Arizona Community Mourns Pastor Found Dead in 'Crucifixion-Like' Tragedy
An Arizona church and community are grieving the loss of a beloved pastor who was found dead in his home in a homicide that was likened to a crucifixion. Pastor William "Bill" Schonemann, 76, was found in his New River, Arizona, home late last month with "significant" injuries and placed with his arms spread out and hands pinned to the wall, CBN News reports.
"Based on observations at the scene, it appeared there may have been foul play," Maricopa County Sheriff's Deputy Will Jinks said.
Meanwhile, MCSO police said they are "actively working the case."
"There are specific and unique circumstances to this case that we are not at liberty to discuss to ensure we keep the integrity of the investigation," police said.
Schonemann, a Navy veteran, led the New River Bible Chapel for 25 years.
"My heart just dropped," Zane Sharpe, a former congregation member, said. "It dropped to my core. What a sweet guy, a pastor too. Everyone holds pastors in high esteem, but this guy truly lived what he spoke."
Schonemann was known for having a "positive impact on people everywhere he went," and for his passion for restoring cars. His son, Randall Schonemann, told AZ Central that his late father would put together his own cars and even an airplane, on occasion.
"Our dad had such a positive impact on people everywhere he went," Randall said in a statement. "We will miss the loving guidance and patience. The happiness he showed just getting to walk around an airport, getting his steps in, and the creativity of all the machines he built. There are never enough words to say it all or to say it as well as a person would like. Simply, he is missed."
According to residents in Schonemann's neighborhood, the area was described as generally safe, to the point where people would leave their doors unlocked.
"Honestly, I was shocked because New River is so small. …I leave my keys in my vehicles, don't lock my door, and things like that," resident Emily Brean added. "Why are you gonna murder a pastor or a minister? You know, for what?"
Although authorities assured residents that Schonemann's murder was an "isolated incident", many remain hypervigilant.
"I mean, we locked our doors last night. It's just something that we are just not used to doing. Everybody is just, until we know what's going on, we don't know if it was a family member, or, we don't know what, who could do this to him," his neighbor, Mike Anders, said.
Meanwhile, Schonemann's friend, Eric Archer, asked, "I'm just wondering, was it some random person? Was it someone he knows? I'm just curious what happened and why. I just can't imagine someone hurting Bill, in any matter for any reason."
Despite the manner in which he lost his father, Randall said he refused to be consumed by anger and that he knows his father is in a better place.
"There's lots of ways that I can be angry and hateful towards somebody that I don't even have a face to put with, but that's just going to take joy away from me," he said.
Photo Credit: ©Facebook/William Schonemann
Originally published May 14, 2025.
