PHOENIX (AZFamily) — The man accused of murdering a New River pastor and leading law enforcement on a statewide manhunt earlier this year has been officially charged, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office announced on Friday.
A grand jury indicted 51-year-old Adam Sheafe on the following charges:
- one count of first-degree murder, a class 1 felony
- three counts of attempt to commit first-degree murder, a class 2 felony
- one count of second-degree burglary, a class three felony
- one count of first-degree burglary, a class 2 felony
- one count of kidnapping, a class 2 felony
- one count of theft of means of transportation, a class 3 felony
- one count of second-degree criminal trespass, a class 2 misdemeanor
Sheafe was extradited from Coconino County and appeared before a Phoenix judge on Friday. His bond was set at $10 million cash-only.
He has admitted to crucifying William “Pastor Bill” Schonemann at his New River home. Schonemann was found dead in his bed, covered in blood, on April 28. MCAO and Sheafe said he had planned to kill 13 other Christian leaders around the country.
Prosecutors said on April 26, he broke into a Cave Creek home and stole a pickup truck.
On April 29, Sedona police said he burglarized a home and officers chased after him while he was driving from the scene. The pursuit was called off when he reportedly crashed into another vehicle, injuring the person inside.
Later that day, police found the stolen pickup truck but no Sheafe.
On April 30, Sheafe was seen on surveillance cameras going through a homeowner’s boxes in his garage in Sedona, prosecutors said. Later that night, he was found hiding in a campsite outside the city.
Sheafe faces charges in Coconino County for burglary, trespassing, possession of a stolen vehicle, aggravated assault and resisting arrest.
Prosecutors said they connected him to the crimes through evidence at Schonemann‘s home and the burglarized Cave Creek burglary and items in his backpack and the stolen truck.
See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.
Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description.
Copyright 2025 KTVK/KPHO. All rights reserved.
