Residents of a small town in Arizona are reeling after a pastor was found murdered April 28 in his home. William Schonemann, 76, was pastor of New River Bible Chapel in New River, Ariz., where he was known as “Pastor Bill,” according to the Arizona Republic.

Investigators with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office have not released much information on the case beyond confirming they discovered Schonemann’s body the evening of April 28 after responding to a report of a deceased elderly male. They have not announced any suspects, arrests or motives for the crime.

The Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled Schonemann’s death a homicide.

According to KSAZ-TV Ch. 10, the Fox affiliate in Phoenix, multiple sources said Schonemann was discovered on his bed with his arms spread wide and his hands pinned to the wall. The pastor appeared to have significant injuries.

The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate the case, according to spokesperson David Moyer.

“There are specific and unique circumstances to this case that we are not at liberty to discuss to ensure we keep the integrity of the investigation,” he stated. “We hope to have an update very soon.”

New River Bible Chapel, a nondenominational church, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from El Informe Roys (TRR).

Schonemann’s son, Randall, issued a statement on behalf of his family KPNX-TV, Ch. 12, the NBC affiliate in Phoenix.

“Our dad had such a positive impact on people everywhere he went,” the statement read. “We will miss the loving guidance and patience. The happiness he showed just getting to walk around an airport getting his steps in. The creativity of all the 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.”

Randall Schonemann told the Arizona Republic his father, a U.S. Navy veteran who served in Vietnam, had pastored at New RIver Bible Chapel for 25 years.

Schonemann enjoyed working on cars and planes, according to friends that spoke with Fox 10. They said Schonemann would attend weekly Red Devil’s Hot Rod Club meetings in a West Phoenix parking lot and had repaired or improved several of their vehicles.

They also described him as a kind and loving man.

“A couple years ago I was going through a really hard time and Bill invited me up again to the church, hot rod club member Richard Kordylas told Fox 10. “So I went up there and I told him what was going on and he got me aside and put his hands on my head and kind of evoked the Holy Spirit to help me through this and forgive me and that was cool. The world is a better place for him having been in it.”

New River resident Eric Asher told the Arizona Republic that he would often see Schonemann when the pastor was out on a morning walk. He said Schonemann often talked about visiting his son in Montana to help him work on airplanes or build custom pickup trucks.

“Why would anyone hurt Bill? I don’t understand how someone could do something like that. It’s still unfathomable,” Asher said.

New River, pop. 17,000, is approximately 30 miles north of Phoenix.

Ann Marie Shambaugh has reported as a print journalist in multiple states, including currently in Carmel, Indiana.