The annual Easter egg hunt at the Wisconsin governor's mansion has been canceled because of threats to the public and to Gov. Scott Walker from a man being sought for stealing several guns and mailing a 161-page manifesto to the White House.
According to an email sent by Walker's wife, Tonette, Thursday afternoon, the egg hunt, scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at the couple's Maple Bluff home, was scrapped "due to a threat toward top government officials," reports The Wisconsin State Journal.
Law enforcement in Wisconsin and across the country are searching for Joseph Jakubowski, 32, of Janesville, Wis., who has been missing since April 4.
According to officials, Jakubowski allegedly robbed the Armageddon Gun Shop in Janesville, located about 70 miles southwest of Milwaukee, before abandoning his car and setting it on fire. He is accused of stealing 16 guns, including high caliber handguns and at least two semi-automatic assault rifles. Police also believe he has a bulletproof vest and helmet.
Later in the day, Jakubowski and an accomplice recorded a video as he put his letter, which threatens government officials, in the mail to send to the White House. The FBI said this week the reward for information leading to Jakubowski's capture and arrest has been raised to $20,000.
Tonette Walker, in her email, said the governor's office apologizes for the inconvenience, and said she and the governor, a former presidential candidate, are "sad to miss what is one of our favorite events at the Executive Residence."
According to a Walker spokesman, the Easter egg hunt, which has been a state tradition for decades, has been canceled just one other time during the governor's tenure, when he called it off because of snowy weather.
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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