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.
Adam Christopher Sheafe, a 51-year-old man accused of a violently motivated attack of an elderly pastor, confessed to ‘crucifying’ him during a chilling jailhouse interview (pictured) with True Crime Arizona correspondent Briana Whitney
On April 28, during a routine welfare check at a New River home, police officers found 76-year-old Pastor William Schonemann (pictured) – 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 (pictured) 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
‘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.
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
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
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 (pictured: the pastor’s home)
During the interview, Sheafe admitted that he followed the pastor home (pictured), and explaining bluntly, he ‘just went in there and did it’
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.
Sheafe (pictured during interview) 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
Sheafe admitted during the interview to having 14 killings – nationwide – meticulously planned following Schonemann’s murder
Sheafe attributed his crimes to religious beliefs, claiming that Christianity is wrong and asserting that only the Old Testament should be considered authoritative (pictured: Schonemann on left)
‘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.
On his way to Sedona, Sheafe (pictured) 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, which reportedly had evidence tying him to the murder
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
During the interview, however, Sheafe claimed he was following God’s law, insisting he would be forgiven because God is ‘very protective’ of him (pictured: Pastor Schonemann)
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.
