WILL COUNTY, Ill. (WGN) — The Illinois landlord found guilty of murdering a 6-year-old Muslim boy and injuring his mother in a violent hate crime in October 2023 has died while in custody, just months following his sentencing to over 50 years in prison.
73-year-old Joseph Czuba passed away Thursday in the care of the Illinois Department of Corrections, as confirmed by officials from the Will County Sheriff’s Office on Saturday.
Earlier this year, Czuba was convicted of the murder of 6-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi and the assault on his mother, Hanan Shaheen, stemming from an attack motivated by their Islamic faith.
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Czuba’s death comes less than three months after a judge handed him a 53-year sentence for the deadly attack.
Back in February, Czuba was convicted on murder and hate crimes charges.
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Court sketch on Feb. 26, 2025 showing Joseph Czuba, 73,who is charged with and on trial in the fatal stabbing of a Palestinian American boy -
Will County Deputy Victoria Janovyak testifies in the trial against Joseph Czuba on Feb. 25, 2025.
In court, prosecutors said the attack was a response to the war between Israel and Hamas, which had escalated greatly following the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas.
Czuba had been renting rooms to the pair in his home at the time of the attack.
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Wadee al-Fayoumi and his mother, Hanan Shaheen -
The mother and son were Joseph Czuba’s tenants in this home in unincorporated Plainfield township
Evidence at trial included harrowing testimony from Shaheen and her frantic 911 call, along with bloody crime scene photos and police video. Jurors deliberated for less than 90 minutes before handing in a verdict.
Authorities have not provided details on Czuba’s cause of death.
