The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office is currently investigating the homicide of a local pastor in the New River area. On Monday evening, deputies responded to a call at approximately 7:30 p.m. and discovered a deceased elderly man, who has since been identified as 76-year-old William Schonemann, known for his role as pastor at New River Bible Chapel. According to FOX 10 Phoenix, the circumstances surrounding Pastor Schonemann's death were immediately considered suspicious by the authorities, prompting an upgrade in the case to a full homicide investigation.
As investigators continued to work through the following day, the community mourned the loss of a man they described as a "true pastor" and a loving father. Schonemann, a veteran known for his hands-on interests in cars and even planes, was a fixture in his community. "My heart just dropped," Zane Sharpe, a former congregation member, told ABC15. "It dropped to my core. Like what a sweet guy, a pastor too. Everyone holds pastors in high esteem, but this guy truly lived what he spoke."
The Sheriff's Office has yet to release further details regarding the death, though an autopsy is underway to determine the exact cause. Law enforcement officials and members of the New River community are seeking clarity regarding the incident that occurred at a residence near 13th Avenue and Circle Mountain Road. The property was secured with yellow crime scene tape as investigators entered and exited the home to collect evidence, while a mobile incident command vehicle was stationed across the street.
