In a shocking incident, a well-respected Arizona pastor, William “Bill” Schonemann, 76, was found dead in his home in New River on April 28. The local sheriff’s office was alerted to the situation through a 911 call. The scene of the crime was described as disturbing, with Schonemann’s body found in bed, his arms spread out and hands pinned to a wall.
While the investigators have not revealed much about the cause of death, sources within law enforcement have indicated that the pastor had sustained significant injuries. The medical examiner has since classified the death as a homicide. However, the authorities have not yet disclosed any information about potential suspects or motives behind the gruesome act.
Maricopa County Sheriff’s Deputy Will Jinks commented on the case, stating, “Based on observations at the scene, it appeared there may have been foul play. MCSO is 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.”
Despite assurances from the authorities that there was no immediate threat to the community, the incident has caused a wave of fear among local residents and churchgoers. Mike Anders, a neighbor of Schonemann, expressed his concern, saying, “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.”
Another local resident, Emily Brean, expressed her shock at the incident, questioning the motive behind the murder of a pastor. Meanwhile, Schonemann’s son, Randall, maintained that his father had no known enemies and was a respected figure in the community. The elder Schonemann had served as the pastor of the New River Bible Chapel for approximately 25 years.
In a heartfelt statement, Randall Schonemann said, “Our dad had such a positive impact on people everywhere he went. We will miss the loving guidance and patience. The happiness he showed just getting to walk around an airport, getting his steps in. The creativity of all 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.”