The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office has announced an arrest in the case of missing person Clinton Bonnell. Shana Cloud, the wife of Clinton Bonnell, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder and concealment of death.

The investigation began on January 28, 2025, when the Sheriff’s Office received a request for a wellbeing check on Clinton Bonnell at his residence on Butler Nursery Road. Bonnell, a student in the Physician Assistant Program at Methodist University, had failed to attend class. Upon arrival, deputies spoke with Shana Cloud, who stated she had not seen her husband since the previous day. Bonnell’s vehicle and personal belongings were found at the residence.

The case was initially assigned to the Major Crimes Investigative Unit but was later reassigned to the Homicide Unit. Search warrants were executed at the Bonnell residence and in Virginia, where Cloud’s vehicle, rental property, and cell phone were searched. Digital data was also collected and analyzed to develop a timeline of events.

On February 25, 2025, human remains were discovered in a body of water on Gainey Road. Due to the condition of the remains, identification was not immediately possible. DNA was sent to the North Carolina State Crime Lab and subsequently to the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System (AFMES). On March 28, 2025, AFMES confirmed that the DNA matched that of Clinton Bonnell.

Following the identification, warrants were obtained for Shana Cloud’s arrest. She was taken into custody without incident and is currently held at the Cumberland County Detention Center without bond. Her first court appearance is scheduled for Monday, March 31, 2025, at 2:30 pm.

The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office expressed condolences to the Bonnell family, the Special Forces community, and the Methodist University Physician’s Assistant Program. They have requested the public to respect their privacy and be mindful of social media comments. No further details will be released at this time due to the ongoing investigation.

The Sheriff’s Office thanked several agencies for their assistance, including the Virginia State Police, the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, the North Carolina State Crime Lab, the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System, Ft. Bragg Criminal Investigation Division (CID), Fayetteville Police Department Search and Rescue, Harnett County Sheriff’s Office Canine Unit, and the Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Sergeant J. Mcleod at (910) 677-5548 or CrimeStoppers at (910) 483-TIPS (8477).