New River pastor murder: MCSO identifies suspect
MCSO IDs suspect in murder of New River pastor
Days after an arrest was announced, officials with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office identified the person who they say is responsible for the death of Pastor William Schonemann. FOX 10's Lindsey Ragas reports.
PHOENIX - On June 12, officials with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office say a man who allegedly killed a pastor in the New River area has been arrested.
Disturbing details revealed in New River pastor's homicide case
We have new details about the murder of a New River pastor, and we want to warn you that these details are disturbing.
The backstory:
William Schonemann, 76, was found dead in April at his home near 13th Avenue and Circle Mountain Road. Schonemann was the pastor at New River Bible Church.
Authorities have been tight-lipped on the case, but sources tell FOX 10 Schonemann was found with his arms stretched out and his hands pinned to the wall.
The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office previously announced that a suspect was identified, and is "in custody on unrelated charges in another jurisdiction."
What We Now Know:
The suspect was officially identified by MCSO as 51-year-old Adam Christopher Sheafe, during a news conference.
Investigators said Sheafe had a plan: he was in the New River area and first committed a burglary, but fled. Sheafe later came back to New River and stole a car days before Schonemann was killed.
On April 28, officials said there was a welfare check on Schonemann, and that's when he was found dead.
On April 29, police in Sedona were investigating a series of crimes involving the stolen car, and items from that car linked Sheafe to the murder in New River. Investigators, however, could not say what the items were.
Officials said on April 30, MCSO was made aware of the suspicious behavior at the church that involved Sheafe, and he was eventually taken into custody.
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New River pastor's murder: Investigators detail suspect's criminal history
MCSO says Adam Sheafe is the suspect in the April 28 death of New River pastor William Schonemann. Sheafe was arrested two days later on unrelated charges in Sedona, and authorities are working to bring charges against him in this case.
What they're saying:
"We want to see justice, and we want to see that nobody else gets hurt by this person," said Randy Schonemann, the son of Pastor Bill. "Faith was a huge part of his life. I mean, really, he lived it. He lived it every day."
MCSO believes he was randomly targeted and that it was religiously motivated.
"The information we have has indicated that the motive was religious in nature, and that there were a number of future victims planned, some of those in Arizona, and that he had taken action in furtherance of those additional crimes," said an MCSO official during the news conference.
William Schonemann, a pastor at New River Bible Chapel, was found dead on April 28. (KSAZ-TV; Randall Schonemann)
What you can do:
Anyone with information on what happened should contact MCSO at 602-876-TIPS (8477).