Arizona Suspect Seeks Swift Guilty Plea in Pastor Murder Case

Adam Sheafe, a 51-year-old Arizona resident accused of murdering a local pastor in a gruesome act resembling a crucifixion, appeared in court this week and urged the judge to accept his guilty plea and impose the death penalty without delay. The hearing took place on March 12 in Maricopa County Superior Court, where Sheafe, representing himself, expressed frustration over the pace of the legal proceedings.

Sheafe faces multiple charges stemming from the April 28, 2025, killing of William "Bill" Schonemann, 76, the pastor of New River Bible Chapel. Congregation members discovered Schonemann's body in his home in New River, an unincorporated community about 40 miles north of Phoenix, after growing concerned for his welfare. Authorities reported that the victim's arms were outstretched and his hands pinned to a wall, evoking the image of a crucifixion. Investigators later confirmed Sheafe had placed a crown of thorns on the pastor's head after the murder.

According to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, Sheafe confessed to the crime shortly after his arrest and has never denied involvement. He described the killing as part of a broader plan he called "Operation First...