Latest news with #MaricopaCountySheriff'sOffice
NBC News
2 days ago
- NBC News
Man accused in armed robbery of Phoenix dancer has been charged in her brutal murder
A man accused in the armed robbery of an exotic dancer in Arizona five years ago has been charged with murder, kidnapping and other crimes in her horrific 2023 killing, court records obtained Tuesday show. Cudjoe Young, 29, was indicted on charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping, arson, theft and armed robbery with a deadly weapon in the April 16, 2023, killing of Mercedes Vega, a copy of the indictment shows. A second suspect, Sencere Hayes, was charged with Vega's murder last year and indicted July 24 on the same charges as Young, as well as on hindering prosecution, according to the indictment. Their arraignments are scheduled for Aug. 1. Hayes is being held in lieu of $4 million bond, jail records show. Young is being held without bond in connection with a separate case, according to the records. Attorneys for Hayes and Young did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A spokesperson for the Maricopa County Attorney's Office said the charges linked to Vega remain open and declined further comment. A third suspect, Jared Gray, was previously charged with murder in the case and was awaiting extradition to Arizona from Georgia, where he was held on unrelated charges. Jail records reviewed Tuesday showed that he did not appear to be in custody in Maricopa County. Vega, 22, was allegedly kidnapped from her apartment building's parking garage on the night of April 16. Her car — a Dodge Charger — was later found abandoned nearby, and she was found beaten, shot and burned in the backseat of a Chevrolet Malibu on an interstate east of Phoenix in the pre-dawn hours of April 17. Bleach had been poured down her throat, authorities have said. Vega's family long believed her death was linked to an armed robbery at Vega's Phoenix apartment building on Oct. 12, 2020, when a masked assailant robbed her at gunpoint after she finished a shift at a Phoenix strip club. Young was charged with armed robbery after Vega identified him as a suspect, police records show, and her mother has said she was scheduled to testify in that case on the day she was found dead. Two other women who worked at the same club as Young were targeted in similar crimes by a man who matched Young's description. He was charged with attempted robbery in one of the cases. Young has pleaded not guilty. No arrests have been made in the third case. Young's trial in the robbery and attempted robbery were scheduled to begin Tuesday, but he sought to have his attorney removed and is now representing himself, his former lawyer said. That attorney, Burges McCowan, said in an email that he will remain on the case as Young's advisory counsel. McCowan declined to comment on the allegations. The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, which investigated the case, previously sought conspiracy charges related to Vega's murder and kidnapping. According to a probable cause statement filed last month, Young allegedly paid two people to pick up the Malibu that Vega's body was found in after it was bought through an online seller in March. Authorities suggested that he may have also bought his co-defendants' plane tickets from Tennessee to Arizona. A fingerprint found on a grocery bag in Vega's car belonged to Hayes, and a print that belonged to Gray was discovered on a plastic cup in the Malibu, according to the statement.
American Military News
11-07-2025
- American Military News
Pic: Man crucified Arizona pastor, planned to ‘execute' other Christian leaders
A suspect recently admitted to crucifying a pastor in Arizona and planning to 'execute' a total of 14 religious leaders. According to Fox 10, 51-year-old Adam Sheafe was arrested on June 24 after William 'Bill' Schonemann, a 76-year-old pastor at New River Bible Chapel, was found dead in his home in New River, Arizona, on April 28. The outlet noted that while the 51-year-old suspect has not yet been charged with murdering Schonemann, the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office is currently working on charging him. In an interview with 12 News, Sheafe claimed that Schonemann was the first of 14 Christian leaders in 10 different states that he intended to 'execute' and 'crucify.' Sheafe confirmed that all of the allegations against him 'are correct' and explained that the murder of Schonemann was motivated by his religious beliefs. The suspect described his plan as 'Operation First Commandment' and claimed that the Bible's New Testament teachings about Jesus Christ go against the biblical commandment that says, 'You shall have no other gods before me.' Sheafe stated, 'His commandments have been annulled by this character called Jesus, a human being who I believe is the son of Satan.' READ MORE: 70 Christians beheaded by terrorists in 'massacre': Report In his interview, Sheafe claimed that he was on a crusade for God and denied being mentally ill. 'No, maybe I'm the one that sees truth, and maybe it's everybody else that is deceived by Satan,' Sheafe said. 'So if that makes me mentally ill for following what God says, then so be it.' Sheafe admitted that he traveled to Arizona, stole a vehicle, found Schonemann, and stalked the pastor outside his church. 'I saw that he had a Wednesday evening Bible study, so I sat there and waited for them to arrive, so that I could locate which one was the priest, and then I just followed him,' Sheafe stated. 'And then I returned on Sunday to execute and crucify him to this wall.' Sheafe also admitted that he traveled to Sedona and intended to kill two priests who served at the Chapel of the Holy Cross before he was arrested by Sedona Police Department officials. 'I set up a tent right next to that church so that I could watch those priests and identify what vehicles they were driving. And then I got into a high-speed chase with the police and escaped, got in a car crash, got out, ran up a mountain and escaped,' Sheafe said. 'And I was just determined to get those two priests.' According to Fox 10, Sheafe said he would 'absolutely not' apologize for his actions. Asked why he targeted Schonemann, the suspect said, 'Because he was first up. I was going to start in Phoenix and end in Phoenix, and circle the nation. 10 cities, 14 pastors, 10 states.' A picture of Sheafe has been shared on X, formerly Twitter. A 51-year-old man with a Hebrew neck tattoo was arrested after crucifying a Christian pastor in Arizona and placing a crown of thorns on his head. Adam Christopher Sheafe admitted to planning the ritualistic killing of 14 Christian leaders across 10 states. Obsessed with the… — AF Post (@AFpost) June 26, 2025
NBC News
03-07-2025
- NBC News
5-year-old rescued after wandering into the desert with his dog
Arizona police have shared how authorities were able to track down a 5-year-old boy who wandered into the desert with his dog. On June 30, the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office uploaded nearly three minutes of bodycam footage to YouTube that showed the efforts local sheriff deputies underwent to find the missing child. The sheriff's office received a call about a child who had ventured into the desert and could not be located on June 22, the video's description said. In the footage, a dispatcher relays to an officer that the 5-year-old's grandparent told police he was wearing an all-green outfit and he 'ran away from the location chasing the family dog.' The child's grandmother informed police that the family dog usually returned after running off but had not done so this time. As the clip continues, an officer is seen walking through some shrubbery before he spots the young boy and his dog by his side. 'Hi buddy!' the officer says as he approaches the child and picks him up. A couple other officers then attempt to capture the dog. The bodycam footage indicates that the boy was found close to 11 p.m. One officer carries the child on his shoulders and asks, 'Are you ready to fly?' before placing him on the ground. The officer continues, 'You want to go for a ride? Want to go see mama? Let's go see her!' The video also includes the emotional reunion between the child and his family. 'Don't do that!' a tearful woman says as she embraces the boy. The officers inform the family where they found the 5-year-old and explain they weren't able to get the dog to follow them as the footage ends. Police provided more information about the rescue beneath the video. 'The rescue was aided by MCSO K9 Bloodhound Piper, whose tracking skills were crucial in finding the boy quickly,' the description said. 'Thanks to the quick response and dedication of our deputies, the boy was found safe with his loyal dog by his side and reunited with his relieved family. We're grateful for this positive outcome and the teamwork that made it possible.'
Roya News
30-06-2025
- Roya News
'To rid Israel of evil': Man crucifies pastor in Arizona citing divine mission
Adam Christopher Sheafe, 51, has confessed to the murder of New River pastor Bill Schonemann, revealing a disturbing plot to "execute" and "crucify" at least 14 Christian leaders across 10 states in what he called "Operation First Commandment". Sheafe, who showed no remorse, stated his actions were part of a "divine mission" to "rid Israel of evil" and punish pastors he believed were misleading their followers. Pastor Schonemann, 76, a beloved figure at New River Bible Chapel, was found dead in his home on April 28. Sheafe was apprehended on April 30 in Sedona. In a jailhouse interview on June 24, Sheafe admitted to the killing, explaining his motive stemmed from a belief that Christian pastors preach a false doctrine regarding Jesus and the Trinity. He confessed to placing a crown of thorns, made from desert trees, on Pastor Schonemann's head after the killing, a symbolic act to signify the pastor's preaching was contrary to his beliefs. Pastor Schonemann was found dead in his bed, not physically crucified. Sheafe's "Operation First Commandment" targeted 14 pastors and priests, starting and ending in Arizona. His alleged hit list included cities in Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Alabama, and Texas. He claimed he was about to kill two priests in Sedona before his arrest. The New River community is mourning Pastor Schonemann, remembered for his kindness and willingness to help. His family expressed alarm over Sheafe "enjoying the attention" and his continued public messaging from jail, viewing it as a "very serious threat". Sheafe has not yet been formally charged with Pastor Schonemann's murder but is currently held in Coconino County Jail on unrelated burglary charges, including two burglaries in Sedona, unlawful flight, aggravated assault, and theft of a stolen vehicle. His criminal history includes a 2013 domestic violence arrest and federal prison time for bank fraud and identity theft. The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office is working to prepare formal murder charges.
Newsweek
25-06-2025
- Newsweek
Man Who Crucified Arizona Pastor Says He Had Other Targets
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The chief suspect in the murder of an Arizona pastor admitted to the murder to True Crime Arizona correspondent Briana Whitney and told her he had other targets. Adam Christopher Sheafe, 51, confessed to crucifying William Schonemann, known to his congregants as "Pastor Bill," one of 14 executions of pastors across 10 other states he planned to carry out. He was apprehended before he could commit any more crimes. Pastor Bill was discovered at his home on April 28 by police who were conducting a wellness check. He was found dead in his bed and a crown of thorns had been placed on his head. Sheafe told Whitney that he targeted the 76-year-old pastor because he believed him to be preaching "the opposite of what God said." No attorney for Sheafe could be located at this time for comment. Adam Sheafe, 51, pictured by police. Adam Sheafe, 51, pictured by police. Maricopa County Sheriff's Office The Context Sheafe confessed to Whitney that the killing was religiously motivated and that he was going after pastors as he wanted to "rid Israel of evil." In this context, he appears to be referring to the world as "Israel," not the sovereign nation. It is unclear at this time whether he is or was experiencing psychosis, and whether this will impact his trial. What To Know In an interview with Whitney, Sheafe told her that he followed the pastor home from Easter services on April 20. When he arrived he saw two women in the driveway but did not harm them as he was not "interested in executing anyone [other] than the pastors or the shepherds leading the flock astray." He told Whitney he committed the first of his planned murders in his home state of Arizona, as he saw that as the "Garden of Eden." He said he was planning to kill three more people in Arizona before traveling further afield to Las Vegas, Portland, Seattle, Detroit, and other locations, to kill more people. After allegedly killing Pastor Bill, he fled to Sonoma but was apprehended two days after the body was found by police who were investigating a string of burglaries. Sheafe did not speak with Whitney about the burglaries. What People Are Saying Adam Sheafe told Briana Whitney: "I drove from [Phoenix] to Bill's house, like two in the morning on a Sunday night, and I executed him." Retired FBI agent Martin Hellmer told AZ Family: "I think it's just one of the most horrific crimes that you can hear about. It shocks the conscience. I'm very sad for this person's family and the community and the church that he supported." What Happens Next Despite his confession to Whitney, Sheafe is yet to plead guilty in a court of law. He told Whitney he will be asking for the death penalty.
