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Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Yahoo
Girlfriend of murdered Green Beret speaks out after his wife charged
The killing of Clint Bonnell, a retired Green Beret whose remains were found in a North Carolina lake earlier this year, left his loved ones reeling. Now, his wife has been charged with his murder. "We as a community have been devastated," Kelli Edwards, Bonnell's girlfriend, told ABC News. "How do you comprehend something like this? There's really no comprehension." She added, "Whatever's happened to him he didn't deserve -- no one deserves any of that -- but he was just a really beautiful human being." Bonnell was in his second semester of physician's assistant school at Methodist University in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and was the president of the cohort, Edwards said. "This is a Green Beret who was a patriot to the Corps, who served for our country, who helped his fellow teammates with all their injuries, who deployed on teams, who went all around the world and he comes home and retires in three weeks and this is what happens? This is not okay," Edwards said. Edwards said Bonnell told her he was already going through the process of getting a divorce. Bonnell said he and his wife had been living separately for a couple of years and he had met with divorce attorneys, she said. "After trying to make a marriage work for a long time, he decided it was best to cut cords and move on. And so when I met him, he was already at that stage," Edwards said. She added, "He was very intelligent, highly intelligent. But I think he really tried to see the best in everybody he was around. You have that personality which is a really great trait to have and sometimes it can be a flaw." Police said a wellbeing check on Bonnell was called in by an employee at the Methodist University on Jan. 28 after Bonnell did not attend class. When deputies arrived to the home, they spoke to his wife, Shana Cloud, who said she had not seen Bonnell since the day before, according to the Cumberland County Sheriff's office. MORE: 2 men face federal charges after woman, teen drown in alleged smuggling attempt Bonnell's vehicle, school bag and other items were found in the residence, police said. A second wellbeing check was requested later in the evening by a friend of Bonnell, according to the sheriff's office. He was ultimately declared a missing person. Police executed multiple search warrants before human remains were found in a lake on Feb. 25. Several weeks later, the remains were identified as belonging to Bonnell. His wife has now been charged with first degree murder and felony concealing an unnatural death. Cloud, a former traveling nurse who worked for the Virginia Department of Corrections, remains in custody without bond. Her attorney maintains her innocence, according to ABC station WTVD in Durham, North Carolina. "Ms. Cloud looks forward to her day in court," her defense said. MORE: Man who hates big pharmacies allegedly guns down Walgreens worker: Police In court, prosecutors alleged Cloud was seen on video near the location where Bonnell's remains were found, according to WTVD. "Mr. Bonnell told his girlfriend that he had let the defendant know about the divorce and his plans the night before," said Cumberland County District Attorney William West in court Monday. "We believe he was killed the following morning." Bonnell was shot multiple times, prosecutors say. A search of the couple's home uncovered bullet holes in his book bag and laptop, according to WTVD. Edwards said she started noticing some uncomfortable patterns and things happening in Bonnell's life as their relationship got more serious. "He didn't really talk much about his wife in the beginning. I just knew more about his daughter, how much he loved his daughter and all the things that you know she'd brought to his life," she said. Edwards said she saw Bonnell the Monday he went missing and said you could tell he had a lot on his mind. "The last text was that he was going to bed and good night basically. And that was it. And the next morning I texted an early morning text and there was no delivery," she said. Edwards said she called in a welfare check when she wasn't hearing back from Bonnell the next day. "I knew that something was wrong because we were in communication a lot during the day -- mostly text messaging because he was in school -- and I didn't hear from him on the 28th of January," Edwards said. Edwards said she wants people to remember Bonnell as an amazing human who left an impact on many people. "He was a very, just a jovial, happy human and he was really looking forward to his next part of his life, closing a chapter, coming out of the Army after 20 years, being in PA school -- he was looking forward to the next chapter," Edwards said. The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office said, "Our hearts go out to the Bonnell family, the Special Forces community, and the Methodist University Physician's Assistant Program during this difficult time." No additional details will be released in the case "out of respect" for Bonnell and the integrity of the investigation, the sheriff's department said. Girlfriend of murdered Green Beret speaks out after his wife charged originally appeared on
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Yahoo
What happened to Green Beret veteran? Wife charged with murder has first court hearing
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 rriley@ or 910-486-3528. This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Cumberland County DA presents timeline in Green Beret vet murder case
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Yahoo
North Carolina woman allegedly murdered Green Beret husband, concealed his death: officials
North Carolina authorities have arrested a retired Green Beret's wife in connection with his disappearance and murder. Shana Cloud is charged with first-degree murder and concealment of death after authorities found her missing husband, Clinton Bonnell, in a body of water in Fayetteville on Tuesday after receiving a phone call "in reference to human remains," the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office said in a press release. Bonnell, 50, had been missing since Jan. 28, when a Methodist University employee requested a wellness check on Bonnell at a residence in Fayetteville. The former Green Beret had been attending the university's physician assistant program and "failed to attend class" on the morning of Jan. 28. Former Duke Football Player Confesses To Killing Ex-real Estate Agent Friend In Her Upscale Townhome: Police "Upon Deputies arrival, they encountered Clinton Bonnell's wife, Shana Cloud, who indicated she had not seen Bonnell since the day prior. Bonnell's vehicle, along with his school book bag and other items, were located at the residence," the sheriff's office stated in the press release. Read On The Fox News App Later that same evening, Bonnell's friend contacted authorities requesting another wellness check at the Fayetteville residence, and authorities opened a missing persons case into his apparent disappearance. Ex-star Athlete Accused In Princeton Brother's Grisly Murder Returns To Court As Prosecutors Prep Indictment On Jan. 30, the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office Homicide Unit executed a search warrant at Bonnell's residence. The next day, Feb. 1, detectives traveled to Virginia and executed search warrants on Cloud's vehicle, rental property and phone with assistance from Virginia State Police. Evidence that authorities collected while executing the warrant was transferred back to Cumberland County. Bureau Of Indian Affairs Missing And Murdered Unit Investigating Alleged Military Base Killing In February, officials executed multiple search warrants for cellphone records, video footage, digital devices and other digital data, which they "analyzed and used to develop a timeline of events not only surrounding Bonnell's disappearance, but his whereabouts prior to his disappearance," the sheriff's office said. On Tuesday, the sheriff's office received the call about human remains in a body of water in Fayetteville and began working to identify the remains through DNA testing. The Armed Forces Medical Examiner System on March 28 confirmed the DNA extracted from the remains matched Bonnell's DNA. SIGN UP TO GET True Crime Newsletter The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office arrested Cloud without incident at her residence. Her first court appearance is scheduled for Monday. "Our hearts go out to the Bonnell family, the Special Forces community, and the Methodist University Physician's Assistant Program during this difficult time," the sheriff's office said. "We ask that the public be respectful of their privacy and mindful of the comments made on social media. Out of respect for Bonnell and the integrity of this ongoing investigation, no additional details will be released at this time." Suspect Accused Of Stabbing Texas Man 55 Times Identified By Bloody Shoeprint Methodist University President Stanley T. Wearden also issued a statement on March 29, saying he has "no words to heal your broken hearts." "All I can offer is my care and sympathy. We will do all we can to minister to your needs during this time of heavy grief. Please offer grace and care to one another, and let your faculty and staff know whenever you need help or support," Wearden said in a statement. He requested members of the community to "keep Clint's family/friends/classmates in your thoughts, respect their privacy, be mindful of comments on social media, and continue to take care of yourselves and all fellow Monarchs." A GoFundMe that was created to help search for Bonnell when he was still considered missing says he served in the Army over a 20-year span and worked as a Green Beret article source: North Carolina woman allegedly murdered Green Beret husband, concealed his death: officials
Fox News
31-03-2025
- Fox News
North Carolina woman allegedly murdered Green Beret husband, concealed his death: officials
North Carolina authorities have arrested a retired Green Beret's wife in connection with his disappearance and murder. Shana Cloud is charged with first-degree murder and concealment of death after authorities found her missing husband, Clinton Bonnell, in a body of water in Fayetteville on Tuesday after receiving a phone call "in reference to human remains," the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office said in a press release. Bonnell, 50, had been missing since Jan. 28, when a Methodist University employee requested a wellness check on Bonnell at a residence in Fayetteville. The former Green Beret had been attending the university's physician assistant program and "failed to attend class" on the morning of Jan. 28. "Upon Deputies arrival, they encountered Clinton Bonnell's wife, Shana Cloud, who indicated she had not seen Bonnell since the day prior. Bonnell's vehicle, along with his school book bag and other items, were located at the residence," the sheriff's office stated in the press release. Later that same evening, Bonnell's friend contacted authorities requesting another wellness check at the Fayetteville residence, and authorities opened a missing persons case into his apparent disappearance. On Jan. 30, the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office Homicide Unit executed a search warrant at Bonnell's residence. The next day, Feb. 1, detectives traveled to Virginia and executed search warrants on Cloud's vehicle, rental property and phone with assistance from Virginia State Police. Evidence that authorities collected while executing the warrant was transferred back to Cumberland County. In February, officials executed multiple search warrants for cellphone records, video footage, digital devices and other digital data, which they "analyzed and used to develop a timeline of events not only surrounding Bonnell's disappearance, but his whereabouts prior to his disappearance," the sheriff's office said. On Tuesday, the sheriff's office received the call about human remains in a body of water in Fayetteville and began working to identify the remains through DNA testing. The Armed Forces Medical Examiner System on March 28 confirmed the DNA extracted from the remains matched Bonnell's DNA. SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office arrested Cloud without incident at her residence. Her first court appearance is scheduled for Monday. "Our hearts go out to the Bonnell family, the Special Forces community, and the Methodist University Physician's Assistant Program during this difficult time," the sheriff's office said. "We ask that the public be respectful of their privacy and mindful of the comments made on social media. Out of respect for Bonnell and the integrity of this ongoing investigation, no additional details will be released at this time." Methodist University President Stanley T. Wearden also issued a statement on March 29, saying he has "no words to heal your broken hearts." "All I can offer is my care and sympathy. We will do all we can to minister to your needs during this time of heavy grief. Please offer grace and care to one another, and let your faculty and staff know whenever you need help or support," Wearden said in a statement. He requested members of the community to "keep Clint's family/friends/classmates in your thoughts, respect their privacy, be mindful of comments on social media, and continue to take care of yourselves and all fellow Monarchs." A GoFundMe that was created to help search for Bonnell when he was still considered missing says he served in the Army over a 20-year span and worked as a Green Beret medic.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Yahoo
Wife of missing ex-Green Beret charged with murder after his DNA matches remains found in pond
The wife of a missing retired Green Beret was arrested Friday after his DNA matched human remains found in a pond near his Cumberland County home, the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office said in a news release. Shana Cloud, 50, is charged with first-degree murder and concealment of death in the slaying of Clinton Bonnell, 50. The first sign of trouble came Jan. 28, when an employee at Methodist University reported that the usually punctual Bonnell had failed to show up to his physician's assistant classes, the release said. When deputies went to Bonnell's home at 3265 Butler Nursey Road and spoke to Cloud, she allegedly said she hadn't seen her husband since the previous evening, according to the Sheriff's Office. More: It's been three weeks since a Cumberland County vet went missing. Where is Clinton Bonnell? "Bonnell's vehicle, along with his school book bag and other items, were located at the residence. Later that evening, an additional call was made by a friend of Bonnell's, requesting an additional wellbeing check be done at the residence," the release said. "Bonnell was ultimately reported as a missing person and the case was assigned to the Major Crimes Investigative Unit." On Jan. 31, three days after the first report, the Sheriff's Office served the first of two search warrants on Bonnell's home, the release said. The following day, Sheriff's Office investigators traveled to Virginia and, with assistance of the Virginia State Police, served search warrants on Cloud's vehicle, rental property and cell phone. In the ensuing days, several more warrants were executed. "During the month of February, multiple search warrants were obtained and executed for digital data, to include but not limited to: cell phone records, video footage, digital devices, etc.," the release said. "The data collected was analyzed and used to develop a timeline of events not only surrounding Bonnell's disappearance, but his whereabouts prior to his disappearance." Then, on Feb. 25, nearly a month after Bonnell missed class, a property owner checking on land in a wooded area in South Cumberland County found unidentifiable human remains in a pond at 4231 Gainey Road. The location is just three miles from Bonnell's home. The following day, a second search warrant was served at the couple's Butler Nursey Road home. The news release said investigators learned Friday that DNA collected from the remains was a match to Bonnell's DNA that was on file and analyzed by the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System. "Our hearts go out to the Bonnell family, the Special Forces community, and the Methodist University Physician's Assistant Program during this difficult time. We ask that the public be respectful of their privacy and mindful of the comments made on social media," the Sheriff's Office said. "Out of respect for Bonnell and the integrity of this ongoing investigation, no additional details will be released at this time." Officials said Cloud was arrested without incident Friday afternoon at her home. The Sheriff's Office thanked the following agencies for their assistance:• Virginia State Police• North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner• North Carolina State Crime Lab• Armed Forces Medical Examiner System• Fort Bragg Criminal Investigation Division • Fayetteville Police Department Search and Rescue• Harnett County Sheriff's Office Canine Unit• Cumberland County District Attorney's Office Anyone with information is asked to contact Sgt. J. Mcleod at 910-677-5548 or CrimeStoppers at 910-483-TIPS (8477). Crimestoppers' information may also be submitted electronically by visiting or by downloading the FREE P3 Tips app available for mobile devices. This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Wife of Clint Bonnell arrested in his death; DNA of remains was a match
