Elena Athens

So the defense is preparing to go to trial, and he's standing on it that his client is innocent.

So the defense is preparing to go to trial, and he's standing on it that his client is innocent.

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 the deputies, they are still searching, right? Because only the torso was found of Bonnell's body.

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 the deputies, they are still searching, right? Because only the torso was found of Bonnell's body.

So arms, legs, head, that work is underway.

So arms, legs, head, that work is underway.

Well, I want to also give context. Fayetteville, this is a military town.

Well, I want to also give context. Fayetteville, this is a military town.

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 and a little bit above the cut. Not that they all are not, but you have this extra oomph to you in the community.

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 and a little bit above the cut. Not that they all are not, but you have this extra oomph to you in the community.

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.

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 Bonnell.

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 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, right?

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, right?

And how many resources are being pulled into figuring out what happened here.

And how many resources are being pulled into figuring out what happened here.

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.

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.