In a case that has sparked outrage and disbelief, a 51-year-old Arizona man admits he killed a local pastor in a planned religious execution and says he was preparing to target over a dozen more across the country.

Adam Christopher Sheafe confessed to the murder of Pastor William Schonemann in April 2025 and revealed he had compiled a list of 13 Christian leaders he intended to kill in 10 different U.S. cities, WorldNetDaily reported.

Authorities discovered the body of 76-year-old Pastor William Schonemann inside his New River home on April 28 after a welfare check was performed. The deeply disturbing scene included religious symbolism: Schonemann was found bloodied in his bed, with a crown of thorns placed on his head. Detectives soon identified and apprehended Adam Christopher Sheafe as the suspect behind the crime.

Suspect planned a multistate killing spree

Upon being taken into custody, Sheafe explained that he believed he was carrying out divine instructions and described the killing as an act of obedience to God. He told investigators and the media that he intended to crucify a total of 14 church leaders—including Christians, Catholics, and Mormons—preaching the divinity of Jesus Christ, a belief he rejects.

Sheafe said his planned targets were pastors who, according to him, were leading believers astray by teaching that Jesus is God. He identified himself as an adherent of the Old Testament only and dismissed mainstream Christian theology involving the Trinity.

“I was going to start in Phoenix and end in Phoenix, and circle the nation,” Sheafe said in a televised jailhouse interview. His itinerary included major cities such as Las Vegas, New York, Portland, and Detroit alongside smaller towns in Alabama, Texas and Montana.

Chilling plan detailed in interviews

Sheafe said he planned to crucify each religious leader and attach a leather tag inscribed with the Ten Commandments to their right ear. According to him, this was meant to symbolize what he viewed as divine retribution for preaching what he considers to be false doctrine.

Despite his rejection of Christianity and horrifying confession, Sheafe claimed he does not harbor hatred toward Christians generally but instead blames leaders for misguiding their followers. “I'm after the pastors that are leading them astray,” he said in the interview.

During the same interview, recorded by True Crime Arizona’s Briana Whitney, Sheafe declared he hoped to receive the death penalty and said he wanted to be executed quickly. He claimed his death would serve a higher spiritual purpose, saying it would “show that you can't kill God's son.”

Family condemns media spotlight on suspect

The victim's family expressed alarm at the nationwide attention Sheafe had received and criticized the fact that he was able to speak freely using communication devices supplied by the county detention facility. In a statement, they said, “What we have seen over the last week is this suspect enjoying the attention.”

They added that they were concerned Sheafe could gain public attention or even followers through his messaging, saying, “We are quite surprised by his ability to freely message with county-supplied devices.”

Family members stressed that Sheafe had clearly articulated his intention to pursue further killings if given the chance. “From the beginning, our focus has been to stop the suspect before anyone else got hurt,” they said. “We see the surge of media attention and his ability to communicate freely as a very serious threat to that end.”

Commentators question muted response

The case has also drawn commentary from journalists and media watchdogs. Writing for Blaze Media, Owen Anderson questioned the amount and tone of coverage from major national outlets, arguing that if the circumstances or religious roles had been reversed, the national reaction may have been markedly different.

He asserted that if the victim had belonged to a different religious group or a marginalized community, the response from media and law enforcement agencies might have been more vigorous. “The outrage is muted,” Anderson wrote, contrasting the current case to hypothetical scenarios involving attacks on different identity groups.

Anderson’s commentary included criticism of what he views as a double standard, comparing reactions to ideological violence depending on the background of perpetrators and victims. His remarks have further fueled debates online about fairness and media consistency in reporting hate crimes.

Investigation continues amid public concern

Authorities have not released further details about whether law enforcement agencies across the ten cities mentioned have taken additional security measures in response to Sheafe's stated plans. However, the admission of such a detailed and ideologically charged plan has rattled religious communities across multiple faiths.

While Sheafe remains in custody pending trial, legal observers expect the case to raise complex questions surrounding religious extremism, mental health, and freedom of speech in detention. Prosecutors have not yet confirmed whether they will pursue capital punishment, although Sheafe himself has repeatedly demanded it.

As the investigation moves forward, the broader implications of the case continue to unfold at the intersection of faith, violence, and public discourse. Religious leaders and families across the U.S. remain on alert in light of Sheafe’s now-foiled plot and its chilling precision.