A self-proclaimed divine executioner in Arizona crucified a pastor as the first victim in his
planned nationwide religious killing spree, confessing his “mission” involved a hit list of 14
religious leaders he intended to murder one by one.
At a Glance
● Adam Sheafe, 51, confessed to the crucifixion-style murder of Arizona pastor William “Pastor Bill” Schonemann.
● In a jailhouse interview, Sheafe claimed he was on a “divine mission” and had a hit list of 14 religious leaders across 10 states.
● He called his plan “Operation First Commandment” and believed he was punishing leaders for misleading people about Jesus.
● After murdering Schonemann, Sheafe attempted to target two more priests in Sedona before being captured following a high-speed chase.
● The suspect expressed a desire for the death penalty, believing he would not die.
A “Divine Mission” of Murder
Adam Christopher Sheafe, 51, has confessed in a chilling jailhouse interview to the brutal, crucifixion-style murder of Pastor William “Bill” Schonemann, 76, in New River, Arizona. The murder, Sheafe claims, was the first act in a planned nationwide killing spree targeting pastors and priests across America. He told 12News from his Coconino County jail cell that he was on a “divine mission” to punish religious leaders for “misleading people.”
In the interview, Sheafe calmly admitted his plan, which he dubbed “Operation First Commandment,” involved a hit list of 14 religious leaders across 10 states. “His commandments have been annulled by this character called Jesus, a human being who I believe is the son of Satan,” Sheafe stated. When asked if he was mentally unwell, he replied, “No, maybe I’m the one that sees truth, and maybe it’s everybody else that is deceived by Satan.”
The Gruesome Details
The details of Pastor Bill’s murder are nothing short of horrific. Sheafe confessed to crucifying the beloved pastor and placing a crown of thorns on his head, which he made himself from a thorny desert tree. He stalked Schonemann after a Wednesday Bible study to learn who the pastor was and where he lived. “I saw that he had a Wednesday evening Bible study, so I sat there and waited for them to arrive so that I could locate which one was the priest, and then I just followed him,” Sheafe said. “And then I returned on Sunday to execute and crucify him to this wall.”
According to his confession reported by The Independent, Pastor Bill wasn’t his first intended victim. Sheafe had planned to kill a priest in Phoenix but was interrupted. After murdering Schonemann on April 28, he drove to Sedona to target two priests at the Chapel of the Holy Cross.
The Capture and Confession
Sheafe’s spree was cut short after he was identified as a suspect in several Sedona burglaries. This led to a high-speed chase where he crashed a stolen car and fled on foot into the Coconino National Forest. After a multi-hour manhunt involving drones and K-9 units, he was arrested. Once in custody, Sheafe showed no remorse. “Will I apologize for my actions? Absolutely not,” he told FOX 10 Phoenix. In a bizarre twist, he expressed a desire for capital punishment. “Put me on death row; set the execution date for right now,” he said. “I’m not saying I want to die; I’m saying you can’t kill me.” Sheafe, who has an extensive criminal history including a federal conviction for bank fraud, is awaiting extradition to Maricopa County to face charges for the murder of Pastor Bill. The victim’s family released a statement noting that Sheafe appears to be “enjoying the attention.”