Suspect Admits To Crucifying Pastor At New River Home, Had Others On Hit List

The man accused of brutally murdering a pastor at his northern Maricopa County home in a religiously motivated attack sat down for a jailhouse interview with True Crime Arizona correspondent Briana Whitney on Monday, where he admitted to the crime and told her he had other targets. During the interview, 51-year-old Adam Christopher Sheafe confessed…

The man accused of brutally murdering a pastor at his northern Maricopa County home in a religiously motivated attack sat down for a jailhouse interview with True Crime Arizona correspondent Briana Whitney on Monday, where he admitted to the crime and told her he had other targets.

During the interview, 51-year-old Adam Christopher Sheafe confessed to crucifying 76-year-old William Schonemann at his New River home nearly two months ago. Schonemann was found dead in his bed, covered in blood, on Monday, April 28, as deputies conducted a welfare check at his home on Cavalry Road near 16th Street.

“I drove from there (Phoenix) to Bill’s house, like two in the morning on a Sunday night, and I executed him,” Sheafe said.

Sheafe then described how he allegedly killed Schonemann before placing a crown of thorns on his head.

Sheafe: “Because what I’m saying is, what you’re preaching is not what God said. It’s the opposite of what God said.”

Whitney: “Most people that would come into that scene, Bill’s scene, would be horrified.”

Sheafe: “Sure, that’s right.”

Whitney: “Were you feeling satisfied?

Sheafe: “Look, it’s not my heart to go around killing people.”

Whitney: “…how would you feel if somebody crucified you?”

Sheafe: “Good luck trying.”

Schonemann wasn’t the only target
Before Schonemann’s murder, who was known as “Pastor Bill” at New River Bible Chapel, Sheafe told Whitney that he planned to kill a priest in Phoenix, the first of 14 planned “executions” around the country.

“Starting in Arizona, where I was born,” Sheafe said. “Where it starts is where it ends, like the Garden of Eden.”

He said he arrived in Phoenix and followed a priest home after services on Easter Sunday, April 20.

“And when he pulled into his driveway, the two women came into the garage,” he told Whitney. “I’m not interested in executing anyone other than the pastors or the shepherds leading the flock astray.”

Sheafe said he then targeted and killed Schonemann before traveling to Sedona, where he planned to kill two others. But he was arrested two days after Schonemann was found dead following a manhunt regarding recent burglaries.

Had he not been caught, Sheafe said he planned to kill others.

“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 explained. “So, four of them were going to get hit in Arizona.”

“I want the death penalty”
Sheafe says he was following God’s law and that he’ll be forgiven.

Sheafe: “I want the death penalty because I want to show that you can’t kill God’s son. The whole story is B.S.”

Whitney: “So, if you’re given the death penalty, it’s not likely you’ll be executed quickly.”

Sheafe: “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.”

Whitney: “But did you think God was going to forgive your sins?”

Sheafe: “Absolutely he will forgive my sins. He is a forgiving God and loving God.”

Whitney: “How do you justify that? I mean, if you’re killing somebody or multiple people – attempted, how does that work?”

Sheafe: “It’s a commandment to rid Israel of evil.”

He has yet to be extradited to Maricopa County.

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