The latest threat from a wanted fugitive puts Sussex-area churches on alert after law enforcement said Thursday that Joseph Jakubowski--or someone claiming to be him--sent a letter warning of violence on Easter Sunday.
There is no specific church named but it raising concerns for many people during the Christian Holy Week.
A sign reading "All Welcome" sits outside St. Alban's Episcopal Church in Sussex in the middle of the holiest week of the year. But law enforcement said the openness of the church is being targeted by the Janesville fugitive Jakubowski.
"Our Holy Week services will continue as scheduled. But the overnight watch has been canceled," said Father Steve Capitelli of St. Alban's.
The church would have been open through the night Thursday for people to pray until noon on Good Friday. The Waukesha County Sheriff's Office is investigating the threat to area churches, but they say no specific church has been named.
"The police have assured us they are going to be making extra patrols and keeping a close eye on things," Capitelli said.
The news of the threat is not keeping parishioners away from Holy Week services at churches around the area.
"I'm not going to stop living my life, I'm not going to stop going to church," said Wendy Sustachek, who attends Sussex United Methodist Church.
Capitelli said he is telling his parishioners to do what is best for them.
"As Christians we are people of faith but we are also people of courage. And the message of the savior is, 'Be not afraid’," he said.
Sustachek said she is hoping Jakubowski will be caught before Easter service but she will not skip it because of him.
"My faith is more important to me than somebody's empty threats," Sustachek said.
So far none of the churches in Sussex plan to cancel their Easter services.
If you have information about Jakubowski's whereabouts, please call the FBI’s tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or go to tips.fbi.gov.
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