Arizona Man Who Admitted Crucifying Pastor William Schonemann Tells Court: 'Put Me on Death Row'

An Arizona man accused of carrying out a gruesome killing of a Christian pastor has asked a court to sentence him to death, arguing that a swift execution would allow everyone involved in the case to 'move on with our lives.'

​Adam Sheafe, 51, is charged with the murder of William Schonemann, a 76-year-old pastor from New River Bible Chapel, in April 2025 in New River, Arizona. Authorities say the victim's body was found in a disturbing scene resembling a crucifixion.​

Suspect Requests Death Sentence

​During a recent court appearance, Sheafe, who is representing himself, told the judge that he wanted to plead guilty and be sentenced to death to bring closure to the case.

Sheafe reportedly told the court that he had never denied committing the crime, saying, 'From day one, I've said I did this. These are the reasons why I did this, and I'm not contesting anything,' while complaining that the legal process had taken too long, per Fox News.

​He added, 'What about the victim's families? What about me? What about my family? We want closure so we can move on with our lives.' Sheafe believed a swift execution was the best outcome for everyone involved.

​'Put me on death row, set the execution date for right now,' he said, adding that he believed the victims, their families, himself, and even the taxpayers would support such decision. 'The victims want it. The victim's families want it. I want it, and the taxpayers want it,' he stated.

​Sheafe argued that prolonged proceedings were preventing closure for both the victim's relatives and his own family. He said the drawn-out timeline meant that his right to a speedy trial had stretched from months to potentially several years.

​Crime Details and Charges

​Investigators allege that Schonemann was killed in his home before his body was arranged in a crucifixion-like position, with his arms spread and his hands pinned to a wall. Authorities believe that the killing was not random.

​According to investigators and statements made by the suspect, the attack was part of a plan to target multiple Christian leaders across the United States. Sheafe allegedly described the scheme as 'Operation First Commandment.'

​The suspect has claimed that certain pastors were misleading followers, and that his actions were intended to stop the pastors' doings. His father, Chris Sheafe, said that the suspect had an obsession with the Bible, as shown by a sizeable tattoo on his neck that says God in Hebrew.

​Chris Sheafe said, 'Adam became extremely interested in the Old Testament. He read it extensively. And part of that process became his interest. We weren't excited when we'd learned that he'd done it, but to have the tattoo.'

​He added, 'It means God. It means he's directly related to God. And he wanted people to know that was his allegiance.

​Prosecutors have charged Sheafe with several offences, including first-degree murder, burglary, kidnapping, and attempted murder.

Pleading Guilty

​Although the defendant has attempted to plead guilty and requested the death penalty, prosecutors have not accepted those requests so far, and the court must still determine how the case will proceed.

​On Thursday, Sheafe told the court, 'It's an undisputable fact that the victim, Pastor Bill Schonemann, was over 70 years old. It's an undisputable fact that the crime was heinous in nature. I intended it to be heinous. So they're two aggravating factors. And I have no mitigating factors.'

​He emphasised that there's no reason to keep dragging the case further, saying, 'That's why I'm saying, why do we have to drag this on and on and on? Why can't we just go to sentencing? I'm not contesting anything.'

​Under Arizona law, prosecutors must prove specific aggravating factors, such as the brutality of the crime or the vulnerability of the victim, to pursue a death sentence.