A 71-year-old Frankfort man is behind bars after Illinois State Police say a string of threatening voicemail messages were left for Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office. Investigators obtained an arrest warrant after they were alerted to the messages on March 3 and on Tuesday took the suspect, identified by authorities as Timothy Shemitis, into custody. Shemitis is being held at the Will County Adult Detention Facility while investigators continue to review the case. Police have not released the content of the voicemails.
Police: Voicemails Prompted Investigation
According to FOX 32 Chicago, Illinois State Police say the governor’s office flagged several voicemail messages that were allegedly left by Shemitis. After investigators developed probable cause, they secured an arrest warrant and took him into custody. Officials say he faces one count of threatening a public official and one count of harassment by telephone. State police have not disclosed any additional details about what was said in the calls or a possible motive.
Charges And What They Mean
Threatening a public official is a felony under Illinois law, and a first offense is classified as a Class 3 felony, according to the Illinois Compiled Statutes. Harassment by telephone falls under related provisions and is typically charged as a Class B misdemeanor for a first offense, though penalties can increase for repeat or aggravated conduct. Those statutes provide the legal framework prosecutors will use as they decide how to proceed with the case, and court hearings will determine how the law applies to the alleged calls. As outlined in the Illinois Compiled Statutes and related sections on telephone harassment, the exact classifications and penalties can vary depending on the facts of the case and any prior convictions.
State Police Have Handled Similar Cases
Illinois State Police have investigated other threatening communications directed at elected officials in recent years and say they follow a standard protocol when contacts appear to cross a criminal line. For example, ISP has previously outlined a Will County arrest following an allegedly threatening message to the governor’s office in 2025, highlighting the agency's role in this kind of inquiry. In those cases, ISP press releases describe how agents review the communications and coordinate with local prosecutors as investigations move forward.
What’s Next
Shemitis remains in custody at the Will County jail while prosecutors review the file and decide whether to pursue formal charges, FOX 32 Chicago reports. Any further legal steps will be handled by the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office and the courts. Illinois State Police say their investigation is ongoing and have declined to provide additional information at this time.
