GRAY’S CREEK, NC – A chilling discovery in Cumberland County has sparked two parallel investigations, as authorities work to unravel the mystery surrounding a body found in a pond and the disappearance of a retired Green Beret. The body was discovered late yesterday by the pond’s owner, setting off a wave of police activity in the Gray’s Creek community.
The investigation intensified when deputies turned their attention to a nearby property on Butler Nursery Road, the home of Clinton Bonilla, a retired Green Beret who has been missing for nearly a month. This has raised the pressing question of whether the two incidents are linked.
Bonilla, who retired from the Army in December, vanished without a trace, leaving a community and his family searching for answers. While the body found in the pond has yet to be identified, the proximity of the discoveries has led investigators to thoroughly examine both scenes.
Deputies are meticulously searching Bonilla’s property, while also scouring the area around the pond. They have enlisted the help of a cadaver dog from Harnett County to aid in their search efforts. Despite the thorough investigation, authorities have not yet found any conclusive evidence that connects the two cases.
Currently, law enforcement is treating them as separate incidents. However, the possibility of a link has not been ruled out entirely. The mystery deepens as investigators await the results of an autopsy, which could take up to a week to provide answers about the identity of the body.
The community remains on edge as deputies maintain a strong presence in the area. Numerous patrol cars are stationed near the wooded area that separates the pond from Bonilla’s home, underscoring the seriousness of the ongoing investigations.
Residents of Gray’s Creek are left to wonder what happened to the missing veteran and whether the body found in the pond could finally bring closure to his family. As the investigation unfolds, the hope is that these two mysteries, whether connected or not, will soon be resolved.