Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell has formally indicted Adam Christoper Sheafe, 50, for the murder of William Schonemann, 76, the pastor at New River Bible Chapel in New River, and for numerous property crimes in Sedona.
Schonemann’s death was part of a larger plot by Sheafe to kill 14 Christian leaders around the country, Mitchell alleged.
Sheafe was interviewed by Briana Whitney with AzFamily Channel 3 at the Coconino County Detention Center in Flagstaff on June 23, and he described in detail on camera how he murdered Schonemann and that he intended to kill 13 other ministers and pastors around the country, including at least one in connection with Sedona’s Chapel of the Holy Cross, who he did not identify.
A grand jury indicted Sheafe on:
- one count of first-degree murder, a class one felony
- three counts of attempt to commit first-degree murder, a class two felony
- one count of burglary in the second degree, a class three felony
- one count of burglary in the first degree, a class two felony
- one count of kidnapping, a class two felony
- one count of theft of means of transportation, a class three felony
- one count of criminal trespass in the second degree, a class two misdemeanor
On April 28, Schonemann was found dead in his home in New River by two members of his congregation who went to check on him. The pastor’s body had been positioned with the arms outstretched, similar to a crucifixion, according to Mitchell. Sheafe is also accused of breaking into a home in Cave Creek two days earlier and stealing a pickup truck.
Sedona officers at 9:50 a.m. on Tuesday, April 29, responded to a report of a burglary in progress at a house in the 100 block of Rufous Lane. The homeowner called 911 to report that she could see a male subject, later identified as Sheafe, walking around in the house through interior cameras.
On the afternoon of April 29, a Sedona police officer spotted the truck Sheafe was driving, prompting a vehicle pursuit southbound on State Route 179, ultimately leaving Sedona city limits, according to Sedona Patrol Cmdr. Christopher Dowell. Sheafe was weaving in traffic around vehicles during the chase and collided with another motorist, causing minor damage to that vehicle, Dowell stated. The Sedona officer terminated the pursuit because of public safety considerations. Sheafe pulled into the Yavapai Point Trailhead and fled into the wilderness. While the officer was checking the registration on the abandoned vehicle, Sedona police determined it had been stolen out of Cave Creek, Dowell stated, and MCSO detectives informed Sedona police on the morning of April 30 that Sheafe was linked to the Schonemann homicide through evidence at the victim’s home, along with evidence from the Cave Creek burglary and items found in Sheafe’s backpack and the stolen truck, Mitchell stated.
At approximately 6:22 p.m. on April 30, Sedona officers responded to a reported burglary at a home registered as a short-term rental on Gambel Lane, Dowell stated. Rufous Lane is parallel to and south of Gambel Lane in the Chapel area.
When Sedona officers arrived minutes later, Sheafe had fled, Dowell stated. Sedona police quickly established a perimeter and conducted a large-scale search effort and requested additional officers due to Sheafe’s prior history with law enforcement. SPD’s Quick Response Team, Verde Valley Regional SWAT Team, a Cottonwood Police Department drone operator and two CPD K-9 support units responded.
The Cottonwood police drone and officers on the ground located Sheafe’s campsite during the search. Around 9:20 p.m., Sheafe was located hiding in thick brush by members of the QRT, Dowell stated
Sheafe was initially held at Coconino County Detention Center in Flagstaff but has now been extradited to Maricopa County.
