this post was submitted on 27 Jun 2025
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United States | News & Politics

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In a chilling development from Arizona, authorities say Adam Christopher Sheafe, 51, admitted in a jailhouse interview to brutally murdering 76‑year‑old Pastor William “Bill” Schonemann in his home. According to law enforcement and media sources, Sheafe described nailing Schonemann’s hands to a wall in his New River home and placing a homemade crown of thorns on the pastor’s head in an act of symbolic crucifixion.

Sheafe, who wears a “YHWH” neck tattoo in Hebrew, told True Crime Arizona that he left Phoenix around 2 a.m. Easter morning to carry out what he called “Operation First Commandment.” He said his motivation was theological — specifically targeting pastors who, in his view, “misrepresent God by preaching the Trinity” by calling Jesus God.

According to investigators, the murder of Pastor Schonemann — found dead in bed on April 28 but later revealed to have been crucified—was the first in a planned nationwide spree aimed at what Sheafe labeled “Christian leaders.” He detailed a plot targeting 14 pastors and priests in ten states, beginning and ending in Phoenix. His next intended victims were two priests at the Chapel of the Holy Cross in Sedona, where he was apprehended en route following a burglary-related manhunt.

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[–] throbbing_banjo@lemmy.world 16 points 1 week ago (1 children)

So religion is going pretty well then

[–] Proprietary_Blend@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

Not for Chris.

[–] phoenixz@lemmy.ca 9 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Still waiting for those atheists to en-masse murder in the name of atheists, you know, what I was promised by all those religious figures?

[–] geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Unless you genuinely believe Trump is a religious figure, I've got just the guy.

[–] zarkanian@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

He isn't killing people in the name of atheism. He's killing them in the name of narcissism.

[–] Sandouq_Dyatha@lemmy.ml 0 points 1 week ago

A lot of western soldiers who went and killed people in the middle east were like that.

[–] IhaveCrabs111@lemmy.world 7 points 1 week ago

Seems like a nice fellow

[–] TrashGoblin@hexbear.net 6 points 1 week ago

Unitarians got a lot more militant since the last time I attended their service.

[–] Thorngraff_Ironbeard@hexbear.net 5 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Reject the Trinity and the tyrant Yahweh! All praise to Christ and the Morningstar!

[–] HiddenLayer555@lemmy.ml 0 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Christ was an asshole too. People who haven't read the bible give him way too much credit.

I don't think the dude existed, but if that inspires people to a more john brownesque flavor of Christianity then I'm all for the guy.

[–] HiddenLayer555@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

He's gonna be real surprised when YHWH sends him to hell for violating the commandments (thou shall not kill and don't take the lord's name in vain).