A man who murdered an Arizona pastor and planned to kill other Christian leaders across the United States has been sentenced to life in prison.
Adam Sheafe was given a natural life sentence plus an additional 102 years for the murder of 76-year-old William Schonemann, known as "Pastor Bill", and a series of other offences, according to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office.
Schonemann, pastor of New River Bible Chapel, was found dead at his home in April 2025.
According to Arizona's Family, Sheafe admitted killing Schonemann and arranging his body in a crucifixion position, including placing a crown of thorns on his head.
Investigators said Schonemann was intended to be the first of a series of victims, with Sheafe identifying 13 other Christian leaders he planned to attack in different parts of the country. He was taken into custody two days after the pastor's body was found.
In a jailhouse interview with Arizona's Family, Sheafe said: “I’m not interested in executing anyone other than the pastors or the shepherds leading the flock astray.”
He had intended to travel across the country to carry out further attacks, with potential targets in states including Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Alabama and Texas.
Sheafe pleaded guilty to the charges under an agreement accepted by a judge in June which removed the possibility of the death penalty.
Alongside the life sentence for Schonemann's murder, the judge imposed consecutive sentences for other offences, including attempted murder.
Members of Schonemann's family and friends addressed the court before sentencing.
One family member described him as “truly a one-of-a-kind man. He served our country in the Navy during Vietnam. He was a devoted husband and a loving father, a business owner, and a mentor. He was a kind and gentle soul".
According to Arizona's Family, Schonemann's son, Randy, told the court about the support his family had received following his father's death.
“We are blessed to have family, friends and congregation that have helped us through this time,” he said. “They did that by doing lots of different things, and sometimes they did it by doing nothing. I can’t express my gratitude clearly enough or loudly enough to all the people that have been with us through this.”
During the hearing Sheafe reportedly apologised for his actions and acknowledged the impact on Schonemann's family and his other victims.
“I now recognize that my method of delivering my message, that our heavenly father alone deserves all praise and all glory, was severely flawed,” he said.
He added: “None of my victims did anything at all to me personally. And for that reason, I am truly sorry."
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell praised the law enforcement agencies involved in apprehending Sheafe before further attacks could take place.
“We know he had planned a killing spree, and lives were saved because of the swift action of law enforcement and the community,” she said.
