Suspect confesses to crucifying pastor in Arizona house – and had others on hit checklist

[ad_1] In a chilling jailhouse interview, the person accused of a ugly, religiously motivated homicide of a beloved pastor in Arizona mentioned he had dedicated the crime and revealed he had a broader hit checklist of non secular leaders he supposed to kill throughout his murderous rampage.

Adam Christopher Sheafe, 51, instructed True Crime Arizona Monday that he crucified 76-year-old Pastor William Schonemann, identified locally as “Pastor Invoice,” inside his New River house in April.

Sheafe mentioned the assault was a part of what he claimed was a divine mission to punish spiritual leaders who, in his view, had been deceptive followers.

“I drove from there (Phoenix) to Invoice’s home, like two within the morning on a Sunday evening, and I executed him,” Sheafe instructed the correspondent Briana Whitney, who sat throughout the desk from him.

Schonemann was discovered lifeless in his mattress, lined in blood, on April 28 throughout a welfare verify.

<img alt="Adam Christopher Sheafe, 51, told True Crime Arizona Monday that he crucified 76-year-old Pastor William Schonemann – and had more names on his hit list (Coconino County Sheriffs Office)" loading="lazy" width="960" height="992" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" class="rounded-lg" style="color:transparent" src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/W_DqjY9y0p3.lHesWGMf2Q--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTk5Mg--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/the_independent_577/949eb3b3a6d0f5952f0a47a4a3f3dcc4"/> Adam Christopher Sheafe, 51, instructed True Crime Arizona Monday that he crucified 76-year-old Pastor William Schonemann – and had extra names on his hit checklist (Coconino County Sheriffs Workplace)

Throughout the interview, Sheafe spoke in regards to the disturbing scene, which included particulars a few crown of thorns, which he mentioned he made out of what he discovered within the woods, and positioned on Schonemann’s head.

“As a result of what I’m saying is, what you’re preaching shouldn't be what God mentioned,” Sheafe defined. “It’s the alternative of what God mentioned.”

Sheafe revealed that Schonemann was not his solely goal. Previous to the homicide, he mentioned he had adopted a priest house after Easter providers in Phoenix with the intent to kill him — the primary of 14 supposed “executions” throughout the nation.

“Beginning in Arizona, the place I used to be born,” Sheafe mentioned. “The place it begins is the place it ends, just like the Backyard of Eden.”

However he claimed to have stopped that first try when two girls unexpectedly entered the priest’s storage.

“I’m not all for executing anybody aside from the pastors or the shepherds main the flock astray,” he mentioned.

After killing Schonemann, Sheafe mentioned he traveled to Sedona, the place he deliberate to homicide two extra spiritual leaders. He would later be recognized because the suspect in a housebreaking which led to a high-speed chase with Sedona police.

<img alt="After killing Bill Schonemann, Sheafe said he traveled to Sedona, where he planned to murder two more religious leaders (Facebook)" loading="lazy" width="960" height="742" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" class="rounded-lg" style="color:transparent" src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/5It1GJ6ygEI6oMyQb6FR8g--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTc0Mg--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/the_independent_577/250c07f18534770c822397c1340513f6"/> After killing Invoice Schonemann, Sheafe mentioned he traveled to Sedona, the place he deliberate to homicide two extra spiritual leaders (Fb)

However Sheafe evaded seize when he disappeared after crashing his automobile into one other automobile, police mentioned. His deserted automobile—later found to be stolen from Cave Creek—was recovered at a close-by trailhead.

Authorities say they discovered proof contained in the automobile that reportedly tied Sheafe to the New River killing.

He was lastly arrested just a few days later, throughout a manhunt associated to the string of burglaries. Had he not been caught, Sheafe mentioned he deliberate to proceed his killing spree nationwide.

“From there, it was Las Vegas, Nevada; Portland, Oregon; Seattle, Washington; Billings, Montana; Detroit, Michigan; New York, New York; Charlotte, North Carolina; Cellular, Alabama; Beaumont, Texas and El Paso, Texas,” he mentioned. “So, 4 of them had been going to get hit in Arizona.”

Sheafe claimed he was performing below what he believes is God’s regulation and that he expects to be forgiven.

He has maintained that violence wasn’t in his nature, stating: “Look, it’s not my coronary heart to go round killing folks.”

When requested how he would really feel if somebody crucified him, Sheafe replied, “Good luck attempting.”

<img alt="Schonemann, the 76-year-old pastor of New River Bible Chapel, was found dead on April 28 in his home (Google Maps)" loading="lazy" width="960" height="775" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" class="rounded-lg" style="color:transparent" src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/GyNXfm5Hy8okFiR0XkPsUg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTc3NQ--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/the_independent_577/ef99cbf672847a1f097ff44289b4fa57"/> Schonemann, the 76-year-old pastor of New River Bible Chapel, was discovered lifeless on April 28 in his house (Google Maps)

“I need the loss of life penalty as a result of I wish to present which you could’t kill God’s son,” Sheafe mentioned. “The entire story is B.S.”

When Whitney identified that executions typically take years, Sheafe responded, “Nicely, I wish to be executed rapidly so we are able to get this present on the street and present precisely what I’m attempting to do… All you gotta do is worship Jesus and also you go to Heaven; your sins are forgiven. That’s not what God mentioned.”

Requested if he believed God would forgive his sins, Sheafe mentioned, “Completely he'll forgive my sins. He's a forgiving God and loving God.”

Whitney challenged that logic: “How do you justify that? I imply, for those who’re killing anyone or a number of folks — tried, how does that work?”

“It’s a commandment to rid Israel of evil,” Sheafe replied.

Advised by Whitney that he would in all probability be spending the remainder of his life in jail, Sheafe mentioned: “That’s what you suppose.”

Sheafe stays behind bars at Coconino County Jail and is anticipated to be extradited to Maricopa County. Fees associated to Schonemann’s homicide are pending.