Professor STABBED—Blood Trail Shocks State

Gavel, handcuffs, and Death Penalty sign on desk.

A morning walk in an Alabama park turned into a death scene when a beloved retired professor was stabbed seven times, her stolen truck driven away by her killer, and a blood-soaked dog leash left behind as silent testimony to a crime that has shaken an entire community to its core.

Story Snapshot

Dr. Julie Gard Schnuelle, retired Auburn University veterinary professor, was murdered during her morning jog at Kiesel Park on September 6, 2023
Harold Rashad Dabney III faces two counts of capital murder after allegedly stabbing the professor seven times and stealing her truck
Lee County prosecutors are seeking the death penalty as the case moves to a grand jury
Surveillance footage captured Dabney using Schnuelle’s key fob to steal her vehicle after the brutal attack
The murder weapon remains missing despite extensive investigation by Auburn police

The Morning That Changed Everything

Dr. Julie Gard Schnuelle started September 6, 2023, the way she began most mornings. The 63-year-old retired professor from Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine headed to Kiesel Park with her dogs for their regular jog. The park, known for its scenic walking trails and natural beauty, had been a sanctuary for Dr. Schnuelle and countless other Auburn residents who sought fresh air and exercise in what should have been a safe public space. But that morning, evil waited among the trees. What began as routine exercise ended in a violent attack that would leave seven stab wounds, a stolen truck, and a community reeling from the loss of a woman described as everyone’s cheerleader.

The Investigation Unfolds

Auburn Police Department investigators pieced together a chilling sequence of events through surveillance footage and forensic evidence. The footage revealed Harold Rashad Dabney III, 28, using Dr. Schnuelle’s key fob to access and steal her truck after the attack. A blood-soaked dog leash discovered at the scene told its own horrific story of the violence that had occurred. Within 24 hours of discovering Dr. Schnuelle’s body, police arrested Dabney and charged him with two counts of capital murder. The swift arrest brought some measure of relief to a frightened community, but questions lingered. The murder weapon has never been recovered, leaving a gap in the evidentiary chain that prosecutors will need to address as they pursue the ultimate penalty.

Judge Jeffrey Gerald Tickal found probable cause for the charges during a recent court hearing, denying Dabney bond and ensuring he remains in custody without bail. The case now moves forward to a grand jury, where prosecutors will present their evidence and seek an indictment that could lead to a death penalty trial.

A Beloved Professor Remembered

Dr. Schnuelle’s impact extended far beyond her professional accomplishments at Auburn University. Students and colleagues remember her as a dedicated educator who genuinely cared about the success and wellbeing of everyone around her. Her regular presence at Kiesel Park made her a familiar face to fellow joggers and dog walkers, part of the fabric of daily life in Auburn. The veterinary medicine community lost not just a skilled professional but a mentor and friend whose enthusiasm for her work and her students never wavered even after retirement. Her murder represents more than statistics or legal proceedings. It destroyed a life built on service, compassion, and dedication to improving the lives of animals and the people who care for them.

Justice and the Death Penalty Question

The Lee County District Attorney’s Office made a decisive choice in announcing its intention to seek the death penalty against Dabney. This decision reflects both the brutal nature of the crime and Alabama’s willingness to pursue capital punishment in cases involving particularly heinous murders. The stabbing occurred in a public park during daylight hours, followed by the theft of the victim’s vehicle, creating multiple aggravating factors that support a death penalty case under Alabama law. Critics of capital punishment will undoubtedly voice opposition, but the facts of this case, the premeditated nature of the attack, and the community impact make it difficult to argue against the prosecution’s decision. When someone transforms a peaceful park into a murder scene and leaves a decorated educator dead on a jogging trail, society has both the right and the responsibility to demand the ultimate accountability.

The legal proceedings ahead will test Alabama’s justice system and its commitment to protecting citizens who should be able to walk in public parks without fear. As the case moves to the grand jury and potentially to trial, the Auburn community watches and waits for justice that can never truly compensate for the loss of Dr. Julie Gard Schnuelle.