AUBURN, Ala. — Auburn police are investigating the death of Julie Gard Schnuelle, 59, a retired Auburn University veterinary professor, who was found dead Saturday afternoon in a wooded area at Kiesel Park.
Investigators said Schnuelle appears to have been attacked while walking her dog. Fortunately, her dog was unharmed. Police are treating the case as a homicide but have emphasized that there is currently no ongoing threat to the community.
“Julie Gard Schnuelle, DVM, Ph.D., was a beloved member of Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and the Auburn Family,” the university said in a statement. “She served as a faculty member in the Department of Clinical Sciences in the Large Animal/Food Animal section from 2003 to 2021, retiring as professor emerita.”
Authorities reported that they were searching for a red Ford F-150 with a Lee County tag in connection with the incident. Kiesel Park, the city’s largest park with walking trails, a pond, and an off-leash dog area, has been closed for the investigation.
Anyone with information regarding the incident is urged to contact Auburn Police at 334-246-1391.
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