Brace yourself, America—there’s a man out there with a dark plan, and his confession is sending shockwaves across the religious community.
At a Glance
- Adam Sheafe, 51, has confessed from jail to the crucifixion-style murder of Pastor Bill Schonemann in Arizona on April 28.
- Sheafe revealed he had a hit list of 14 other Christian leaders across 10 states as part of his “Operation First Commandment.”
- He claims his mission was to punish pastors for misleading people by preaching the teachings of Jesus, whom he called the “son of Satan.”
- The suspect is now demanding the death penalty for his crimes.
A Shocking Confession from Jail
In a chilling jailhouse interview, Adam Christopher Sheafe, 51, has confessed to the grisly, crucifixion-style murder of 76-year-old Pastor William “Bill” Schonemann. The beloved pastor was found dead in his New River, Arizona, home on April 28, nailed to a wall with a handmade crown of thorns on his head.
Speaking from the Coconino County Jail, Sheafe not only admitted to the murder but also detailed his plan for a nationwide religious killing spree. He is currently being held on charges related to a crime spree in Sedona but is awaiting extradition to Maricopa County to face charges for the murder.
“Operation First Commandment”
Sheafe claimed his actions were part of a divine mission he called “Operation First Commandment.” His goal, he stated, was to punish Christian leaders who he believed were misleading their followers. According to his confession, detailed by The Washington Times, Sheafe’s twisted theology involved a complete rejection of the New Testament.
“God, the Father alone, is God of the First Commandment, and the Son who wears the crown is … Jesus is the son of Satan,” Sheafe said he told the pastor before killing him. He revealed that Pastor Schonemann was just the first name on a hit list of 14 other pastors and priests he intended to “execute” in 10 different states.
A Spree Cut Short
Sheafe’s murderous campaign was cut short after he traveled to Sedona, Arizona, with the intent to kill two more priests. While there, he was identified as a suspect in several local burglaries, which led to a high-speed chase with police. After crashing a stolen car, Sheafe fled on foot into the national forest but was apprehended after a multi-hour manhunt.
In his confession with Fox News, he calmly admitted to stalking Pastor Schonemann before the murder. “I saw that he had a Wednesday evening Bible study,” Sheafe said. “And then I returned on Sunday to execute and crucify him to this wall.” In a bizarre twist, Sheafe is now demanding to be executed for his crime. “Put me on death row; set the execution date for right now,” he said. “The victims want it. The victim’s families want it. I want it, and the taxpayers want it.” The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office is now weighing whether to pursue the death penalty.
