OPELIKA, Ala. (EETV) – The preliminary hearing for Harold Rashad Dabney III, accused murderer of retired Auburn professor Dr. Julie Gard Schnuelle, was held at Lee County Justice Center on Oct. 15, 2025, at 10 a.m.
Judge Jeffery Gerald Tickal presided over the 45-minute hearing, which determined there was enough evidence to move the case to a Lee County grand jury. Judge Tickal found probable cause for all offenses, capital murder during robbery and capital murder during a kidnapping.
Dabney, while present in the courtroom with his court-appointed attorneys Artie Vaughn and Andrew Stanley, did not speak.
Auburn Police Detective Taylor Clark was the sole witness. He responded to prosecutor Jessica Ventiere, Lee County District Attorney.
Though the case is still in its early stages, the evidence against Dabney is damning.
Clark explained that surveillance footage from Kiesel Park around 9:38 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, in her red Ford F-150 truck and with her dog in tow.
At 1:54 p.m. the same day, police responded to a 911 call from a witness who found two pools of blood on the walking trail as well as Schnuelle’s body about 30 yards away from the trail, hidden behind a tree. Clark stated that her body appeared to be dragged.
Schnuelle’s visor and dog leash were found soaked in blood around 15 yards from her body, as well as her phone in another direction.
An autopsy report showed that Schnuelle died due to seven stab wounds from an unidentified sharp object, inflicted on her neck, her forearm, right hand and several in her chest.
Clark further explained that video footage from the parking lot of Kiesel Park showed a man presumed to be Dabney wearing a black-and-white t-shirt, black pants, sunglasses and reflective black Adidas shoes using a key fob to find Schnuelle’s truck. The suspect entered and drove off at 10:39 a.m.
Around 5 p.m., Dabney was spotted on the surveillance system of Briggs and Stratton walking towards St. Matthew’s Baptist Church on Beehive Rd.
The following morning around 8:18 a.m., police responded to a call regarding a disorderly person at the same church, notably wearing similar reflective shoes to the Kiesel Park footage.
Dabney was apprehended there, where police searched him and found Schnuelle’s credit card in the crotchal area of his underwear, according to Clark.
Police took Dabney to the Auburn police station. Dabney declined to give a statement.
Schnuelle’s truck was found around 150 yards into a wooded area near 6500 Wire Rd, according to Clark.
Detective Clark said investigators interviewed witnesses who saw the man believed to be Dabney on Sept. 6. One witness identified Dabney out of a lineup of six people.
Evidence taken from his Auburn residence is still being processed by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, including two electronic devices.
The ADFS is also testing a pair of socks found in the kitchen of St. Matthew’s, where Dabney was arrested.
Dabney flashed a peace sign to his family as he exited the courtroom.
All future hearings will be covered by Eagle Eye TV, including his trial, which has no specified date as of now.
