Beloved Pastor Found Slain With Hands Pinned to Wall, Body Posed: ‘Was It Someone He Knew?'
His manner of death has been ruled a homicide
Police say the case has "specific and unique circumstances"
An Arizona community is reeling after a beloved pastor was found dead, reportedly with his body posed last month.
William Schonemann, 76, was found slain in his home in New River, Ariz., on April 28, the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office said in a statement.
His death was determined to be a homicide by the Maricopa County Medical Examiner's Office. A cause of death was not released to the public.
The sheriff's office said evidence at the scene suggested there may have been foul play.
As the investigation continues, more details are unfolding about the circumstances surrounding his death.
Schonemann's body was reportedly posed when it was found by investigators: It had been spread out and his hands were reportedly pinned to the wall, FOX 10 reported, citing unspecified sources. The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office told PEOPLE they have not released any such details to the public.
There are "specific and unique circumstances to this case," the sheriff's office said in their statement, without elaborating further.
Schonemann's wife died in 2022, per AZ Central. It wasn't clear if he lived alone at the time of his death.
Known to many as Bill, the popular pastor was a Navy veteran who served in Vietnam, AZ Central reported.
He was also known for his love for fixing cars and put together his own vehicles, his son Randall Schonemann told the outlet. The two once worked on restoring an airplane over several weeks, Schonemann's wife Crystal said.
"The happiness he showed just getting to walk around an airport getting his steps in. The creativity of all the machines he built," Randall said in a statement to 12 News, speaking of his father's "positive impact on people everywhere he went."
William's death has left the community in grief and fear.
'I'm just wondering was it some random person? Was it someone he knows?,' his friend Eric Archer said, according to AZ Family. 'I'm just curious what happened and why. I just can't imagine someone hurting Bill, in any matter for any reason.'
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The sheriff's office said there is no threat to the community and it's an isolated incident; they did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for information on whether William knew the alleged killer.
No suspect or person of interest had been announced.
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