Latest news with #WilliamSchonemann
Telegraph
26-06-2025
- Telegraph
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.'
Daily Mail
25-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Religious zealot admits to crucifying beloved pastor in his Arizona home during jailhouse interview
A religious militant accused of a violently motivated attack of an elderly pastor confessed to 'crucifying' him during a chilling jailhouse interview. On April 28, during a routine welfare check at a New River home, police officers found 76-year-old Pastor William Schonemann - known in the community as 'Pastor Bill' - dead and covered in blood, with his body spread out and hands pinned to the wall. Nearly a month later, 51-year-old Adam Christopher Sheafe was arrested following a manhunt linked to a series of burglaries - during which authorities discovered evidence in his vehicle that allegedly connected him to the gruesome murder. Now, almost two months after the horrific discovery, Sheafe confessed to the brutal killing of the beloved pastor during a jailhouse interview with True Crime Arizona correspondent Briana Whitney - and revealed a list of additional intended targets across several states, all religious leaders. 'I drove from Phoenix to Bill's house, like two in the morning on a Sunday night, and I executed him,' Sheafe blatantly admitted during the interview. On Monday, through a jail-issued electronic device, the 51-year-old inmate at the Coconino County Detention Facility spoke about his 'mission' to punish religious leaders who he believed were misleading Christians. He claimed that Christianity is wrong, asserting that only the Old Testament should be considered authoritative. Most of the planning, as Sheafe described, came while he was broke and camping in an Arizona desert following his release from federal prison - the same time he spotted his first target. 'Starting in Arizona, where I was born,' Sheafe said. 'Where it starts and where it ends, like the Garden of Eden.' In the interview, Sheafe revealed that his initial target was a priest in Phoenix, whom he followed home after Easter services with the intent to kill. He confessed that this killing was meant to be the first 'execution' in a series of 14 he had meticulously planned across the country. '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 listed. Four of his targets, Sheafe explained, were 'going to get hit in Arizona.' 'I was going to put the Ten Commandments in order on each of the priests,' he chillingly said. However, his original plan in Phoenix quickly unraveled when two women unexpectedly appeared in the garage just as Sheafe pulled into the priest's driveway. 'I'm not interested in executing anyone of than the pastors or the shepherds leading the flock astray,' he said. It was after Sheafe's first failed attempt at killing a priest in Phoenix, he explained, that he spotted Schonemann - who led the New River Bible Chapel congregation (pictured) for decades - while in his New River community It was after his first failed attempt, Sheafe explained, that he spotted Schonemann -who led the New River Bible Chapel congregation for decades - while in his New River community. He then followed the pastor home, admitting bluntly, 'I just went in there and did it.' During the interview, Sheafe described the disturbing scene deputies found -including a crown of thorns, crafted from materials he gathered in the woods, 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.' After hearing that, Whitney explained how anyone entering the pastor's home would be 'horrified' at the scene. In a follow-up question, she then asked Sheafe, 'Were you feeling satisfied?' 'Look, it's not in my heart to go around killing people,' he responded, before Whitney threw out one more question: 'How would you feel if somebody crucified you?' 'Good luck trying,' Sheafe replied. From there, his next target was a religious institution in Sedona, where he planned to kill - and specifically crucify - two more religious leaders. 'I was going to jump into the back of the car when the priest left service that Wednesday,' Sheafe confessed during the interview. 'I went to get into the back of the car as he entered the car,' he added. 'I was going to tell him to drive to his house, and there was an old lady who got in my way.' Sheafe also admitted to committing other crimes along the way - specifically stealing a car and breaking into residential homes - though he denied doing so to find valuables. 'The only reason I had to go into houses was for supplies, like things that I needed,' he said. During the interview, however, Sheafe claimed he was following God's law, insisting he would be forgiven because God is 'very protective' of him. But on his way to Sedona, Sheafe was flagged as a burglary suspect, triggering a high-speed chase with police. He managed to evade capture after crashing his car into another vehicle and disappearing - leaving his vehicle behind. The abandoned car, recovered near a trailhead, was discovered to be stolen from Cave Creek. Inside, authorities found evidence reportedly linking Sheafe to Pastor Schonemann's murder. Sheafe was eventually apprehended days later after a manhunt related to multiple burglaries - though he claims he planned to continue his nationwide spree of religious killings if he hadn't been caught. Sheafe was eventually apprehended (pictured) days later after a manhunt related to multiple burglaries - though he claims he planned to continue his nationwide spree of religious killings if he hadn't been caught Just days after his capture, Sheafe reportedly sent a letter to the FBI, confessing details that only someone who had witnessed the bloody crime scene could know. 'I told the FBI agent, look, I want the death sentence,' Sheafe said. 'I'll plead guilty right now, on the spot... I want the death sentence, and I want the execution date right now.' 'I want the death penalty because I want to show that you can't kill God's son. The whole story is B.S.' When reminded during the interview that executions often take years, Sheafe doubled down on his resolve. '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,' he responded. 'That's not what God said.' He reiterated his belief that God would forgive his sins, even as Whitney challenged him: '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. In response, Whitney told him he'd likely spend the rest of his life behind bars. Sheafe chillingly replied, 'That's what you think.' At a recent press conference, Maricopa County Sheriff Jerry Sheridan called this the most 'bizarre' case he's encountered in his decades with the agency, as reported by ABC 15. Sheafe remains in custody at Coconino County Jail and is expected to be extradited to Maricopa County, where charges related to Schonemann's murder are pending.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Yahoo
Murder suspect accused of crucifying Arizona pastor claims he's ready to go to heaven
An Arizona man accused of murder reportedly claims he placed a crown of thorns on his victim's head after crucifying him — and that he's ready to go to heaven. Adam Christopher Sheafe confessed that he killed pastor William Schonemann in April. On Monday, the 56-year-old suspect told news outlet Arizona's Family that he planned to kill 14 preachers nationwide for 'leading the flock astray,' including one unidentified religious leader in New York. Sheafe, who confessed that he planned to murder four pastors in Arizona, claimed he drove late one night to Schonemann's home, where he planned to start his killing spree. Cops reportedly found the 76-year-old pastor in his bed covered with blood on April 28, and identified Sheafe as a suspect earlier this month. He'd been arrested and jailed after the victim's death on unrelated charges in a different jurisdiction. 'I want the death penalty because I want to show that you can't kill God's son,' he told Arizona's Family. 'The whole story is B.S.' According to Sheafe, God will forgive him of his sins if he asks, then he can get on with the afterlife. 'I want to be executed quickly so we can get this show on the road and show exactly what I'm trying to do.' he told the outlet. 'All you gotta do is worship Jesus and you go to Heaven.' Sheafe hadn't yet been extradited to Maricopa County to stand trial when he spoke to reporters in Arizona.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Yahoo
Suspect in murder of New River pastor in custody elsewhere: MCSO
The Brief A suspect has been identified in the case of a New River pastor's murder, according to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office. The victim, 76-year-old William Schonemann, was found dead inside his home on April 28. Officials say the suspect is currently "in custody on unrelated charges in another jurisdiction." PHOENIX - Officials with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office say they have identified a suspect in connection with the murder of a pastor in the New River area. What we know In a statement, an MCSO spokesperson said the suspect they identified is currently "in custody on unrelated charges in another jurisdiction." "Coordination between agencies is ongoing as we work to move the investigation forward," read a portion of the statement. What we don't know Officials with MCSO did not identify the suspect who is currently in custody, nor did they reveal the jurisdiction where the suspect is currently being held. "We anticipate having more releasable details in the coming weeks, which we hope will provide additional clarity and progress in the case," read a portion of the statement. The backstory The victim in the case, identified as 76-year-old William Schonemann, was a pastor at New River Bible Chapel. He was found dead inside his home near 13th Avenue and Circle Mountain Road on April 28. Authorities have been tight-lipped on the case, but they previously said there were "unique, specific circumstances" to the case. The pastor's death left the community on edge. "I mean, we locked our doors last night. It's just something that we are just not used to doing. Everybody is just, until we know what's going on, we don't know if it was a family member, or, we don't know what, who could do this to him," said Mike Anders in early May. Anders lived next to the pastor for 12 years. What you can do Anyone with information on this case should call the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office at 602-876-TIPS (8477).
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Yahoo
Beloved Pastor Found Slain With Hands Pinned to Wall, Body Posed: ‘Was It Someone He Knew?'
William Schonemann was a pastor in New River, Ariz. 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.' Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. 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. Read the original article on People
