6/27/2025 United States (International Christian Concern) — A man has publicly confessed to the murder of 76-year-old Pastor Bill Schonemann of New River Bible Chapel in New River, Arizona, in new jailhouse interviews. The pastor was found dead in his bed with his arms open wide and affixed to the wall. 

Adam Sheafe, 51, stated publicly that he committed the heinous murder of Schonemann, which took place at the end of April, because Christian pastors and priests are misleading people by teaching the New Testament. Sheafe explained that he had planned to kill 14 more church leaders in various locations around the United States. 

According to Fox News, Sheafe’s motive was that “churches were leading their congregants astray by teaching them to follow Jesus, whom he says is a false God.” 

During an interview with True Crime Arizona, Sheafe stated that he has no sense of guilt or contrition about the murder. 

“Not only do I have zero remorse,” he said, “(if given the chance) I will execute every single priest and burn every church to the ground.” 

Sheafe claimed to have watched Schonemann before murdering him. 

“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 home,” Sheafe told 12 News. “And then I returned on Sunday to execute and crucify him to his wall.” 

The alleged killer also stated that he made crowns of thorns to place on the heads of some of his would-be victims after he executed them. 

According to authorities, Sheafe has a lengthy criminal history, including domestic violence against a female, ID theft, and bank fraud. 

The atrocious nature of the crime was so shocking that, in a press conference, Maricopa County Sheriff Jerry Sheridan said that the case was “probably one of the most bizarre cases [I’ve] ever seen in [my] 40 years with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.” 

To read more news stories, visit the ICC Newsroom. For interviews, please email press@persecution.org.