Military veteran Clinton Bonnell (50) went lacking in January 2025 from Fayetteville, North Carolina. His stays have simply been present in a pond and his spouse Shana Cloud has been charged together with his homicide.
Clint’s sister Stefanie Firkins has spoken a number of instances to the media concerning the case.
She informed Dateline that the household have been initially from Texas. “We grew up within the Austin space, particularly a small city referred to as Dripping Springs,” Stefanie stated.
Clint had as soon as labored for Motorola however finally made his solution to the Military. “After 9/11, he joined the army,” Stefanie stated. Not solely was he a Inexperienced Beret, “he was additionally the spokesperson for the Gold Star Households.”
He joined the Military after Sept. 11, 2001, when al-Qaida terrorists hijacked U.S. industrial airliners and flew into the North and South towers of the World Commerce Heart in New York Metropolis, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and a United Airways Flight 93 in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.
“He did a number of deployments,” Stefanie stated about her brother, who was an Military medic. “I don’t have a complete record of his deployments, however I do have some. Iraq, I do know, for certain. And Germany.”
Clint met Shana whereas he was stationed in Oklahoma. On the time of his disappearance, they’d been collectively for 16 years. The couple didn’t have any kids collectively, however Clint is claimed to have handled Shana’s 19 y/o daughter as his personal.
Shana labored as a touring nurse and was usually away from the household dwelling. Stefanie stated that Shana labored at a jail in Virginia at one level.
Clint was final seen on Monday, January 27, 2025. He and Shana had been having marital difficulties on the time. On-line experiences point out that Clint had a girlfriend, however that he and Shana have been nonetheless dwelling collectively.
There’s a actually complete timeline on-line from ‘Watch Out Cumberland County NC’ and lots of this information comes from that.
On January 27, Shana stated that each she and Clint went to the Match 4 Life Gymnasium. She stated they left in separate automobiles and that he deliberate to check at college.
Clint was taking part within the Doctor Assistant research program at Methodist College.
The final place Clint had been stationed was Fort Bragg in Fayetteville. He retired in December 2024. “He was joyful. He was excited,” Stefanie stated of her brother’s plans for all times after the Military. “He was a Inexperienced Beret medic so he needed to pursue medication. He labored actually onerous to get into this PA faculty program at Methodist School in Fayetteville.” Stefanie says not solely did Clint get in to the varsity, he shortly turned the president of his cohort. “He was fully enamored with medication and enthusiastic about his profession path,” she stated.
“I’d describe Clint as a devoted, passionate pupil that his classmates shortly acknowledged as a pacesetter,” April Martin, program director for the college Doctor Assistant program would say after Clint disappeared. “He was elected because the president of his cohort shortly after starting his research at Methodist College. His PA program household are pondering of his household throughout this time.”
Clint’s girlfriend would inform authorities that he visited her on January 27. He informed her he had consulted a divorce legal professional. He additionally informed his girlfriend that he had spoken to Shana concerning the divorce.
On January 28, 2025, Clint was as a consequence of take exams at Methodist College. He missed these. The college thought this was out of character. Officers there, alongside together with his girlfriend, requested a welfare verify on that day.
Stefanie stated “They have been taking exams and labs and it was so out of character for Clint to not be at school,” she stated. She stated that it was out of character for her brother to be a no-show for something. “He was within the army for 20 years. He would’ve been kicked out of the army for simply disappearing,” she stated.
On January 29, deputies carried out a welfare verify at Clint and Shana’s dwelling.
They discovered his automobile, pockets and keys have been on the dwelling however there was no signal of his telephone. Shana was requested on the time if she needed to file a lacking individual report and she or he declined. Clint’s girlfriend filed the official report that day.
Authorities later appeared into Clint’s cellular phone knowledge and found that his telephone confirmed it was at his residence till 8.15am on January 30. After that point, the telephone went darkish. There was no GPS or knowledge exercise.
Deputies went again to the house on January 31, 2025. They discovered Clint’s bookbag and laptop computer. Based on the net timeline, each gadgets confirmed projectile injury, indicating attainable gunfire.
On February 1, 2025, a search warrant was executed on Shana and her car. She was in Troy, Virginia at this level – probably for work. Her telephone was additionally seized on the time. Throughout an interview right now, she admitted that she and Clint had an argument over a be aware from his girlfriend.
After Clint disappeared, Stefanie stated there was no manner he would have walked away from his daughter. “There’s no manner that he would have finished that to his daughter,” Stefanie stated. He “worshipped” her, she stated.
“My brother is a salt of the earth good human being,” she stated. “I imply, he had his flaws like each different individual. However he was only a salt of the earth good man.” His disappearance, she says, is “devastating and nauseating.”
Stefanie stated that she believed Clint was a sufferer of foul play.
“I wish to discover my brother,” she stated. “I don’t care whose emotions get harm from me doing every part that I can to seek out my brother.”
On February 25, 2025, a dismembered physique was present in a pond on Gainey Street – round three miles from Clint’s dwelling.
“It appears to be like like there may be a part of a physique floating out within the water,” the 911 caller informed dispatch, based on audio obtained by Raleigh-based NBC affiliate WRAL. “I simply obtained right here about 10 minutes in the past, [I was] simply wanting round and seen it.”
“It appears to be like prefer it’s been there some time, there’s no legs or arms on it or nothing on it,” the caller went on. “It’s in the course of nowhere.”
The day after the physique was discovered, a search warrant was executed at Shana and Clint’s property. Investigators seized gadgets together with a pistol.
Stefanie spoke after the physique was discovered. “I’ve been praying for Clint to be discovered,” she stated. “So, all I need is for Clint to be discovered, in order that we are able to have some closure. In order that we are able to have some solutions. In order that we are able to begin discovering justice for Clint. I imagine that God has been working behind the scenes. That he can see all and that he’ll shine gentle within the darkness and convey fact to gentle, and I belief in his plan and his timing.”
On February 28, Shana filed a civil courtroom case relating to Clint’s disappearance. She requested to be appointed as Guardian advert Litem and requested management of his property and funds together with his dwelling, a checking account, a Mercedes car and a Chevrolet Colorado.
On March 28, 2025, precisely two months after Clint was reported lacking, investigators confirmed that the stays belonged to him.
Shana was arrested that very same day and was charged with first-degree homicide and concealment of dying. The concealment cost on the arrest warrant alleges Shana “did not notify regulation enforcement of Clinton Bonnell’s dying whereas realizing or having motive to know Clinton Bonnell’s dying was not as a consequence of pure causes.”
Authorities have issued a press release concerning the investigation.
“In the course of the month of February, a number of search warrants have been obtained and executed for digital knowledge, to incorporate however not restricted to: cellular phone information, video footage, digital units, and many others.,” the discharge stated. “The information collected was analyzed and used to develop a timeline of occasions not solely surrounding Bonnell’s disappearance, however his whereabouts previous to his disappearance.”
“Our hearts exit to the Bonnell household, the Particular Forces neighborhood, and the Methodist College Doctor’s Assistant Program throughout this troublesome time. We ask that the general public be respectful of their privateness and conscious of the feedback made on social media,” the Sheriff’s Workplace stated. “Out of respect for Bonnell and the integrity of this ongoing investigation, no further particulars will likely be launched right now.”
SOURCE LIST
https://www.nbcnews.com/dateline/missing-in-america/army-veteran-clinton-bonnell-last-seen-january-27-2025-fayetteville-no-rcna191944
https://www.fayobserver.com/story/information/2025/03/28/wife-of-clint-bonnell-arrested-in-his-death-dna-of-remains-was-a-match/82712642007
https://www.fayobserver.com/story/information/2025/03/28/wife-of-clint-bonnell-arrested-in-his-death-dna-of-remains-was-a-match/82712642007