AUBURN, Ala. – A person of interest is now charged with capital murder in the death of a retired Auburn University professor.
Auburn Police arrested Harold Rashad Dabney, III, of Montgomery. He is charged on two counts of capital murder.
Auburn Police are investigating after a retired college professor was found dead in a wooded area of Kiesel Park on Saturday, September 6.
The Lee County Coroner has identified the victim as 59-year-old Dr. Julie Gard Schnuelle, who taught at Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.
Police said her injuries suggest the death resulted from an assault, prompting an active investigation by Auburn Police detectives.
On Saturday, Auburn Police shared that a red Ford F-150, believed to be connected to the homicide, was reported missing from a location near the crime scene.
Auburn University issued the following statement:
Julie Gard Schnuelle, DVM, Ph.D., was a beloved member of the Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and the Auburn Family. She served as a faculty member in the Department of Clinical Sciences in the Large Animal/Food Animal section from 2003 to 2021, when she retired as a professor emerita.
The Auburn Police Department is leading the investigating, and all questions should be referred to them.
Auburn sends our sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Dr. Gard Schnuelle during this unimaginably difficult time.
Kiesel Park is temporarily closed to the public due to the investigation and will remain closed through the weekend. Police are asking community members to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activities or individuals.