Fayetteville, North Carolina — A grand jury in Cumberland County has indicted Shana Cloud on charges connected to the death of her husband, Clint Bonnell, a Green Beret who went missing in late January. Authorities allege that Cloud was involved in the murder and subsequent disposal of Bonnell’s body.
Bonnell, a student at Methodist University, failed to attend classes on January 28, 2025, prompting concern from university staff who requested a wellness check. His girlfriend, Kelli Edwards, also became alarmed and reported him missing after Bonnell communicated his intentions to divorce Cloud.
During the welfare check, deputies spoke with Cloud, who indicated that Bonnell had not returned home the previous night. However, they discovered his vehicle parked in the driveway, along with his belongings, including his keys and school bag, raising immediate suspicions.
Investigators uncovered that Bonnell had, in fact, returned to the couple’s residence that evening, as supported by his cell phone records. The investigation took a grim turn when authorities later found only his torso in a nearby pond, leading to a complex identification process due to the condition of the remains.
The North Carolina State Medical Examiner’s Office needed to create a DNA profile from Bonnell’s remains, which was then compared to existing records from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System. Prosecutors suggest that Bonnell’s desire for divorce, expressed just prior to his disappearance, may have motivated Cloud to commit the alleged crime.
Cumberland County District Attorney Billy West highlighted that the impending divorce could have potentially driven the alleged actions of Cloud. Following Bonnell’s death, a legal dispute erupted over his assets, which included the couple’s home, vehicles, and a bank account.
As Cloud faced formal arraignment for murder, the lawsuit over Bonnell’s estate was dismissed voluntarily. Bonnell had been engaged in his studies at university, pursuing a path in the Physician Assistant Program, leaving behind a community in shock over the events that unfolded.
The case remains under investigation as authorities continue to gather evidence and build their case against Cloud in what has been described as a tragic and horrific incident.