The man charged in the death of a retired Auburn University professor will remain behind bars without bond after he was indicted by a Lee County grand jury. The case garnered national attention with Turning Point USA founder and CEO Charlie Kirk commenting on the murder just two days before he himself was murdered.
Harold Dabney III was indicted on two counts of capital murder – one for capital murder during a kidnapping and one for capital murder during a robbery.
According to the indictment, Julie Schnuelle was stabbed with a sharp object on Sept. 6, 2025. Her lifeless body was found in a wooded area in Kiesel Park. Investigators believe Schnuelle was walking her dog when she was attacked. Her red F-150 was then stolen from the park.
Detectives later identified the suspect as Dabney. Dabney was taken into custody off Beehive Road, and the truck was recovered off Wire Road.
After hearing of the murder, Turning Point USA producer Andrew Kolvet reached out to 1819 News about the tragedy. Kirk took to social media on Sept. 8, 2025, highlighting the racial bias in the case.
"It happened again. Another white woman was 'hacked to death' over the weekend for no apparent reason, by a suspect who is black with multiple prior arrests including illegal posession [sic] of a sawed-off shotgun and removing serial numbers from firearms in Virginia," Kirk posted on X. "Julie Gard Schnuelle, a former veteranary professor, had taken her dog for a walk in Auburn when the suspect, Harold Rashad Dabney III, allegedly murdered her by stabbing and stole her truck before being arrested the next day. Her dog stayed by her side until her body was discovered. Once again, if the races were reversed, the outcry would be instantaneous and apocalyptic, and yet you're probably just hearing about this now."
🚨It happened again. Another white woman was "hacked to death" over the weekend for no apparent reason, by a suspect who is black with multiple prior arrests including illegal posession of a sawed-off shotgun and removing serial numbers from firearms in Virginia.
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) September 8, 2025
Julie Gard… pic.twitter.com/e5uHTdBQIv
Kirk was killed on Sept. 10, 2025.
Dabney, who is from Montgomery but has moved to Auburn, is set to go to trial on August 17, although that date could be pushed back due to the case's complexity.
Lee County Circuit Judge Jeffrey Gerald Tickal ordered a mental evaluation for Dabney after his attorneys stated he may "lack sufficient present ability to assist" in his defense by consulting with counsel, "with a reasonable degree of rational understanding of the facts and the legal proceedings." Attorneys said they believe Dabney may have an undiagnosed psychiatric disorder.
Dabney is considered innocent until proven guilty.
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