Adam Sheafe, the 51-year-old Arizona man who confessed to the brutal crucifixion-style murder of 76-year-old Pastor William Schonemann, is now begging the court to give him the death penalty.
Sheafe, obsessed with the Old Testament and sporting a Hebrew tattoo meaning “God” on his neck, admitted to nailing the pastor’s hands to the wall, placing a crown of thorns on his head, and mutilating his body in what he called “Operation First Commandment” a deranged plot to target over a dozen Christian leaders across the country for allegedly leading followers astray.
The gruesome crime took place in April 2025 at Schonemann’s home in New River, where the elderly pastor of New River Bible Chapel was found dead in his bed, arms outstretched in a mock crucifixion, covered in blood.
Authorities say Sheafe broke into the home after stealing a truck from nearby Cave Creek, carried out the killing, and later confessed fully to the FBI and multiple media outlets even before his indictment.
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NEW: Man who crucified a pastor in AZ and planned on doing the same to about a dozen others, begs judge for the death penalty.
76-year-old pastor Bill Schonemann was found in his bed with his arms stretched wide, pinned to the wall with a crown of thorns.
Christopher Sheafe,… pic.twitter.com/0mkDroPxGO
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) March 15, 2026
Prosecutors charged him with first-degree murder, burglary, kidnapping, theft, and attempted murder counts related to his hit list.
Representing himself in Maricopa County Superior Court last week, Sheafe tried to plead guilty on the spot, railing against delays in the legal system.
“From day one, I’ve said I did this. These are the reasons why I did this, and I’m not contesting anything,” he told the judge. “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 highlighted the crime’s heinous nature, committed intentionally against a victim over 70, as aggravating factors warranting capital punishment.
“Put me on death row, set the execution date for right now. The victims want it. The victim’s families want it. I want it, and the taxpayers want it,” Sheafe declared.
The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office is seeking the death penalty.
The post Arizona Maniac Who Crucified Beloved Pastor Begs for Death Penalty — ‘The Victims Want It. The Victim’s Families Want It. I Want It, and the Taxpayers Want It.’ appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.