Suspicions of foul play arise following pastor's death at New River residence

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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 , at approximately 7:30 p.m., and he was discovered deceased in his bed, which was soaked with blood.

Although many details surrounding his demise remain unclear, a neighbor informed Arizona’s Family, "What was inside is not something you could witness."

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 coming here," explained Steve Dopke, who lived next door to Pastor Bill. "Since we often bump into one another around town, that’s how I came to recognize Bill."

Dopke mentioned that he observed at least 15 police vehicles parked along his quiet country road. "We attempted to gather some details from them yesterday, however, they claimed it seemed fishy," explained Dopke. He added, "If this occurred on a Sunday, my guess would be someone might have been attempting to extort money from him. Perhaps he was assisting someone when things took an unexpected turn; honestly, I'm not sure."

The New River Bible Chapel is among the oldest religious institutions in this area, situated merely steps away from Raquel Calderon’s residence. "I'm utterly stunned; that is extremely distressing," she expressed.

Calderon's relationship with Pastor Bill stems from his generous spirit. "Someone who knows Bill at the church saw that I was essentially homeless, living in my car," Calderon explained. "They found a house that someone had vacated and provided it to me so I could move back in and reunite with my daughter."

She mentioned that Pastor Bill was an authentic person who devoted his life to serving the people at his church.

In this close-knit community, people are gripped with fear due to the lack of arrests. "I really hope they identify who committed this act because it's frightening to think there might be someone like that living nearby," stated Calderon. "It's just very disheartening."

Our father left a profoundly positive mark wherever he went," stated the Schonemann family in their message to Arizona’s Family. "We cherished his nurturing support and unwavering patience. His joy was evident from walking through airports and logging his daily steps. He also delighted in crafting innovative machinery. It's hard to capture fully with mere words how much we'll miss him or express our sentiments adequately. In short, he made an indelible impression.

Detectives currently state that they are awaiting an autopsy to ascertain the cause of death. Law enforcement maintained a significant presence at the residence through Tuesday evening as investigators work to piece together their inquiry.

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