...
By Jordan King
Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
An Arizona man who is accused of crucifying a pastor and placing a crown of thorns on his head asked a judge last week to sentence him to death.
Adam Sheafe confessed to crucifying William Schonemann, the pastor of New River Bible Chapel—one of 14 executions of pastors across 10 other states he planned to carry out—last April.
The 51-year-old, who is representing himself, asked the judge on Thursday to allow him to enter a guilty plea and request the death penalty so everyone involved can “move on with their lives,” local station Fox 10 reported.
Read More on News
The Context
The case highlights a little-known reality of the U.S. justice system: even when a defendant confesses and asks to be executed, courts cannot simply grant that request. Capital cases carry additional procedural safeguards designed to ensure the conviction and death sentence meet strict constitutional standards.
Judges must determine whether a defendant is mentally competent and whether any guilty plea is voluntary and informed. Prosecutors must also prove specific aggravating factors that make a murder eligible for the death penalty.
What To Know
Sheafe told the court he wanted to plead guilty to all charges and asked to waive a jury for any death penalty phase, but the judge said further proceedings would be required to ensure a voluntary plea and proper fact-finding.
"From day one, I’ve said I did this,” Sheafe told the court on Thursday, according to Fox 10. “I’m not contesting anything.”
“And my speedy trial rights went from five months to basically two-and-a-half years. And we’re dragging this out in the interest of justice,” he said. "What about the victim’s families? What about me? What about my family? We want closure so we can move on with our lives.”
Judge Patricia Starr of the Maricopa County Superior Court said she needs to do things “the right way” and “that takes time,” according to according to local outlet Arizona Republic.
“Okay, I respect that,” Sheafe replied.
Sheafe is accused of murdering 76-year-old Schonemann, whose body was found at the pastor's home on April 28, 2025, positioned with outstretched arms and hands pinned in a manner described by authorities as similar to a crucifixion. Sheafe previously said he targeted the pastor because he believed him to be preaching "the opposite of what God said."
After allegedly killing the pastor, he fled to Sonoma but was apprehended two days after Schonemann's body was found by police who were investigating a string of burglaries.
Prosecutors filed notice to seek the death penalty, citing aggravating factors including the victim’s age and the crime’s especially heinous nature. Authorities said Sheafe planned to kill additional pastors across several states in what he called “Operation First Commandment.”
Meanwhile, this isn't the first time he has asked for the death penalty.
"Put me on death row, set the execution date for right now," Sheafe told 12News last year. "The victims want it. The victim's families want it. I want it, and the taxpayers want it."
...
What People Are Saying
Christopher Sheafe, Adam's father, told Arizona Family last year his son had become obsessed with the Bible and has a large tattoo of a Hebrew word for God on his neck: "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. It means God. It means he’s directly related to God. And he wanted people to know that was his allegiance."
Adam Sheafe told the court on Thursday: "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. 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."
Judge Patricia Starr of the Maricopa County Superior Court said, per the Arizona Republic: “The reason I’m doing that is, if you want closure and don’t want this to come back again, I need to do it the right way. And that takes some time.”
What Happens Next
The court will conduct additional proceedings to confirm Sheafe’s competency, voluntariness of any guilty plea, and the framework for a potential penalty phase, which could proceed before a judge or jury depending on prosecutorial agreement and court rulings.
If the plea is accepted, the penalty phase will weigh aggravating and any mitigating factors before determining whether Sheafe will receive a death sentence or life in prison under Arizona law.
In a polarized era, the center is dismissed as bland. At Newsweek, ours is different: The Courageous Center—it's not "both sides," it's sharp, challenging and alive with ideas. We follow facts, not factions. If that sounds like the kind of journalism you want to see thrive, we need you.
When you become a Newsweek Member, you support a mission to keep the center strong and vibrant. Members enjoy: Ad-free browsing, exclusive content and editor conversations. Help keep the center courageous. Join today.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines