A North Carolina man who vanished in January was reportedly planning to divorce his wife.
Clinton Bonnell was last seen by his wife at Fit 4 Life in Fayetteville on January 27, according to her statement to the police. She mentioned that they drove separately from the gym, with Bonnell purportedly going to Methodist University to prepare for a test as reported by WNCN.
Contrary to his wife’s account, Bonnell’s girlfriend claimed that he actually visited a lawyer that same day to discuss filing for divorce. After the meeting with the lawyer, he allegedly stopped by his girlfriend’s workplace to engage in a conversation about the divorce proceedings before heading off to continue studying.
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Following these events, Bonnell supposedly messaged his girlfriend later that evening to inform her that he had informed his wife about the divorce decision and mentioned that he was going to bed for the night.
The following day, on January 28, Bonnell failed to attend classes at Methodist University, where he is enrolled in the physical assistant program. Cell phone records indicated Bonnell’s phone was active at his home until that morning, though it became active again on January 30, according to WNCN.
Bonnell’s girlfriend and college officials requested a welfare check on January 28. Police went to his home the next day and found his wallet, keys, and car, but they did not locate his phone. WNCN reported that investigators returned to the home on January 31 and discovered his laptop and backpack — both of which had projectile damage.
Detectives executed a search warrant on Bonnell’s wife’s truck in Virginia on February 1. At that time, she allegedly admitted to getting into an argument with Bonnell after finding a note from his girlfriend.
Weeks later, police found a partial body in a pond located five miles from Bonnell’s home. Reports indicated that the body had no legs or arms. The body has not been identified.
Police performed another search at Bonnell’s 15-acre property a day after the body was found. WNCN reported that multiple items were seized, including a pistol. However, Cumberland County police Sergeant Mickey Locklear said the body found in a nearby pond and the search warrant at Bonnell’s home are separate cases.
Bonnell retired from the military a month before he vanished.
[Feature Photo: Cumberland County police]
