A former Auburn University veterinary professor was found stabbed to death while walking her dog in a local park, and authorities have arrested a suspect who they say stole her truck and fled the scene.
Dr. Julie Gard Schnuelle, 59, a former faculty member in the College of Veterinary Medicine who specialized in large-animal medicine, was discovered in a wooded area of Kiesel Park in Auburn on Saturday afternoon, Auburn police said. Her dog was found at the scene and was unharmed.
Police said Schnuelle had driven to the park in her red Ford F-150. Her truck was recovered Sunday a short distance away on Wire Road, and a suspect was taken into custody the following day. Harold Rashad Dabney III, 28, of Montgomery, was arrested on Beehive Road near Interstate 85 and charged with capital murder, authorities and local reports said. He is being held without bond at the Lee County Jail.
“Auburn Police officers in contact with Dabney made observations that led them to believe Dabney had involvement with the homicide that occurred the previous day,” the department said in a statement, according to local reporting.
The killing drew an immediate response from the Auburn community, where Schnuelle was well known both for her work with livestock and for frequent visits to Kiesel Park and its adjacent dog park. Former students and colleagues described her as a small but formidable practitioner who mentored many in the college.
"She was a force. She was only a little bit over 5-foot-2, not your typical large animal veterinarian," said Destinee Bearden Patterson, a former student, in comments published by local outlets. "She was a force in this world, such a bright, bright light, just an all-around wonderful human being that is going to be missed terribly."
Another former student, Ashley Rutter, said Schnuelle was a familiar presence at the park and dog run. "She ran there every day," Rutter told AL.com. "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. She’d be there to defend you and help you out."
State officials also expressed condolences. "Suzanne and I are devastated by the news of this tragic loss in our community," U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville wrote on social media, adding that he and his wife were praying for the victim's family and for justice.
Kiesel Park is a popular recreational area in Auburn, frequented by residents, students and pet owners. Authorities said the investigation into Schnuelle's death remains active and that more details will be released as they are confirmed.
Schnuelle had been a member of Auburn’s veterinary community for years. University officials, students and community members are planning tributes and remembering her contributions to veterinary medicine and to those she taught. The Lee County District Attorney's office and Auburn Police Department will handle prosecution and ongoing investigative work, and no further details about potential motives have been released by investigators.
The arrest came after several days of searching and evidence collection at the park and surrounding areas. Authorities urged anyone with information related to the case to contact the Auburn Police Department.
(Reporting includes local police statements and comments from former students and public officials.)