Man who admitted killing New River pastor last year reaches plea deal with life sentence
An Arizona judge reportedly approved a plea deal that will spare the life of Adam Sheafe, who admitted to violently murdering a New River pastor last year.
Watch: Gov. Katie Hobbs announces she WILL NOT debate Andy Biggs: Should we care? | 9 mins
An Arizona judge reportedly approved a plea deal Friday that will spare the life of the man who admitted to violently murdering a New River pastor last year.
Adam Sheafe previously said he wanted to be executed for killing and crucifying 76-year-old William Schonemann.
However, ABC15 reported that Sheafe changed his mind and offered to accept plea deal that takes the death penalty off the table after his father and stepmother were killed in a plane crash in Marana in April.
According to court records, Sheafe pleaded guilty Friday to multiple felony charges related to Schonemann’s death, including first-degree murder. The plea deal includes a sentence of life in prison, according to ABC15.
Sheafe was arrested in Sedona and booked into jail in Coconino County for unrelated crimes, including burglary and possession of a stolen vehicle, on April 30, 2025, two days after Schonemann was found dead in his home in New River, an unincorporated Maricopa County community north of Phoenix’s Anthem area.
Schonemann was known as Pastor Bill by his congregation at New River Bible Chapel.
Adam Sheafe previously sought execution
Authorities later said they had evidence linking Sheafe to Schonemann’s murder at the time of his arrest, but they didn’t publicly identify him as a suspect in the pastor’s death until June 6, 2025.
Later in June, Sheafe told ABC15 that he believed Christianity was wrong and he intended to kill and crucify over a dozen priests and pastors in multiple states for “leading the flock astray.”
“I told the FBI agent, ‘Look, I want the death sentence. I’ll plead guilty right now, on the spot. … And I want the execution date right now,’” he said during a jailhouse interview.
Related
Suspect indicted for murder of New River pastor
Arizona pastor's alleged killer admits to planning other religiously motivated murders
Suspect arrested in relation to investigation of New River pastor's death
Secretary Rollins announces $25 million for Arizona sterile fly dispersal facility
Abrazo Arizona Heart Hospital expands capacity to meet Arizona’s growing heart care demand
Katie Hobbs won’t debate Andy Biggs in governor’s race
Comments
8 Comments
Interesting to note and not so far from this subject...
The life of the Apostle Paul began first as a fanatical zealot hellbent on destroying the early Christian church--hunting down believers whom he thought were a threat to the Jewish religion.
After his conversion to Christianity, his faithfulness and authority to his new found relationship with God was always in question.
His was a turbulent relationship where his faith was tested more than most men could have endured.
The fruits of his labor were always on display to quiet the naysayers, and is also what compelled me to make my first comment to this article.
:::head scratch:::
I've heard preachers say that ALL men are redeemable...
I beg to differ.
Some, I believe, pass the point of no return and are beyond redemption.
Hitler, Manson, this man--would have to show Blundt the fruits of their conversions again and again in order to believe.
And even then, it would be a big maybe???