Latest news with #Sheafe
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Pastor's crucifixion murder suspect says on video he planned to kill 14 more
The man accused of brutally crucifying a rural Arizona pastor has not only admitted to the alleged crime, but said that he planned to kill more than a dozen other Christian leaders. Adam Sheafe, 51, told Fox 10 in an interview that he murdered Pastor Bill Schonemann, 76, head of the New River Bible Chapel in New River, Arizona. On April 28, Schonemann was found dead in his bed with his arms spread wide and pinned to the wall behind him. The bizarre display left the community reeling. Arizona Pastor Found Dead With Hands Pinned To Wall In Homicide At Home Sheafe's plan was to crucify 14 more Christian leaders of no particular denomination, he told FOX 10, ascribing his motive to a belief that Christian churches were leading their congregants astray by teaching them to follow Jesus, whom he says is a false God. He titled his mission "Operation First Commandment." Read On The Fox News App Sheafe was captured by police near the Chapel of the Holy Cross in Sedona, Arizona, where he planned to kill two priests, he said. Kansas Catholic Priest Was Shot 'Intentionally And With Premeditation,' Prosecutor Alleges "The day I was going to execute that priest, I tried getting into the back of his car. There was like a little lady on a bike that got in my way, and I was just going to get in the back seat and tell him to drive to his house," Sheafe said. He later defiantly refused to apologize for the alleged killing. In an interview with 12News, Sheafe explained further how he planned Schonemann's killing. "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 said. "And then I returned on Sunday to execute and crucify him to this wall." He also said he wanted to be executed. "Put me on death row, set the execution date for right now," Sheafe said. "The victims want it. The victim's families want it. I want it, and the taxpayers want it." Sheafe has been charged with first-degree murder in Maricopa County, but remains in the custody of the Coconino County Jail. The Maricopa County Attorney's Office told Fox News Digital that the case is under review, and that generally, any first-degree murder convict is subject to the death penalty. It is unclear whether he has an attorney, but Fox News Digital reached out to the public defender's article source: Pastor's crucifixion murder suspect says on video he planned to kill 14 more
New York Post
a day ago
- New York Post
Suspect chillingly admits to crucifying elderly pastor, reveals Christian leader hit list in deranged jailhouse interview
A suspect accused by police of crucifying an elderly pastor in his Arizona home has given a chilling jailhouse interview confessing to his alleged crimes — and revealing a hit list of other targets across the country he reportedly planned to murder before he was caught. Adam Christopher Sheafe, 51, confessed to killing 76-year-old William Schonemann, whose body was found in his bed covered in blood with his hands nailed to the wall on April 28, during an interview with Fox 10 News at the Coconino County Sheriff's Office, where he is being held on charges unrelated to the killing of the beloved New River pastor. Sheafe was previously named as a suspect in Schoneman's murder, in what was described as the most 'tragic and bizarre' case ever handled by Maricopa County Sheriff Jerry Sheridan in a press conference on June 12. 4 Adam Christopher Sheafe confessed to murdering and crucifying an elderly Arizona pastor. AZFamily He described driving from Phoenix at around 2 in the morning on Easter Sunday before he allegedly 'executed him' and then placed a crown of thorns on his head in a sick crucifixion ritual in the interview from prison. Sheafe calmly said he planned to kill 14 Christian leaders in 10 states across the US using the same gruesome method of crucifixion. 'I was going to start in Phoenix and end in Phoenix, and circle the nation. Ten cities, 14 pastors, 10 states,' he said. He was on his way to kill two priests in Sedona when he was arrested by police, he told his interviewer. Justifying his sickening actions with religion, Sheafe claimed that Christian pastors were leading people onto a false path by following Jesus, and that Schonemann was the first in his plot that he called 'Operation First Commandment,' he said. 4 William Schonemann was found in bed with his hands nailed to the wall and a crown of thorns on his head. Courtesy Schonemann Family 'Christian, Catholic, Mormon. Anyone preaching that Jesus is God, essentially, the Trinity, a concept created by man, by Paul. He's not God. God, the father alone, is God,' he said. Asked whether he was ever victimized by a Christian, he replied no, and said his family is Christian and that he had a good childhood. 'I don't hate Christians. I'm after the pastors that are leading them astray,' he said. 4 Sheafe sat down for a chilling jailhouse interview. AZFamily Denying that he was mentally unwell, he added that he was not sorry for what he said he had done. 'Will I apologize for my actions? Absolutely not,' he said, although he added that he would apologize to Schonemann's grieving family, but with a caveat. 'I will apologize to them in that aspect. I'm sorry that they got caught in the crossfire. Will I apologize for my actions? Absolutely not. I'm defending my father,' Sheafe said. Asked if he regretted anything, he said 'nothing,' adding that he had a history of drug use, but that he didn't believe it had impacted him. He also said he was OK with being executed. Sheafe said he gathered the thorns that he used to make the crown from the desert, and that he placed it on Schonemann's head after he allegedly murdered him. 4 Sheafe claimed he planned to murder 14 other pastors across the country. AZFamily Sheafe is being held in Coconino County Jail on charges unrelated to the death of Schonemann. He has not been charged with killing the pastor, but is expected to be extradited to Maricopa County. The Coconino County Sheriff's Office and the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office did not respond immediately to requests for clarification. Schonemann's family released a statement in the wake of Sheafe's alleged killer making his sickening 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 criticized 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,' the statement continued. 'He has clearly stated his intentions to continue his mission. From the beginning, our focus has been to stop the suspect before anyone else got hurt. We see the surge of media attention and his ability to communicate freely as a very serious threat to that end.'
Newsweek
2 days ago
- 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.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Suspect confesses to crucifying pastor in Arizona home – and had others on hit list
In a chilling jailhouse interview, the man accused of a gruesome, religiously motivated murder of a beloved pastor in Arizona said he had committed the crime and revealed he had a broader hit list of religious leaders he intended to kill during his murderous rampage. Adam Christopher Sheafe, 51, told True Crime Arizona Monday that he crucified 76-year-old Pastor William Schonemann, known in the community as 'Pastor Bill,' inside his New River home in April. Sheafe said the attack was part of what he claimed was a divine mission to punish religious leaders who, in his view, were misleading followers. 'I drove from there (Phoenix) to Bill's house, like two in the morning on a Sunday night, and I executed him,' Sheafe told the correspondent Briana Whitney, who sat across the table from him. Schonemann was found dead in his bed, covered in blood, on April 28 during a welfare check. During the interview, Sheafe spoke about the disturbing scene, which included details about a crown of thorns, which he said he made from what he found in the woods, and placed on Schonemann's head. 'Because what I'm saying is, what you're preaching is not what God said,' Sheafe explained. 'It's the opposite of what God said.' Sheafe revealed that Schonemann was not his only target. Prior to the murder, he said he had followed a priest home after Easter services in Phoenix with the intent to kill him — the first of 14 intended 'executions' across the country. 'Starting in Arizona, where I was born,' Sheafe said. 'Where it starts is where it ends, like the Garden of Eden.' But he claimed to have stopped that first attempt when two women unexpectedly entered the priest's garage. 'I'm not interested in executing anyone other than the pastors or the shepherds leading the flock astray,' he said. After killing Schonemann, Sheafe said he traveled to Sedona, where he planned to murder two more religious leaders. He would later be identified as the suspect in a burglary which led to a high-speed chase with Sedona police. But Sheafe evaded capture when he disappeared after crashing his car into another vehicle, police said. His abandoned car—later discovered to be stolen from Cave Creek—was recovered at a nearby trailhead. Authorities say they found evidence inside the car that reportedly tied Sheafe to the New River killing. He was finally arrested a few days later, during a manhunt related to the string of burglaries. Had he not been caught, Sheafe said he planned to continue his killing spree nationwide. '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,' he said. 'So, four of them were going to get hit in Arizona.' Sheafe claimed he was acting under what he believes is God's law and that he expects to be forgiven. He has maintained that violence wasn't in his nature, stating: 'Look, it's not my heart to go around killing people.' When asked how he would feel if someone crucified him, Sheafe replied, 'Good luck trying.' 'I want the death penalty because I want to show that you can't kill God's son,' Sheafe said. 'The whole story is B.S.' When Whitney pointed out that executions often take years, Sheafe responded, '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.' Asked if he believed God would forgive his sins, Sheafe said, 'Absolutely he will forgive my sins. He is a forgiving God and loving God.' Whitney challenged that logic: 'How do you justify that? I mean, if you're killing somebody or multiple people — attempted, how does that work?' 'It's a commandment to rid Israel of evil,' Sheafe replied. Told by Whitney that he would probably be spending the rest of his life in prison, Sheafe said: 'That's what you think.' Sheafe remains behind bars at Coconino County Jail and is expected to be extradited to Maricopa County. Charges related to Schonemann's murder are pending.
