Loading summary
Deborah Roberts
This is Deborah Roberts. We've got a new show for you that I think you're really going to want to check out. It's called the Crime Scene Weekly from ABC News. Each week, host Brad Milkey, who you know from Start here, sits down with the journalist covering the latest true crime stories from the discovery of grisly new crimes to breakthroughs in cases that are far from closed. You can stay up to speed on the latest true crime headlines. It's true crime in real time. And for the next few weeks, we're going to bring the Crime Scene Weekly to you here in the 2020 feed. If you like it, make sure to follow the show and keep listening. Again, it's the Crime Scene Weekly. Now here's Brad.
Brad Milkey
This message comes from Greenlight. Ready to start talking to your kids about financial literacy? Meet Greenlight, the debit card and money app that teaches kids and teens how to earn, save, speed, spend wisely and invest with your guardrails in place. With Greenlight, you can send money to kids quickly, set up chores automate allowance, and keep an eye on your kids spending with real time notifications. Join millions of parents and kids building healthy financial habits together on Greenlight. Get started risk free@greenlight.com Spotify.
In January, a retired Green Beret named Clint Bonnell vanished without a trace. Now his wife has been charged with his gruesome murder and his girlfriend sharing her side of the story. Welcome to the crime scene. I'm Brad Milkey. I host ABC's Daily News podcast. Start here. And every week we're bringing you the latest on what's big and what's new in the true crime space. This week I'm talking to Elena Athens, the anchor and reporter who covered this case for ABC station WTVD in North Carolina. She's gonna help us break down all the details here. Hi, Alaina.
Elena Athens
Hey there, Brad. How are you?
Brad Milkey
I'm okay. Thanks for being here. This story has really evolved quickly in the last few weeks. Right. Can you just bring us up to speed? Where does the story start?
Elena Athens
Well, it starts back in January. Clinton, Clint, that's what goes by. Bonnell was in his second semester of physician's assistant school at Methodist University. That's in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Bonnell was a Green Beret. He had recently retired after 20 years of service. And remember, a Green Beret is a name for someone in the US Army Special forces. They undertake some of the most sensitive missions. This is an EL of the military. Green Berets are specially trained. So on the morning of January 28, Bonnell did not show up for class, and that really was out of the ordinary for him. According to his sister, who spoke with RABC station wtvd.
Kelly Edwards
I know what he was doing the day that he disappeared, and he was making plans for his life and studying for exams the next day. I mean, all signs point to him vanishing not on his own accord.
Elena Athens
Also, according to the program director at the physician's Assistant program, he was this dedicated, passionate student. So when he did not show up for class, university employees knew something was off, something was wrong. A concerned university employee had called the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office and asked to do a welfare check. So when deputies got to his house, investigators say the car was there, as well as backpack, wallet, laptop. However, they say they could not find his cell phone. His wife, Shanna Cloud, was at home at the time. She allegedly told investigators she hadn't seen him since the day prior. So that's January 27th, and then he hadn't come home that night. She did not file a missing persons report at the time. In an interesting twist, Bonnell had a girlfriend, and that girlfriend also called to have deputies do a welfare check. And we actually did go out to their house where these search warrants were executed, where the welfare checks were done. I just wanted to kind of get an idea of what this house looked like. It's an extremely rural part of Cumberland County. You're going to have nothing but trees and farmlands. And this was a part of that town, all wooded area. When we pulled up to the house, you couldn't get past this massive iron gate that's outside, and there's tall trees. If you looked hard enough, you could see the roof line. But it was very secluded, this home.
Brad Milkey
I see. So then, like, cut off from people around it. So at this point, the university has called for a welfare check, and Bun El's girlfriend has called for a welfare check. It's still a missing persons case at this point. Right. How are police approaching it, and how does that change?
Elena Athens
Well, it did change in a few days. January 30, the case was reassigned to the homicide unit. At that point, detectives, they expanded the search for him into Virginia. So there are some connections to Virginia. Bonnell's wife, Shanna Cloud, owned property there. We also learned in court that she was a trav and had even done some work for the Virginia Department of Corrections as a traveling nurse. So, detectives, they executed a search warrant on Cloud's vehicle rental property as well as cell phone. They did multiple searches. There are Multiple warrants that were issued in Cumberland County, Virginia, to extract that information from Cloud's devices there so they could obtain digital data, cell phone records, video footage, et cetera, et cetera.
Brad Milkey
So it sounds like at that point they must think there's some sort of foul play. What do they find?
Elena Athens
Well, this is where things take a turn, a gruesome turn at that. In February. So this is about a month after Bonnell was last seen. The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office received a call about human remains in a pond. So this is an extremely rural area of Cumberland county. And where this pond is located is only about three miles from Bonnell's house. And our station, wtvd, did obtain that call. Now, it looks like there might be.
Kelly Edwards
A point of a body floating out in the water.
Elena Athens
Like it's been there a while. There's no legs or arms or nothing on it. So we learned in court. At the first appearance, deputies were only able to find the torso. The body was dismembered because of the conditions of the remains. Immediate identification, that took some work. It was not possible at the immediate moment. DNA was tested and eventually matched to Clint Bonnell. It was at this point that Shannon Cloud was charged with first degree murder as well as concealment of death. Court records show she was denied bond.
Kelly Edwards
Wow.
Brad Milkey
So they find this body with, again, so gruesome, it's been dismembered and then they make this arrest. You're at that first hearing, which I think is in late March. What is that like?
Elena Athens
Well, I have to say, Brad, I have never attended a first appearance like this before. First off, the Cumberland County Courthouse, it operates very much like a federal courthouse. You are basically stripped of any modern conveniences that you are used to. You cannot bring in your laptop, you cannot bring in your cel phone. It is very, very by the books. And that was the case at the Cumberland County Courthouse. And now you're in a position where I gotta find a notebook and I have to do this old school style and, you know, shorthand what happens in court. The appearance itself was one of the longest I've ever attended for a first court appearance. These things typically are only five minutes long. They're very, you know, routine. You have the prosecution who's rolling through what the charges are. The judge is going to tell, you know, the defendant what the potential penalties are, and then you have defense who's going to enter in a plea. This first court appearance went about 45 minutes long, and the prosecution really laid it all on the table. They went through the Timeline of what they are planning to present in court. They also detailed some of the evidence that they plan to present once that trial does get underway. So it was. It was rather long. And at one point, I even turned to another reporter who was in the courtroom, and I said, are we really at a first appearance right now? Because I was just so surprised and taken aback how much was being put on the record at this first court appearance. And I also have to say the setup itself at this first court appearance was a bit different. It's an extremely small courtroom. You know, you think of typical courtrooms, and there's just rows and rows and rows of benches. But in this courtroom, there was really only four. There was two on one side, two benches on the other. So on the right, you had all the media with our notebooks because we can't take notes on our cell phone. And then on the left side, you had family members on both sides.
Brad Milkey
Oh, like sitting to get on the same side of the room, then sitting.
Elena Athens
On the same side, which is not usual. Usually they're on opposite sides. Right. So on the first row, the first bench, you had Bonnell's sister seated. Immediately next to her was Bonnell's girlfriend. And then behind them was Shanna Cloud's daughter, who, as I found from the arrest affidavit, living in Florida, we learned in court she was a college student. We also learned that Bonnell had raised Shannon Cloud's daughter since she was three years old. So this is also someone who, you know, knows everyone, right?
Brad Milkey
Like, everyone's very much intertwined here.
Elena Athens
Very intertwined and sitting within inches of each other. And I kept looking over. Cause I was seated closest to that side of the room. And, you know, everyone was really on the edge of their seat. You know, you had Bonnell's sister crying several times, being consoled. And then just behind her, you know, Shannon Cloud's daughter. So it was a very tense, very tense court appearance.
Brad Milkey
And you said that. So investigators have to kind of lay out, here's the evidence we've got that we would be able to present at trial. What is that evidence? Like, what are investigators actually pointing to that would connect Shannon Cloud to the murder of her husband?
Elena Athens
Well, investigators say they have video evidence of Cloud in the area where Bonnell's torso was recovered. According to the details from the first appearance that I went to in March, Bonnell went to a lawyer's office on January 27 to seek a divorce. Investigators believe Cloud shot and killed her husband the next day inside the couple's home.
Brad Milkey
This is my question too, is looming over all this is clearly like the relationship elements that are happening here. So what do we know about the relationship between the husband and wife in the days leading up to all this?
Elena Athens
Yeah. New court documents revealed that Bonnell and Cloud had met up at the Fit for Life health club on January 27th. So that's in terms of timeline. The day before he was reported missing, we learned in court that they both went their separate ways. After meeting up at that fitness center, Cloud allegedly confronted him about a note she found she believed was from a romantic partner. The two left the gym, again, separate vehicles. Cloud reported to go to a local grocery store, pick up some items. He also saw his girlfriend that day and attended a study session at Methodist University.
Brad Milkey
So to be clear, if she's confronting him allegedly about this note from a romantic partner outside their relationship, it's not like this was known or accepted in their marriage.
Elena Athens
According to the prosecution, from that first court appearance, he had told the girlfriend he made his wife aware that they were moving to separating.
Brad Milkey
Aha. And recently, ABC News spoke exclusively to that girlfriend. So we're gonna take a quick break. When we come back, we're gonna hear from that girlfriend. We're gonna hear from Kelly Edwards herself.
Kelly Edwards
Ryan Reynolds here from IT Mobile. I don't know if you knew this, but anyone can get the same Premium Wireless for $15 a month plan that I've been enjoying. It's not just. So do like I did and have one of your assistant's assistants switch you to Mint Mobile today. I'm told it's super easy to do.
Elena Athens
@Mintmobile.Com Switch upfront payment of $45 for 3 month plan equivalent to $15 per month. Required intro rate first 3 months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra. See full terms@mintmobile.com this episode is brought.
Ryan Reynolds
To you by Lifelock. It's tax season and we're all a bit tired of numbers, but here's one you need to hear. $16.5 billion. That's how much the IRS flagged for possible identity fraud last year. Now here's a good number. 100 million. That's how many data points Lifelock monitors every second. If your identity is stolen, they'll fix it. Guaranteed. Save up to 40% your first year@lifelock.com podcast terms apply.
Unknown
This episode is brought to you by Enterprise Mobility. From fleet management to flexible truck rentals to technology solutions, Enterprise Mobility helps businesses find the right mobility solutions so they can find new opportunities. Because if your business is on the road. They want to make sure it's on the road to success. Enterprise mobility. Moving you moves the world. Find your road. At enterprisemobility.com.
Brad Milkey
We are back with Alaina Athens from ABC station WTVD in North Carolina. So at this point, climp on is married to Shanna Cloud, but he's also got this relationship with Kelly Edwards, effectively his girlfriend at the time that he vanishes. Well, recently, Kelly Edwards spoke exclusively to ABC News. She told us that Clint Bonnell was living separately from his wife the last couple years. In fact, here's a clip from that interview.
Unknown
I know that they were coming to an end and, you know, the last couple of weeks, five or six weeks, things were really shifting. There were some concerns for sure. And obviously no one understood the severity of those concerns.
Brad Milkey
In that interview, Kelly Edwards also referenced some text messages that she had with Clint. What can you tell us about those?
Elena Athens
So Kelly told ABC News that Clint texted her the night before the disappearance.
Unknown
He was really exhausted that day. He had been kept up the night before. You could tell he had been through a lot.
Elena Athens
In court documents, Kelly said he was home, told his wife about the divorce and was going to bed. Court records indicate Bonnell arrived back home in the evening hours of January 27, and his location data ended at 8:15 the following morning. So Kelly said she tried to, you know, send a message to Bonnell's phone around 8:30, maybe 8:35. But then, you know, got one of those messages on your phone. It didn't go through. The message was not delivered.
Brad Milkey
What is that mean? I guess like what? What are those? How will those text messages be used by prosecutors?
Elena Athens
Yeah, I mean, that's what we heard in the first appearance. They're planning to present this. It shows that allegedly Clint Bonnell was home the night before the murders, which goes against what Shannon Cloud had allegedly told investigators. They still have not found his cell phone. But we know that they're this is not over. Right. They're still investigating. There's still the prosecution, the state building this case.
Brad Milkey
Is there a defense from Shanna at all or from her attorneys?
Elena Athens
Well, we did speak with her attorney right after the hearing. He was the first person to kind of come out and step up to our mics. His name is James McCray Jr. And he did make a very brief statement, and I have it in front of me. He says, I want you to know that Ms. Cloud is innocent and looks forward to her day in court. So the defense is preparing to go to trial, and he's Standing on it that his client is innocent.
Brad Milkey
Yeah.
And as you mentioned, the state's also preparing to go to trial. They're building their case. So far they have the records of the who, the where, the when. What else are they gonna be looking at?
Elena Athens
Well, the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office made it clear to me that they are still actively investigating this case. That was something that the prosecution reiterated right after the first court appearance that I attended and spoke with him after the hearing was complete. We know that deputies, they are still searching. Right. Cuz only the torso was found of Bonnell's body. So arms, legs, head, that work is underway.
Brad Milkey
That is the thing that, like, I'm still hung up on with this case is it's such a horrific and heinous crime. We know that, but the victim is. There's something about like a Green Beret or a former Green Beret that seems so invulnerable. And yet here's someone shot and then allegedly chopped up. I mean, what does that say to you, I guess as a reporter there?
Elena Athens
Well, I want to also give context. Fayetteville, this is a military town.
Brad Milkey
Right.
Elena Athens
A lot of military families, a lot of people who are connected in some way retired. The words Green Beret hold serious weight here. It's an elite unit of the army. They go through rigorous training, physically and mentally. So, you know, he's highly trained.
Unknown
Right.
Elena Athens
And a little bit above the cut. Not that they all are not. But you have this extra oomph to you in the community, like if it.
Brad Milkey
Can happen to him, it can happen to anyone. Is kind of the vibe at the end of the day.
Elena Athens
Yeah. And also along those lines, we know that the United States army was instrumental in this investigation. The arrest affidavit that I pulled for Shanna Cloud says that due to the conditions for the remains that they found. Right. Just that torso, the North Carolina State Medical Examiner's office could not make an initial identification. So they had to do several things. They had to obtain DNA and then create a DNA profile. That DNA profile was then sent to the Armed Forces medical examiner system, and it had to be compared to the DNA that was on file for him for Bonnell. And I will say, as a reporter who pulls a lot of documents and spends quite a bit of time in a courthouse, when you're pulling an arrest affidavit and you see that the United States army was now involved in this investigation and they were called upon to help with an identification, it just shows you the totality of the situation.
Deborah Roberts
Right.
Elena Athens
And many resources are being pulled into figuring out what happened here.
Brad Milkey
What's next in this case then, Elena?
Elena Athens
Well, Cloud's bond was denied. She is in jail here in North Carolina. If you're charged with first degree murder, you're not going to get bond. You will be held in jail. So if convicted, she was also warned by the judge she faces the potential of capital punishment in this case. And we know that we have another court hearing coming up that's scheduled for mid April, so not so far from now. So it will be interesting to see in that hearing what comes if the prosecution, if the Cumberland County's office has been able to uncover any more and will bring any more to the table once that hearing does get underway.
Unknown
Yeah.
Brad Milkey
And again, we'll see what comes of this case. But like you said, a community, a military community in this part of the state that was just absolutely shocked to see one of their own disposed of in this way. Regardless of who the killer is, we'll see how this trial plays out. Elena, thank you so much.
Elena Athens
Thank you, Brad. Thanks for having me.
Brad Milkey
Now let's check in on the other big true crime stories of the week. First up, a Wisconsin teen allegedly killed killed his parents as part of a plot to assassinate President Donald Trump and overthrow the government, according to a recently unsealed federal warrant. Nikita Kassapp, 17, was arrested in March and charged with two counts of first degree murder and two counts of hiding a corpse. Authorities claim Kassapp's plan was to get money for his assassination plot and that he fatally shot his parents at their home outside Milwaukee in February. He allegedly lived with the decomposing bodies for weeks before fleeing with $14,000 cash, passports and the family dog. He's in custody on a $1 million bond and has not yet offered a plea. Next up, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, a man has been charged with attempted murder, terrorism and arson, along with other charges after authorities say he used a pair of Molotov cocktails to light the governor's residence on fire. Governor Josh Shapiro and actually awoken and rushed to safety after all this. Hours earlier, they had been celebrating Passover in the very room that was firebombed. Authorities say Cody Ballmer, 30 years old, turned himself in and confessed that he would have beaten Shapiro with the small sledgehammer he used to break into the house if he had found him. No plea has been entered for Ballmer and he's been denied bail. Shapiro delivered emotional remarks outside the damaged governor's mansion this week, saying, in this moment of darkness, we are choosing to see the light Authorities are trying to determine a motive, but say the suspect had expressed animosity toward Democrats like Shapiro, but also toward Republicans like President Trump. The Trump administration has condemned the attack. Lastly, Spanish police have arrested two people linked to a cat smuggling ring based in Mallorca, Spain. The authorities seized 19 animals and more than 40 irregular animal passports from countries such as Russia, Belarus and China, according to the Civil Guard there. The suspects are alleged to have offered for sale white tigers, clouded leopards, for which they were asking $68,000, Eurasian lynxes, hyenas, black leopards and pumas. The animals will be moved to a rescue and rehab center for exotic animals in eastern Spain. No plea there has been entered. Okay, that'll do it for this week's episode of the cr. Thank you so much for being with us. The Crime Scene Weekly is a production of ABC Audio, produced by Nora Richie. Our supervising producer is Susie Liu, mixing by Shane McKeon. Special thanks to Liz Alessi, Tara Gimble and Emily Schutz. Josh Cohan is our director of podcast programming. Laura Mayer is our executive producer. I'm Brad Milke and I'll see you next week at the Crime Scene. There are research firms, there are consulting firms, and then there's Forester. Meet Today's forester@forrester.com.
Unknown
The amateur has arrived in IMAX.
Brad Milkey
I want to find and kill the.
Unknown
People who murdered my wife. Critics rave. The Amateur is a tense, unpredictable ride. You're just not a killer, Charlie train me that constantly finds new and inventive ways to up the stakes. The first one you kill, you let the other ones know you're coming. I want them all. Academy Award winner Rami Malek and Academy Award nominee Laurence Fishburne. The amateur mini PG13 may be inappropriate for children under 13. Now playing only in theaters and IMAX.
Podcast Summary: "The Crime Scene: Wife of Green Beret Charged with His Murder"
Podcast: 20/20
Host/Author: ABC News
Episode Title: The Crime Scene: Wife of Green Beret Charged with His Murder
Release Date: April 18, 2025
In this gripping episode of ABC News' 20/20, host Brad Milkey delves into the baffling and tragic case of Clint Bonnell, a retired Green Beret charged with the gruesome murder of his wife, Shanna Cloud. This case has sent shockwaves through the military community and raises unsettling questions about the seemingly invulnerable lives of elite service members. Milkey is joined by Elena Athens, an anchor and reporter from ABC's WTVD in North Carolina, who provides an in-depth analysis of the case.
[02:02] Elena Athens:
"Clinton, Clint, that's what he goes by. Bonnell was in his second semester of physician's assistant school at Methodist University in Fayetteville, North Carolina. A retired Green Beret with 20 years of service, Clint was known for his dedication and passion as a student."
In January, Clint Bonnell vanished without a trace. His absence was uncharacteristic, leading university officials to initiate a welfare check.
[02:40] Kelly Edwards (Clint’s Sister):
"I know what he was doing the day that he disappeared, and he was making plans for his life and studying for exams the next day. I mean, all signs point to him vanishing not on his own accord."
[04:21] Brad Milkey:
"So then, like, cut off from people around it. At this point, the university has called for a welfare check, and Bun El's girlfriend has called for a welfare check. It's still a missing persons case at this point. Right. How are police approaching it, and how does that change?"
[04:36] Elena Athens:
"On January 30, the case was reassigned to the homicide unit, expanding the search into Virginia due to Clint's connections there. Shanna Cloud, Clint’s wife, owned property in Virginia and had worked as a traveling nurse for the Virginia Department of Corrections."
A month after his disappearance, in February, human remains were found in a pond near Clint's residence. The remains were severely dismembered, complicating immediate identification.
[05:46] Kelly Edwards:
"A point of a body floating out in the water."
[06:17] Kelly Edwards:
"Wow."
[06:18] Brad Milkey:
"They find this body with, again, so gruesome, it's been dismembered and then they make this arrest. You're at that first hearing, which I think is in late March. What is that like?"
[06:30] Elena Athens:
"The first court appearance was unusually lengthy and detailed—lasting about 45 minutes compared to the typical five minutes. The prosecution laid out their timeline and evidence plans extensively, surprising many, including myself. The courtroom setup was intimate, with media and family members seated uncomfortably close, heightening the tension."
Shanna Cloud was charged with first-degree murder and concealment of death. Her bond was denied, and she faces the possibility of capital punishment.
[09:45] Elena Athens:
"Investigators say they have video evidence of Cloud in the area where Bonnell's torso was recovered. Clint had visited a lawyer's office on January 27 to seek a divorce, and investigators believe Shanna shot him the following day inside their home."
[10:18] Elena Athens:
"New court documents revealed that Bonnell and Cloud met at the Fit for Life health club on January 27. Cloud allegedly confronted him about a note she believed was from a romantic partner. After leaving the gym separately, Clint went about his day, seeing his girlfriend and attending a study session."
[13:23] Unknown (Kelly Edwards):
"I know that they were coming to an end and, you know, the last couple of weeks, five or six weeks, things were really shifting. There were some concerns for sure. And obviously no one understood the severity of those concerns."
[13:48] Elena Athens:
"Kelly Edwards revealed that Clint had texted her the night before his disappearance, mentioning he was exhausted and had been through a lot. Court records indicate Clint arrived home on January 27 and his location data ended at 8:15 AM the next morning. Kelly attempted to message him around 8:35 AM, but the message was not delivered, contradicting Shanna Cloud's initial statements."
[14:52] Brad Milkey:
"Is there a defense from Shanna at all or from her attorneys?"
[14:55] Elena Athens:
"Shanna Cloud's attorney, James McCray Jr., publicly stated, 'I want you to know that Ms. Cloud is innocent and looks forward to her day in court.' The defense maintains her innocence and is preparing for trial."
[15:19] Brad Milkey:
"And as you mentioned, the state's also preparing to go to trial. They're building their case. So far they have the records of the who, the where, the when. What else are they gonna be looking at?"
[15:28] Elena Athens:
"The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office continues to actively investigate, searching for additional remains. Only Clint's torso has been found so far, with efforts ongoing to locate other body parts. The involvement of the United States Army in identifying the remains underscores the case's complexity and the resources dedicated to it."
[17:44] Brad Milkey:
"What's next in this case then, Elena?"
[17:46] Elena Athens:
"Shanna Cloud remains in custody with bond denied. She faces a severe penalty, including potential capital punishment. The next court hearing is scheduled for mid-April, where further evidence and developments are expected to emerge."
[16:11] Elena Athens:
"Fayetteville is a military town with deep ties to the armed forces. The Green Beret title carries significant weight, highlighting Clint's elite status and the community's shock at his brutal demise."
[17:38] Elena Athens:
"The involvement of the United States Army in the investigation, particularly in DNA analysis, emphasizes the gravity and thoroughness of the case."
Apart from the Clint Bonnell case, the episode also touches on other high-profile true crime stories:
Wisconsin Teen Arrested for Parricide and Plotting Assassination:
Attempted Terrorism in Pennsylvania:
Cat Smuggling Ring in Spain:
Brad Milkey wraps up the episode by emphasizing the profound impact of Clint Bonnell’s case on the military community and the broader implications of such heinous crimes. The detailed investigation, the community's response, and the upcoming court proceedings make this a pivotal case in the true crime landscape.
Notable Quotes:
Kelly Edwards (Clint’s Sister) [02:40]:
"All signs point to him vanishing not on his own accord."
Elena Athens [06:30]:
"The courtroom setup was intimate, with media and family members seated uncomfortably close, heightening the tension."
Elena Athens [14:55]:
"Ms. Cloud is innocent and looks forward to her day in court."
Elena Athens [16:11]:
"The Green Beret title carries significant weight, highlighting Clint's elite status and the community's shock at his brutal demise."
Final Thoughts
This episode of 20/20 provides a comprehensive look into a deeply unsettling case, exploring not only the facts but also the emotional and societal ramifications. Through expert reporting and firsthand accounts, listeners gain a nuanced understanding of the complexities involved in investigating and prosecuting such a disturbing crime.