Preliminary hearing held for suspect accused of killing retired Auburn professor
The man accused of killing a retired professor of veterinary medicine at Auburn University was in court Wednesday for a preliminary hearing.
Police arrested Harold Rashad Dabney, III and charged him with two counts of capital murder in the death of Dr. Julie Gard Schnuelle.
On Saturday, September 6, Auburn police were called to Kiesel Park in the 500 block of Chadwick Lane to investigate a report of a body being found. Officers found her body in the woods at the park. They say she had injuries indicating the death was caused by an assault.
During Wednesday’s hearing, an Auburn police detective gave testimony about what their investigation uncovered, saying Dr. Julie Gard Schnuelle was stabbed seven times.
“From the medical examiner, and from what I observed, the victim sustained a wound to her neck, several to her chest, one on her forearm, and one on her right hand,” explained Taylor Clark, an Auburn Police Department detective.
Clark told the court the murder weapon has not been recovered.
It was also revealed that Dabney allegedly stole Dr. Schnuelle’s debit card, along with her truck. Her phone and jewelry were not taken.
Detectives are still waiting for the results of multiple DNA samples that were tested.
Dabney made an appearance at the hearing, but has not announced his plea.
During the hearing, the judge ruled there was enough evidence to send the case to a Lee County grand jury.
