Shana Cloud, 50, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder and concealment of a death following the disappearance of her husband, Clinton “Clint” Bonnell. The charges stem from the discovery of his dismembered body in a pond near their Fayetteville, North Carolina, home.
Bonnell, 50, a retired Green Beret, was last seen on January 27, when he informed his girlfriend, Kelli Edwards, that he had consulted with a divorce attorney and had told his wife about his plans to end their marriage. The next day, he disappeared, and Edwards grew concerned when she couldn’t reach him.
The following day, January 28, both Edwards and the university where Bonnell studied for his physician’s assistant degree requested a welfare check after he failed to attend class. Bonnell’s last communication was a text sent to Edwards saying, “good night.” After an unsuccessful search for him, his body was found a month later in a pond near the couple’s property. He had been shot twice in the back.
Investigators discovered that on January 27, Bonnell and Cloud met at a gym, where she confronted him over a note she believed was from another woman. After the confrontation, they parted ways, with Cloud reportedly heading to a local grocery store while Bonnell went to meet Edwards. Cloud then allegedly killed her husband the following morning.
DNA tests later confirmed that the dismembered body found in the pond was Bonnell’s. The discovery of his remains marked the end of the investigation that revealed a series of troubling events, including damaged items belonging to Bonnell and evidence suggesting Cloud’s involvement.
Cloud was arrested on February 25, the same day that DNA testing linked the remains to Bonnell. Authorities also allege Cloud was seen on surveillance video near the location where the body was discovered.
The case has devastated Bonnell’s family, who issued a statement expressing their deep sadness. “Clint was an incredible human who sacrificed so much for others,” the statement read, adding, “To be taken from us prematurely at the hands of evil will never be understood.”
As Cloud awaits trial, she remains in custody, facing charges of murder and concealment of a death. Her attorney denies the allegations. The investigation is ongoing as authorities continue to piece together the details of the case.
