Suspected Foul Play in Pastor's Death Shakes New River Community

NEW RIVER, AZ (AZFamily) Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office officials indicate that foul play is believed to be involved following the discovery of a deceased individual at a residence in New River on Monday night.

A representative from an Arizona’s Family initial response team has verified that sheriff's deputies were dispatched to investigate William Schonemann's situation at his residence. On Cavalry Road, to the east of 16th Street Around 7:30 p.m., he was discovered deceased in his bed, which was soaked with blood.

Although many details surrounding his demise remain unclear, a neighboring witness recounted to Arizona’s Family, "What you didn't see is what went down in there."

Residents inform Arizona’s Family that Schonemann went by "Pastor Bill" at the New River Bible Chapel. "He has asked me to visit a few times before, but this is my first time," mentioned Steve Dopke, who lived next door to Pastor Bill. "Everyone around here tends to bump into one another quite often, which is how I became acquainted with Bill."

Dopke mentioned that he observed at least 15 police vehicles parked along his quiet street. "Yesterday we attempted to get some details from them, however, they claimed it seemed dubious," Dopke explained. He further speculated, "If this occurred on a Sunday, perhaps someone was attempting to extort money from him. Or maybe he was assisting someone when things took an unfortunate turn; honestly, I have no idea."

The New River Bible Chapel is among the oldest religious institutions in this area, situated mere steps from where Raquel Calderon resides. "This news has left me stunned; it’s utterly heartbreaking," she expressed.

Calderon's relationship with Pastor Bill stems from his generous spirit. "Someone who knows me and works alongside Bill at the church learned that I was essentially homeless, living in my car," Calderon explained. "They informed me about an empty house that someone had vacated and kindly offered it to me so I could return to a normal household life and reunite with my daughter."

She mentioned that Pastor Bill had an authentic character and devoted his existence to serving the people in his congregation.

In this close-knit community, concern has arisen due to the lack of arrests. "I really hope they identify who committed this act because it's frightening to think that someone living nearby could be capable of such behavior. It's truly disheartening," stated Calderon.

Our father left a profoundly positive mark wherever he went," stated the Schonemann family to Arizona’s Family. "We'll cherish the gentle direction and enduring patience he offered us. His joy was evident when simply strolling through airports, enjoying every step. He also took immense pride in crafting innovative machinery. Words fall short of capturing everything we'd want them to convey about him or express our feelings adequately. In essence, we deeply miss him.

Detectives currently state that they are awaiting an autopsy to ascertain the reason behind the demise. Law enforcement maintained a significant presence at the residence through Tuesday night as investigators keep working on unraveling the case.

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