FAYETTEVILLE, NC – A North Carolina woman has been charged with murder in the death of her estranged husband, a former Green Beret whose remains were discovered in a pond several weeks after he was reported missing, authorities said.
Shana Cloud, 50, faces charges of first-degree murder and concealment of a death in connection with the death of Clinton “Clint” Bonnell, also 50. Bonnell, a U.S. Army veteran and physician assistant student, disappeared in late January, prompting a month-long investigation.
On January 28, Bonnell’s absence from his classes at Methodist University led to concerns from both his school and a friend who requested welfare checks at his Fayetteville residence.
Responding deputies found his car and school belongings but were unable to locate him. Cloud informed officers she had not seen him since the previous day, according to a release from the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office.
The search for Bonnell took a grim turn on February 25 when a call to emergency services reported a dismembered body in a pond on Gainey Road, approximately three miles from the home he shared with Cloud. The pond, in a relatively isolated area, revealed the macabre scene described by the caller.
Two months after Bonnell was first reported missing, forensic analysis confirmed the remains belonged to him, leading to Cloud’s arrest. The sheriff’s office has provided limited information on her alleged involvement.
Authorities carried out numerous searches at the couple’s home throughout February and obtained warrants to search Cloud’s vehicle, digital devices, and other properties related to the investigation. Data from these searches helped construct a timeline of Bonnell’s movements and events leading to his disappearance.
The investigation revealed that Bonnell had intentions to divorce Cloud, a development communicated to detectives by another woman identified as his girlfriend. According to her, Bonnell met with a lawyer on January 27 to initiate the divorce proceedings and texted her that evening after discussing his plans with Cloud.
Details from these findings were instrumental in building the case against Cloud as investigators continued piecing together the tragic events that ended in Bonnell’s death and the dismemberment found in the quiet, rural pond.