Wife charged with murder after body of missing NC Green Beret found in pond

The disappearance of a North Carolina Green Beret has escalated into a murder investigation following the arrest of his wife, Shana Cloud, who now faces charges in connection with his death. Fayetteville Police apprehended Cloud at her home on Friday after a body, identified as 50-year-old Clinton Bonnell, was discovered in a pond back in February. Following the identification, Cloud was charged with first-degree murder and concealment of death and is currently held without bond at the Cumberland County Detention Center.

Bonnell, who was a student at Methodist University in the Physician Assistant Program, was last seen on January 27. His disappearance prompted a welfare check after he missed a class on January 28. Upon visiting his home, deputies learned from Cloud that Bonnell had not been seen since the previous day, despite his belongings being present at the residence. This initiated a response from the Major Crimes Unit, which later reassigned the case to the Homicide Unit.

Investigators took immediate action by searching Cloud’s vehicle, rental property, and cell phone as they collected evidence relevant to the inquiry. They also obtained multiple search warrants for digital data which helped establish a timeline of events leading up to and following Bonnell's disappearance. The critical turn in the case came on February 25, when the sheriff's office received a report about human remains found in a pond.

Due to the condition of the remains, initial identification was challenging, and DNA was sent to the North Carolina State Crime Lab for analysis. The DNA matched Bonnell's profile after being compared to records held by the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System, confirming his identity and leading to the charges against Cloud.

Methodist University expressed gratitude to the local law enforcement and the university community for their support during this tragic situation, extending thoughts to Bonnell's family. Authorities are encouraging anyone with additional information about the investigation to contact Sgt. J. Mcleod or CrimeStoppers anonymously.