Arrest Made in Pastor’s Murder Case

A man has been taken into custody for allegedly planning to attack multiple Christian leaders related to the murder of a well-known pastor in Arizona.

The remains of 76-year-old Pastor William Schoeneman, who served at New River Bible Chapel, were found in his residence during a welfare check last April. Authorities reported that the conditions of his death were particularly disturbing; he was discovered in a gruesome position, bloodied and pinned to a wall.

Authorities have identified Adam Thief, 51, as the prime suspect after he was apprehended by Sedona police. He was caught driving a vehicle that had been stolen from a Cave Creek home and was recorded on surveillance footage at the scene of another burglary.

Investigators indicated that items collected from Thief’s residence, as well as evidence found in the stolen truck and at the site of the break-in, connected him to Schoeneman’s death.

Thief faced several serious charges in July, including first-degree murder and robbery. In a recent hearing, he entered a no contest plea to these accusations.

In a somewhat unsettling interview with KTVK-TV, Thief shared his intentions regarding killing additional priests. He expressed a belief that these actions were part of a twisted mission, claiming he wanted to execute 14 religious figures, paralleling the biblical tribes of Israel.

Thief stated he saw himself as enacting divine will, claiming God would not allow him to be executed and that he intended to continue his plans of violence against the Church. This chilling declaration conveyed a profound lack of remorse as he articulated a desire to, in his words, “burn down all the churches.”

Thief may potentially face the death penalty for his actions. Meanwhile, Pastor Schoeneman is remembered as a cherished Navy veteran who served in Vietnam.