On Saturday, September 6, the city of Auburn awoke to another glorious fall day in the “Loveliest Village.” Hours later, the bright afternoon was shattered by the news of a vicious homicide: Julie Gard Schnuelle, a retired professor and longtime Auburn resident, was fatally stabbed while walking in one of the city’s most prominent parks.
A rarity in Auburn, news of the attack quickly became a point of community mourning and concern. The murder details grew increasingly horrific. A county-wide uproar ensued, continuing long beyond the capture of the alleged killer. His prosecution is sure to be a major story, for the tragedy has become the topic of conversation at high school games, tailgates, family dinners, and online.
Even more tragic, however, is that Schnuelle’s death was preventable. Preventable not by the efforts of Lee County’s law enforcement, who performed admirably in this case, but preventable by the left-wing prosecutors and judges who allowed the killer to be out on the street. Harold Rashad Dabney III, a Montgomery native and the alleged killer, had a history of felony and other crime and was arrested for multiple crimes in Virginia – a gun-related felony and various misdemeanors. He pled guilty to several misdemeanors in exchange for the dropping of the felony charge. Officers in the Virginia incident noted that Dabney did not appear mentally stable, yet despite his apparent struggles with mental health, he was given a generous plea deal, and after only a short time in jail was allowed to roam free, not only in Virginia, but across the Southeast. The awful results of that decision speak for themselves.
It is long past time to recognize that the “catch and release” and cashless bail policies of blue states, especially those of blue cities, are becoming a danger to law-abiding individuals everywhere. The impact of these idiotic policies, designed not for public safety but for political agendas, is putting millions at risk far beyond the city limits. Policies designed in safe city boardrooms and pushed by “social justice experts” are directly endangering citizens in our small towns.
Let me say again, Auburn’s police and the Lee County Sheriff's Department performed their jobs with excellence and speed, ensuring the quick capture of the suspect and collection of evidence. However, they were completely and utterly handicapped in their jobs to protect the city by prosecutors and judges in a distant state.
Every day, Americans have become the victims of city governments that couldn't care less about the lives and livelihoods of people beyond their metros. We must take steps to ensure criminals are not allowed to get off free. Moving forward, red state governors and legislatures need to take immediate action to ensure that foolish policy in city centers does not put the people of small towns at risk.
As a lifelong Auburn resident, this murder shocked me as much as anyone, but the decisions made in liberal courtrooms across the country and even in our state make this killing an awful certainty. As long as politicians in Birmingham, Mobile, Montgomery and beyond make soft on crime decisions in the name of equality, this will continue. It should be the policy of our justice system to keep individuals with a significant criminal background off the streets, away from hapless citizens.
Schnuelle’s death should inspire us to take comprehensive action to ensure that the residents of this state can live their lives in peace and safety.
Henry Vaughan is longtime resident of Auburn, Ala. His chief interests are Alabama politics, religion, and foreign policy.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to [email protected].
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