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Inset left: William “Bill” Schonemann (Bobby and Lois Jones/Facebook). Inset right: Adam Sheafe (Maricopa County Sheriff”s Office). Background: The home of William Schonemann, who was known as “Pastor Bill” (AZFamily/YouTube).
A man accused of the harrowing murder of a cherished Arizona pastor is urging authorities to swiftly resolve his case.
Adam Sheafe has expressed his desire for the state to impose the death penalty for the murder of 76-year-old Pastor William “Bill” Schonemann.
“We’re prolonging this process under the guise of justice,” Sheafe, 51, stated in Maricopa County Superior Court on Thursday, according to local NBC affiliate KPNX. “What about the families who are grieving? What about me? What about my family? We all need closure to move forward with our lives.”
Sheafe further stated, “If there’s at least one aggravating factor and no mitigating factors, a guilty defendant should face the death penalty.” He emphasized that he is mentally sound and fully aware of the repercussions of his actions. “So sentence me,” he urged.
Sheafe was indicted in July 2025 on six charges, including first-degree murder, three counts of attempting to commit first-degree murder, first-degree burglary, and kidnapping. Seven months ago, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office posted a 6 1/2-minute video of his extradition and booking into their jail.
On April 28, 2025, “Pastor Bill” was discovered lifeless in his home on the 1900 block of Calvary Road in New River, Arizona. Two congregation members, concerned about his well-being, found him. “The pastor’s body was arranged with arms spread wide, reminiscent of a crucifixion,” reported the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.
According to prosecutors, Sheafe killed Schonemann as “part of a larger plot by Sheafe to kill 14 Christian leaders around the country.”
The defendant is also accused of breaking into a home in Cave Creek, Arizona, about 20 miles southeast, and stealing a pickup truck. He then reportedly used the truck in a burglary, which was caught on surveillance video, and was caught the next day after breaking into another home in Sedona, authorities said.
Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office detectives “connected Sheafe to the pastor’s murder” through evidence from Schonemann’s home, as well as from the Cave Creek burglary, the stolen truck, and items found in Sheafe’s backpack, authorities said. The defendant has since admitted to killing Schonemann, crucifying his body to a wall, and placing a crown of thorns on his head, KPNX reported.
The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office has filed a notice of its intent to seek the death penalty against Sheafe. However, despite the defendant’s interest in pleading guilty and receiving a death sentence, the judge did not grant it on Thursday. She reportedly wants to ensure that Sheafe’s guilty plea is voluntary.
The defendant is due back in court next month.
As Law&Crime previously reported, neighbors, relatives and friends who knew Schonemann said he was a friendly pastor who lived in an area where people often left their doors unlocked due to feeling so safe. New River is an unincorporated area around 40 miles north of Phoenix.