150 was recovered on Sunday, not far from the crime scene.
On Sept. 7, the city police said:
The suspicious person was located by officers and identified as Harold Rashad Dabney III. Officers in contact with Dabney made observations that led them to believe Dabney had involvement with the homicide that occurred the previous day.
After further investigation, Dabney was confirmed to be the suspect responsible for the homicide, and he was charged with two counts of capital murder. Dabney was transported to the Lee County Jail where he is being held without bond.
People who knew the victim remember her as a spunky, “bright light,” who will be missed immensely.
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