Cottonwood Police Unveil Dramatic Drone Footage of Homicide Suspect Adam Sheafe’s Arrest by Sedona Cops and YCSO

The Cottonwood Police Department has released drone footage aiding the Sedona Police Department (SPD) and Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office in the arrest of 50-year-old Adam Christopher Sheafe. He was apprehended in the Chapel area of Sedona on April 30, following charges of homicide and burglary connected to two residences in Sedona.

Sheafe allegedly abandoned a stolen truck from Cave Creek on April 29. Authorities learned from the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office that he was a person of interest in the homicide of 76-year-old Bill Schonemann, whose body was discovered on April 28. Surveillance footage linked Sheafe to a burglary at a second Sedona home, escalating the manhunt.

In a recent interview at the Coconino County Detention Center, Sheafe confessed on camera to murdering Schonemann and expressed intentions to target 13 other ministers nationwide, including at least one in Sedona. Though he is the primary suspect, he has yet to face homicide charges in Maricopa County.

Schonemann’s body was found in his New River home in the 1900 block of Calvary Road on April 28, around 7:30 p.m., according to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. A press conference held on June 12 by Sheriff Jerry Sheridan formally connected Sheafe to the murder. Sheridan described the case as “tragic and bizarre” and noted its religious motivations, although he withheld specific details.

Authorities stated that more potential victims have been identified, some located in Arizona, and that they have been in contact with them. The reason for Sheafe camping near the Chapel of the Holy Cross, an area featuring several religious establishments, remains undetermined.

Sheafe has not yet been indicted for murder in Maricopa County and continues to be held at the Coconino County Detention Center.

On April 29, Sedona police responded to a burglary in progress reported at 9:50 a.m. A homeowner in the 100 block of Rufous Lane noticed a man, later identified as Sheafe, inside her home via interior cameras. Neighbors described the suspect as a white male wearing distinctive clothing and driving a red truck.

SPD Cmdr. Christopher Dowell noted that an officer spotted the suspect’s vehicle that afternoon, initiating a pursuit that concluded outside Sedona city limits when safety concerns necessitated its termination. Sheafe fled into the wilderness after abandoning the vehicle when it was confirmed to be stolen.

On April 30, SPD received a report of another burglary at a short-term rental on Gambel Lane. The homeowner, monitoring security footage, recognized Sheafe rummaging through items, leading officers to issue a Nixle alert for the area later that evening.

SPD established a perimeter and called for reinforcements, employing a Quick Response Team and drone technology. After some time, Sheafe was spotted hiding in brush and attempted to escape, but officers successfully apprehended him after a foot chase.

Sheafe faces multiple charges stemming from these events, including second-degree burglary and unlawful flight from a law enforcement officer. He was arraigned on May 1 and indicted on May 8, with a bond set at $150,000.