Pastor Found Nailed to Wall in Grisly Arizona Killing
On a quiet April evening in the small desert community of New River, Arizona, a call to 911 shattered the stillness. By night's end, William "Bill" Schonemann — a 76-year-old Navy veteran and long-respected pastor — was found dead inside his home. His hands had been pinned to the wall. His body was reportedly posed. And his neighbors were left with more questions than answers.
A Scene That Shocked Even Investigators
Schonemann was discovered on April 28, 2025. Law enforcement has described the scene as having specific and unique circumstances but refusing to expand on details.
Though authorities have not officially confirmed details, multiple sources say his body was found in bed, arms spread out, with his hands affixed to the wall — a position that suggests more than just violence; it suggests intent.
The Maricopa County Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide. A precise cause has not been publicly released, but sources close to the investigation said the victim suffered significant injuries.
What those injuries were remains undisclosed, but the disturbing nature of the discovery, combined with law enforcement's careful language, has fueled speculation across the state.
A Life of Service and Simplicity
To the people of New River, Schonemann wasn't just a preacher. He was a father, a widower, a mechanic, and a man who could often be found tinkering with trucks or walking around the local airport for his daily exercise. He led the New River Bible Chapel for 25 years, often seen with grease on his hands and a smile on his face.
His son, Randall, described him as a creative spirit and community pillar. "We will miss the loving guidance and patience. The happiness he showed just getting to walk around an airport, getting his steps in," Randall said in a public statement reported by the New York Post. "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."
Neighbors echoed this sentiment. Mike Anders, who lived next door to Bill for over a decade, said the news shook the tight-knit community to its core. "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," he told FOX 10.
Who Could Have Done This?
That's the question keeping New River awake at night. Was the crime random? Was it personal? No suspects have been publicly identified. No arrests have been made. And investigators have been tight-lipped, citing the need to preserve the integrity of the case.
Friends and neighbors said they knew of no one who had reason to harm him. His wife passed away in 2022. It remains unclear whether he lived alone at the time of his death.
The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office has assured the public that there's no broader threat, labeling the case an isolated incident. But for a small community used to unlocked doors and friendly nods, that reassurance doesn't quite soothe the unease.
A Mystery With No Easy Answers
As the investigation continues, so do the rumors. What little is known suggests a murder that was not only brutal but staged. That decision — if indeed someone deliberately posed Schonemann's body — raises troubling implications about motive, psychology, and intent.
For now, the town of New River mourns a man they loved, while quietly wondering what darkness crept into their desert neighborhood that night.
References: Beloved Pastor Found Slain with Hands Pinned to Wall, Body Posed: 'Was It Someone He Knew?' | Beloved Arizona Pastor Found Dead in Bed with His Arms Spread Out, Hands Pinned to a Wall in Disturbing Scene | Disturbing Details Revealed in New River Pastor's Homicide Case
