Dateline: Missing in America - 5 harrowing details of the Clinton Bonnell's missing case

An episode that aired on Dateline - The vanishing of retired Green Beret Clinton Bonnell in January 2025 has taken an ugly turn, which leaves the investigators of the case and loved ones of the missing person desperate for answers.

What began as a perplexing missing person’s case soon unwound into a heartbreaking murder investigation. As new details appear on the surface, Dateline continues to throw light on the alarming events surrounding Clinton Bonnel’s fate.

We’re here to provide you with five harrowing details about the Dateline: Missing in America gruesome case that paint an ominous picture of his final days.

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1. A decorated veteran vanishes without a trace - Dateline uncovers the missing man's case

An episode on Dateline covered the story of Clinton Bonnell, a former Green Beret, who had just commenced a new chapter in his book of life after retiring from the military in December 2024.

Signed up in Methodist University’s physician assistant program, he was loyal and dedicated to his studies and even maintained a leadership position in his cohort.

In spite of this, on January 27, the last confirmed sighting of Bonnel took place in the Gray’s Creek area of Fayetteville, North Carolina. Two days later, his wife claimed that she hadn’t seen him, raising alarms when he failed to attend class– something extremely unusual for him to do.

Those who knew him personally and up close found it absurd that he would skip school without any prior warning due to his prior precision, loyalty, and dedication.

2. Alarming messages spark immediate concern

According to Dateline & NBC, on January 29, Bonnell’s sister, Stefanie Firkins, received an unsettling text message on Facebook from his wife, Shana Cloud, asking if she had talked to him.

“I got a Facebook message from his wife asking if I had spoken to my brother and then telling me that he had not shown up for class two days in a row and that the sheriff had been out to her house four times… The moment I got that message, I knew something was wrong…He would never just disappear without telling someone.”

Bonnell had already been missing from school for the past two days, and law officials had previously visited Cloud’s home on multiple occasions for investigations to take place.

Methodist University faculty, alarmed by his unusual absence, had gotten in touch with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office to ask for a welfare check.

"It’s my understanding that his advisers were made aware of this and when they repeatedly called his phone and could not get through to him is whenever they called for a welfare check.” - Stefanie Firkins.

According to Dateline and the story told on NBC, when law officials arrived at the residence, Bonnell was not to be found anywhere, though his vehicle, bookbag, and personal items were kept safe at the house.

According to his sister Stefanie Firkins on Dateline;

“There’s very suspicious circumstances surrounding his disappearance.”

3. A suspicious pattern in the investigation

As the case on Dateline recalls, as the search went on, authorities handling the case discovered a lot many unsettling details.

Shana Cloud's report of Bonnell's last known locations had been filled with inconsistencies, inciting authorities to finally implement specific search warrants on her home, car, and a property that she owned in Virginia.

Over the course of a few weeks, digital footprints, camera footage, and phone call data were thoroughly looked at, piecing together every single piece of evidence/information to form a timeline that would eventually hint at something far more ominous taking place.

4. A chilling discovery ends the search

Nearly a month after Bonnell's vanishing, a breakthrough was finally made. On February 25, the Sheriff received a call where he was made aware of some human remains located at a distance of three miles in a water body on Gainey Road – near a home Bonnell shared with his wife, Cloud.

Due to the rotting condition of the corpse, getting instant reports of the body was not achievable.

Nevertheless, to move on with the investigation, DNA samples were sent to the North Carolina State Crime Lab and were later matched with the DNA reports received from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System.

Authorities finally confirmed what Bonnell’s family was afraid of all along—the human remains belonged to him, leading to a tear-jerking end to the search for their family member.

A member close to the family put up on Facebook saying;

"The Bonnell family is beyond devastated. Clint was an incredible human who sacrificed so much for others and dedicated his life to the betterment of this world. ... Our family will continue to fight for justice in Clint’s name."

5. A shocking arrest raises more questions

While not much evidence has been revealed to the general public, a while after the DNA confirmation came through, Clint’s wife, Cloud, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and covering the death of her husband.

Clint’s sister had long assumed an act of foul play to be involved, and her getting apprehended only strengthened her fears.

Stefani tells Dateline

“I think there’s somebody out there that potentially knows something,” Stefanie said.”

As more truths come up on the surface, Bonnell’s family members and close relatives still try their best to wrap their heads around something this dreadful taking place with one of their own.

While an arrest for sure has officially been made, the case has not yet ended with its investigation.

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What started as a missing person case has turned out to be a case of intended viciousness, leaving more difficulties than receiving easy answers as to “why?”.

Dateline follows this investigation as law officials work to unearth the full truth. For now, Clinton Bonnell’s relatives are the ones who are left with having to mourn a man who gave his entire life to serve his country with pride and integrity, only to come face to face with a dreadful end to his life.