Murder suspect planned to kill 14 pastors, police say

A grand jury in Maricopa County, Ariz., late last week indicted 51-year-old Adam Sheafe for first-degree murder and other charges in connection with the death of Pastor William Schonemann. Two members of Schonemann’s congregation found him dead inside his home in New River, Ariz., in late April after they went to check on him. He had been a pastor at New River Bible Chapel for nearly 25 years and friends and family told local media that the 76-year-old was respected and loved by his community. Local police described his murder as brutal as his body had been positioned in a posture resembling crucifixion. In addition to the murder charge, Sheafe is also accused of breaking into a home days earlier and stealing a pickup truck. Detectives connected him to the pastor’s murder through evidence at the victim’s home and items found inside Sheafe’s backpack and the stolen truck, investigators said. Authorities did not say when Sheafe would face a trial.

What do we know about the motives? Sheafe publicly confessed to the crime in multiple interviews, and said he had no sense of guilt or remorse. He said he had planned to kill 14 pastors and priests across the country with whom he disagreed about Jesus’ divinity. He believes that Jesus is not the only son of God and that only God should be worshiped, according to an interview with KPHO in Phoenix. Sheafe said he did not have any personal connections to Schonemann. Authorities did not disclose the identities of his other targets.

Dig deeper: Read Carolina Lumetta’s report about the man who killed a Minnesota lawmaker and her husband.