The man suspected of the grisly murder of Arizona Pastor Bill Schonemann has confessed to the killing and said that he had planned to murder several other pastors and religious leaders across the country.
“I never intended to get away with these crimes,” Adam Sheafe told ABC15 from jail. “I didn’t even wear gloves.”
Editor’s note: This article refers to details that some readers might find disturbing.
In April, Schonemann, who was pastor of New River Bible Chapel about 35 miles north of Phoenix, was discovered dead in his home. Schonemann’s arms were spread wide and pinned to the wall, resembling a crucifixion.
Schonemann was 76 years old.
In June, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) identified Sheafe as a suspect while Sheafe was in custody on a separate charge from another law enforcement agency.
Sheafe has now openly confessed to Schonemann’s murder, which was religiously motivated. He’s also disclosing that he planned to kill others.
“I only want to get the pastors who are leading the flock astray,” Sheafe told ABC15.
Sheafe, 51, has “Yahweh” tattooed across his neck in Hebrew lettering. He believes that the New Testament should not be considered authoritative and that Jesus is not the Son of God.
Sheafe claims that he taught himself to read Hebrew after he became interested in studying the Bible.
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Sheafe said that he intended to “crucify” more than a dozen victims, all pastors and priests, in Alabama, Arizona, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, and Washington.
