What should have been an ordinary Saturday morning in Auburn, Alabama — a quiet walk with a loyal dog — instead became a scene of violence that has shaken the university town and left an entire academic community in mourning.
Dr. Julie Schnuelle, 59, a retired professor of veterinary medicine at Auburn University, was found dead in Kiesel Park, a beloved local green space where she was known to run daily. Police say her injuries were consistent with an assault. Her faithful dog was unharmed, sitting nearby when first responders arrived.
Within 24 hours, Auburn police had their suspect: 26-year-old Harold Rashad Dabney III. Arrested after officers responded to a call about a “suspicious person” early Sunday morning, Dabney was soon charged with two counts of capital murder.
Investigators revealed that in addition to the killing, he allegedly stole Schnuelle’s red Ford F-150 pickup truck, which has since been recovered. He is being held without bond at the Lee County Jail.
The loss is reverberating far beyond the crime scene. Auburn University, where Schnuelle taught in the College of Veterinary Medicine from 2003 until her retirement in 2021, described her as a “cherished educator, mentor, and colleague.” She specialized in theriogenology, the study of animal reproduction, and inspired countless students during her nearly two-decade career.
Former students and community members remembered her as a force of nature packed into a small frame. “She was only a little bit over 5-foot-2… She was a force in this world, such a bright, bright light,” said alumna Destinee Bearden Patterson.
Another local resident, Ashley Rutter, recalled Schnuelle’s daily runs through Kiesel Park: “She was always so welcoming. She was spunky and ready to make jokes. But if she saw something she didn’t like, she would always stand up for you and for herself.”
The university community is struggling with the shock of the crime. A professor who dedicated her life to healing animals and shaping future veterinarians has been taken in a brutal, senseless act. Her dog, unharmed but left without its companion, is a haunting symbol of the life she led — one filled with loyalty, care, and unshakable energy.
Police have yet to release a motive.
