FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — The wife of retired U.S. Army Special Forces soldier Clinton Bonnell has been formally indicted on first-degree murder and concealment of death charges nearly one year after her arrest in connection with his disappearance.
A grand jury in Cumberland Superior Court returned an indictment Feb. 9 against Shana Lea Cloud, charging her with first-degree murder and concealment or destruction of a body related to an unnatural death, according to court records. The case is being prosecuted by the State of North Carolina.
Cloud, 51, was arrested March 28, 2025, following weeks of investigation into Bonnell’s disappearance. Bonnell, a recently retired Green Beret, had served in U.S. Army Special Forces before leaving active duty.
According to the Cumberland County Detention Center’s active inmate roster, Cloud remains in custody with a booking date of March 28, 2025. Jail records list charges of first-degree murder and concealment of death, with bond set at $0.00.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. Under North Carolina law, felony charges such as murder must be reviewed by a grand jury before proceeding to trial in Superior Court. The grand jury’s decision means prosecutors presented sufficient evidence to establish probable cause for the case to advance.
The case has drawn sustained public attention since early 2025. The Salty Soldier has previously reported on search warrants tied to Bonnell’s disappearance, early concerns raised by family members, subsequent arrest records and later court filings revealing developments related to financial records and evidentiary preservation.
An administrative hearing is scheduled for April 1 in Cumberland County. No trial date has been announced.
Cloud remains presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
The Salty Soldier will continue monitoring the case as it proceeds through the North Carolina court system.
© 2026 The Salty Soldier. All rights reserved. Reproduction without written consent is strictly prohibited.
