Elena Athens

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.

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 Shanna Cloud was charged with first-degree murder as well as concealment of death. Court records show she was denied bond.

It was at this point that Shanna Cloud was charged with first-degree murder as well as concealment of death. Court records show she was denied bond.

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 cell phone. It is very, very by the books.

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 cell 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 got to find a notebook and I have to do this old school style and 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 routine.

And that was the case at the Cumberland County Courthouse. And now you're in a position where I got to find a notebook and I have to do this old school style and 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 routine.

You have the prosecution who's rolling through what the charges are. The judge is going to tell the defendant what the potential penalties are. And then you have the 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.

You have the prosecution who's rolling through what the charges are. The judge is going to tell the defendant what the potential penalties are. And then you have the 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 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.

They also detailed some of the evidence that they plan to present once that trial does get underway. So 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.

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.

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.

Sitting 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.

Sitting 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 Shanna Cloud's daughter since she was three years old. So this is also someone who, you know, knows everyone.

We also learned that Bonnell had raised Shanna Cloud's daughter since she was three years old. So this is also someone who, you know, knows everyone.