On Oct. 15, 2025, the preliminary hearing for the murder of retired Auburn University professor, Dr. Julie Gard Schnuelle, was held at the Lee County Justice Center. The hearing determined that there was enough evidence against the accused, Harold Rashad Dabney III, to move to a grand jury. While the case is still in its early stages, lots of new information surrounding the case emerged in the hearing.
Overview of Evidence
- According to preliminary findings, the body appeared to have seven sharp force wounds: one in the neck, one in the center of the left forearm, one in between the thumb and pointer finger of her right hand and several in the chest.
- The body was found roughly 25 to 30 yards into the woodline behind a tree in the southwest part of Kiesel Park.
- The body appeared to have been dragged due to a blood trail and disturbance in the brush from two blood pools located on the trail.
- The murder weapon still has not been found.
- The victim’s phone, sunglasses, visor and dog leash were found roughly 10 to 15 yards from the body. The phone was in a different direction than the visor and dog leash, which were both covered in blood.
- A banking card in Schnuelle’s name was located in the crotch area of the defendant’s underwear.
- Video from the Kiesel Park surveillance camera show the suspect in a black and white t-shirt, black pants, sunglasses, a head covering resembling a beanie and black Adidas shoes with a distinctive reflective pattern. These clothes still have not been found.
- Dabney was apprehended in a white t-shirt, blue shorts and black Adidas shoes with a distinctive reflective pattern while carrying a towel following a disorderly conduct call from the pastor of St. Matthew Baptist Church.
- Footage on Briggs and Stratton’s surveillance cameras show Dabney walking towards the church via Beehive Road in the same clothing he was apprehended in.
- A fingerprint matching Dabney’s right thumb was found on the driver’s side back door of Schnuelle’s truck.
Direct Examination
At 10 a.m., the hearing began with the presiding judge, the Honorable Jeffrey Gerald Tickal, briefly addressing the Court. The defendant entered the courtroom to sit with his attorneys, Artie Vaughn and Andrew Stanley. Lee County District Attorney, Jessica Ventiere, was then allowed to call her witness for questioning. Detective Taylor Clark of the Auburn Police Department was called to the witness stand and sworn in. Clark revealed new insights into the investigation and the case as a whole…