Adam Christopher Sheafe With Hebrew Tattoo Arrested for Crucifying Pastor Bill Schonemann, Planned Operation First Commandment Across 10 States

Adam Christopher Sheafe, a 51-year-old man with a Hebrew tattoo on his neck, was arrested in Arizona for the crucifixion and murder of 76-year-old Pastor Bill Schonemann in April 2025. Sheafe admitted in a jailhouse interview that he planned a broader campaign of religiously motivated killings, targeting 14 Christian leaders across 10 states in an operation he called "Operation First Commandment." During his arrest, he was reportedly en route to crucify two Catholic priests in Sedona, Arizona. Sheafe described his actions as a divine commandment to rid Israel of evil, intending to execute the killings ritualistically, including placing crowns of thorns on his victims and marking them with symbols related to the tribes of Israel. While some sources initially labeled Sheafe as a Jewish extremist or Zionist, it was later clarified that he is not Jewish but the Christian son of Christopher and Sharon Sheafe. The case has drawn attention due to the unusual and brutal nature of the crimes and the suspect's stated religious motivations.