What happened to Green Beret veteran? Wife charged with murder has first court hearing

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31-03-2025

A missing Green Beret whose dismembered remains were found in a pond not far from his rural home had been shot, Cumberland County District Attorney Billy West said during the first court appearance of the ex-soldier's wife who is charged with his murder.
Shana Cloud, 50, was arrested Friday and charged with first-degree murder and concealment of death in the slaying of Clinton Bonnell, 50.
Cloud was stoic as she stood by her attorney during Monday's brief hearing, while six people who appeared to be Bonnell's friends and family watched the proceeding through a glass partition.
During Cloud's court hearing, West said that on Jan. 27, Bonnell told Cloud his plans for divorce, before going to a local gym. Cloud and Bonnell were both at the gym until about 4 p.m. and left in separate vehicles, West said.
'The defendant said that was the last time she saw (Bonnell),' West said.
More: Wife of missing ex-Green Beret charged with murder after his DNA matches remains found in pond
West said that after leaving the gym, Bonnell went to Methodist University, where he was studying to become a physician assistant, and then he stopped at a grocery store before returning home.
The following day, West said, officials believe Bonnell was killed and 'never left the property that day.'
Bonnell and Cloud shared a home at 3265 Butler Nursery Road.
'The most likely cause of death is gunshot wounds,' he said.
West said that since Bonnell was well-known and didn't show up to school Jan. 28 for tests, someone at the university requested a welfare check him.
When officers went to the couple's home, Cloud told authorities that last saw her husband at the gym the previous night and did not file a missing person report, West said.
Bonnell's car, keys and personal items were at the home, the DA said.
More: Search underway at Cumberland County home of missing retired Green Beret
He said that authorities executed the first of two search warrants there Jan. 31, and Bonnell's bookbag and laptop appeared to have bullet holes.
West said that on Feb. 25, the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office received a call about human remains found in a pond near 4231 Gainey Road, less than three miles from Bonnell and Cloud's home.
Because just a torso, missing head, legs and arms, was recovered, West said Bonnell's identify was confirmed last week through a DNA match to DNA on file with the the Armed Forces Medical Examiner. West said the missing body parts have yet to be recovered.
Additionally, West told the judge in laying out the probable cause against Cloud, digital evidence shows that Cloud was within 60 feet of where the torso was found.
West recommended that no bond be set for Cloud because of the 'seriousness of the offense.'
Cloud's attorney, James MacRae Jr., said that Cloud had no issues with Bonnell in the past five years they were together.
He said that they owned the Butler Nursery Road home together, and while Bonnell was not the biological father of Cloud's daughter, the girl has considered him her father since she was 3 years old. MacRae noted, however, that the now-adult daughter, whose name was not released, wanted her mother released on bail.
'She does not believe her mother was involved in her father's death,' McRae said.
More: It's been three weeks since a Cumberland County vet went missing. Where is Clinton Bonnell?
He said that Cloud 'fully cooperated" with Cumberland County detectives throughout the investigation, and even when she was out of state, working as a nurse at a Virginia prison.
He said his client didn't initially file a missing person report because Bonnell 'was known to study for long lengths of time.'
The defense attorney questioned the state's presumption of the cause of death, because the remainder of the body is still missing.
'We don't know the cause of death,' he said.
West said the injuries on Bonnell's torso appear to be consistent with the damage to the book bag.
MacRae said it makes no sense for the backpack to be placed back in the home after Bonnell was allegedly shot and that there was no damage to the coffee table where it was placed.
'The state is assuming he was shot before his death,' MacRae said. "We don't know the cause of death.'
Ultimately, MacRae requested that Cloud be released on bail or placed on house arrest to allow her to remain working while awaiting trial.
District Judge Francis Britt, who presided over Monday's hearing, told Bonnell's family that she was sorry for their loss, before telling Cloud that she would stay in jail without bail considering the charges in the 'heinous' case.'
Following the proceeding, West said the case still remains under investigation, and would not speculate if anyone other than Cloud was involved.
He said law enforcement will continue to work to recover further evidence, including the rest of Bonnell's remains.
'Our hearts got out to Mr. Bonnell's friends and family … It's a tragic situation that has hit this community,' West said.
Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at [e-mail] or 910-486-3528.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Cumberland County DA presents timeline in Green Beret vet murder case