Violent Rightwinger with Hebrew Tattoo Crucifies Christian Pastor in his home

An Arizona man accused of murder reportedly claims he placed a crown of thorns on his victim’s head after crucifying him — and that he’s ready to go to heaven.

Adam Christopher Sheafe confessed that he killed pastor William Schonemann in April. On Monday, the 56-year-old suspect told news outlet Arizona’s Family that he planned to kill 14 preachers nationwide for “leading the flock astray,” including one unidentified religious leader in New York.

Sheafe, who confessed that he planned to murder four pastors in Arizona, claimed he drove late one night to Schonemann’s home, where he planned to start his killing spree.

Cops reportedly found the 76-year-old pastor in his bed covered with blood on April 28, and identified Sheafe as a suspect earlier this month. He’d been arrested and jailed after the victim’s death on unrelated charges in a different jurisdiction.

SHEAFE: "I was born in Phoenix, where I was baptized, which I don't appreciate - when I was three years old, by my parents; baptized in a belief that is completely false."

Notice how reporters don't ask him the obvious question: You cite the Old Testament, rejected your Christian upbringing and faith and have a wrap-around Hebrew tattoo on your neck - are you Jewish? What is your religious preference?

Of course the reporters wanted to ask him that question, but I contend police told reporters if you want access to him, DO NOT ASK ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS RELIGIOUS PREFERENCE.

My point is if this killer was wearing a Palestinian scarf or even a "Free Palestine" T-shirt, murdered a Rabbi and put a crown of thorns on his head, the U.S. media would have been going crazy reporting this story as much as they report the Boulder, Colorado "anti-semitic incident" when an Egyptian man burnt a couple of people with a spray bottle and cigarette lighter while yelling "Free Palestine."

CNN headlines would be, "MUSLIM MAN ON ANTI-SEMITIC CRIME SPREE MURDERS RABBI"

CNN still reports the Boulder story dozens of times each day, but CNN and the legacy media decided to SKIP THIS STORY and not report it even once.

A 51-year-old Jewish man with a Hebrew neck tattoo was arrested after killing, crucifying a Christian pastor in Arizona and placing a crown of thorns on his head.

Adam Christopher Sheafe admitted to planning the ritualistic killing of 14 Christian leaders across 10 states.

Obsessed with the Old Testament and militantly opposed to the New, Sheafe says his actions were part of a mission he called “Operation First Commandment.”

He was caught en route to crucify two Catholic priests in Sedona.

When Hebrew-tatooed killers attack Christian pastors:

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.”

Suspect admits to crucifying pastor at New River home, had others on hit list

The man who confessed to killing a New River pastor said in a jailhouse interview that he had planned to murder other pastors across the country.

By Briana Whitney and Ben Bradley

Published: Jun. 23, 2025 at 7:11 PM MDT

FLAGSTAFF, AZ (AZFamily) — 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.

William Schonemann was found dead in his New River home in late April.

William Schonemann was found dead in his New River home in late April.(courtesy photo)

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 of 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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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.”

SHEAFE: "I was born in Phoenix, where I was baptized, which I don't appreciate - when I was three years old, by my parents; baptized in a belief that is completely false."