A man who murdered a 76-year-old Arizona pastor by crucifying him in his own home has agreed to spend the rest of his life in prison, abandoning his previous demands to be executed for the crime that horrified the Christian community.
Adam Sheafe, 51, pleaded guilty on June 5, 2026, to all charges in connection with the brutal killing of Pastor William “Bill” Schonemann, who led New River Bible Chapel in New River, Arizona. The plea agreement, accepted by a Maricopa County judge, removes the possibility of capital punishment and sets formal sentencing for August 14, 2026.
Randy Schonemann, the victim’s son, participated in the hearing remotely and told the court he was “content with the natural life sentence,” bringing a measure of closure to a case marked by shocking violence and unusual courtroom proceedings.
From Death Row Demands to Life Behind Bars
Sheafe, who is representing himself, spent months openly demanding his own execution. By March 17, 2026, he entered a “no contest” plea in court and told the judge he wanted capital punishment because of the crime’s brutality and the victim’s age, stating he wanted to move directly to sentencing because he was “not contesting anything.”
In interviews, he said he would execute every single priest and burn every church to the ground if given the opportunity, and that he wanted the death penalty to prove you can’t kill God’s son.
But the defendant’s position shifted dramatically after his father Chris Sheafe and stepmother died in a plane crash in April 2026. Following that tragedy, Sheafe abandoned his pursuit of execution and emailed prosecutors offering to plead guilty to every charge in exchange for a life sentence. That proposal became the foundation for the deal approved on June 5, 2026, by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.
A Killing Styled as Crucifixion
Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office deputies responding to a 911 call in late April 2025 discovered Schonemann dead in his bed, arms stretched wide and fastened to the wall in a crucifixion-style pose. A crown of thorns had been placed on his head.
Maricopa County Sheriff Jerry Sheridan told reporters the scene was “probably one of the most bizarre cases [I’ve] ever seen in [my] 40 years with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.”
Sheafe confessed to the murder in a jailhouse interview made public in June 2025, telling investigators he felt no remorse. He said he targeted Christian pastors and priests for teaching the New Testament and preaching that Jesus is God, which he claimed violated the first commandment. Jesus, he said, was a false god.
Prosecutors said Schonemann’s death was intended as the first in a series of 14 planned killings of Christian clergy across the country. Sheafe chose Arizona to begin his campaign because it was the state where he had been baptized as a child. Investigators recovered multiple crowns of thorns he had crafted for future victims.
Stalking and Surveillance Before the Attack
Sheafe described in detail how he identified and tracked Schonemann before killing him. He sat outside a Wednesday evening Bible study to pinpoint the pastor, followed him to his home, and returned on Sunday to carry out the attack.
Authorities arrested Sheafe as he allegedly prepared to murder a second pastor in Sedona. He had an extensive criminal history including domestic violence, identity theft and bank fraud.
Competency Concerns and Legal Delays
A previously scheduled plea hearing in April 2026 was continued for more than a month after the judge ordered a competency evaluation, a standard precaution in capital cases involving self-represented defendants.
The agreement spares both the state and the victim’s family a protracted capital appeals process. Sheafe pleaded guilty to six felony counts handed down by a grand jury, including first-degree murder, and will receive a natural life sentence when he appears in court on August 14, 2026.
Chris Sheafe had previously told reporters that his son became obsessed with the Old Testament before the murder, providing a window into the theological delusions that appear to have fueled the violence.
For the congregation that lost its longtime shepherd, the plea deal closes the legal proceedings but leaves a permanent scar. Schonemann was killed in the very home where he prepared to minister, murdered by a man who had watched him lead his flock before deciding he deserved to die for it.
