Adam Sheafe, accused of crucifying a beloved Arizona pastor in his home, expressed frustration in court over delays in his death penalty case. The 51-year-old defendant wants to plead guilty and face execution promptly for the killing of 76-year-old William "Bill" Schonemann. Authorities have linked the crime to a broader plot targeting Christian leaders.
On April 28, 2025, two congregation members discovered the body of Pastor William "Bill" Schonemann in his home on the 1900 block of Calvary Road in New River, Arizona. The 76-year-old pastor had been killed, with his arms outstretched and hands pinned to a wall in a position resembling crucifixion, according to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office. Prosecutors allege that Adam Sheafe, 51, committed the murder as part of a plot to kill 14 Christian leaders across the country.
Sheafe faces charges including first-degree murder, three counts of attempted first-degree murder, first-degree burglary, and kidnapping, following his indictment in July 2025. Authorities connected him to the crime through evidence from Schonemann's home, a burglary in Cave Creek where he stole a pickup truck, surveillance video of another burglary, and items in his backpack. Sheafe was apprehended the day after the murder in Sedona after breaking into another home. He has admitted to the killing, positioning the body, and placing a crown of thorns on the pastor's head, as reported by KPNX.
During a Maricopa County Superior Court hearing on Thursday, Sheafe urged the court to expedite proceedings. "We're dragging this out in the interest of justice," he said, according to KPNX. "What about the victim's families? What about me? What about my family? We want closure so we can move on with our lives." He added, "If there's at least one aggravating factor and no mitigating factors, a guilty defendant is to be sentenced to death," claiming no mental health issues and full understanding of the consequences. "So sentence me."
The Maricopa County Attorney's Office intends to seek the death penalty, but the judge declined to accept Sheafe's guilty plea on Thursday, citing the need to confirm its voluntariness. Sheafe is scheduled to return to court next month. Schonemann, known as a friendly pastor in the safe, unincorporated community of New River—about 40 miles north of Phoenix—lived in an area where residents often left doors unlocked.
