Pastor ‘crucified by religious fanatic'
A pastor was crucified and had a crown of thorns placed on his head by a religious fanatic.
The blood-soaked body of William 'Bill' Schonemann, 76, was found on his bed with his hands nailed to the wall in a house in New River, Arizona, on April 28.
Adam Sheafe, 51, confessed to the killing in a jail cell interview in which he revealed he was attempting to recreate the crucifixion scene, as part of what he dubbed 'Operation First Commandment'.
He claimed to have found the crown of thorns in the desert.
Sheafe planned to execute 14 clergymen whom he believed were leading their 'flock astray'.
With Hebrew lettering tattooed on his neck and wearing dark blue prison fatigues, Sheafe said he had a hit-list starting in Arizona, where he was born.
He added: 'From there, it was Las Vegas, Nevada; Portland, Oregon; Seattle, Washington; Billings, Montana; Detroit, Michigan; New York, New York; Charlotte, North Carolina; Mobile, Alabama; Beaumont, Texas; and El Paso, Texas.'
'Where it starts is where it will end, like the Garden of Eden,' he told True Crime Arizona.
Sheafe arrived in Arizona and followed the pastor home on Easter Sunday.
As Schonemann pulled into the garage, two women appeared, but they were spared.
'I'm not interested in executing anyone other than the pastors.'
From there, he drove 117 miles to Sedona, where he planned to slaughter his next two victims.
Sheafe was arrested two days after killing Schonemann following a manhunt linked to a string of burglaries in the area. He said he had no regrets.
'Not only do I have zero remorse, I plan on fulfilling what I started. If my father puts me in an authoritative position on this earth, I will execute every single priest and burn every church to the ground.'
He said he wanted the death penalty – and as soon as possible.
'Well, I want to be executed quickly so we can get this show on the road and show exactly what I'm trying to do ... All you gotta do is worship Jesus and you go to Heaven; your sins are forgiven. That's not what God said.'
Sheafe is being held in Coconino jail on charges unconnected with the killing, including burglary and possession of a stolen vehicle.
'This case is probably one of the most bizarre cases I have ever seen in my 40 years with the Maricopa Sheriff's Office,' said Sheriff Jerry Sheridan.
Schonemann's family condemned the decision to broadcast an interview in a statement.
'What we have seen over the last week is this suspect enjoying the attention. His side of the story is half of the whole story, and we see the need to cover it, however challenging that may be for us,' the family said in a statement seen by Fox 10, although they criticised the granting of a platform to Sheafe.
'We are quite surprised by his ability to freely message with county-supplied devices. We are concerned about his increasing notoriety and possibly gaining a following.'
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