A pastor was found murdered inside his Arizona home and posed to resemble a crucifixion. Authorities later learned his killer had planned to target 13 more Christian leaders across the country.
On April 28, 2025, at approximately 7:30 p.m., deputies responded to a home on Cavalry Road in New River, Arizona, for a welfare check. Upon arrival, they found a man dead in his bed and covered in blood.
The victim was identified as 76-year-old William “Pastor Bill” Schonemann.
Schonemann was a pastor at New River Bible Chapel.
The Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner later ruled Schonemann’s death a homicide.
Investigators eventually identified Adam Sheafe as the man responsible for Schonemann’s death.
Sheafe later confessed that he had gone to Schonemann’s home during the early morning hours, killed him and positioned his body in what authorities described as a crucifixion pose.
He also admitted placing a crown of thorns on Schonemann’s head.
Sheafe said Schonemann was only the first of several religious leaders he intended to kill.
According to Sheafe, he had planned to kill 13 additional Christian leaders across the country and intended to travel to several states, including Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Alabama and Texas.
After killing Schonemann, Sheafe traveled to Sedona, Arizona, where investigators said he planned to kill two other people.
On April 29, 2025, Sheafe allegedly attempted to burglarize a home near the Chapel of the Holy Cross.
Authorities said he later stole a vehicle from a woman in Cave Creek and fled from police. During the pursuit, he crashed into another woman’s vehicle and continued running.
The following day, investigators spotted Sheafe rummaging through boxes inside a garage and later hiding at a remote campsite.
He fled into the national forest but was arrested after returning to the city, ending a statewide manhunt.
While in custody, Sheafe openly admitted killing Schonemann and said he had specifically targeted pastors and other religious leaders he believed were leading people astray.
Sheafe initially represented himself and pushed for prosecutors to skip further court proceedings and execute him.
His position later changed after his father and stepmother were killed in a single-engine plane crash.
Sheafe then emailed prosecutors and requested a plea agreement that would send him to prison for life in exchange for pleading guilty to all charges.
In June 2026, a judge accepted the plea agreement, removing the death penalty as a possible punishment.
On August 14, 2026, Sheafe was sentenced to life in prison for Schonemann’s murder.
The judge also imposed a 35-year sentence and two separate 25-year sentences for attempted murder.
All of the sentences were ordered to run consecutively.
During sentencing, Sheafe apologized to Schonemann’s family and acknowledged that none of his victims had done anything to him personally.
