Landlord Sentenced for Killing Palestinian-American Boy Passes Away in Custody
A landlord who received a lengthy prison sentence for the fatal assault on a Palestinian-American child and his mother has died in custody.
Joseph Czuba, 73, was sentenced to 53 years in prison just three months ago after being convicted of murder, attempted murder, and hate crimes related to the death of Wadee Alfayoumi and the injury of his mother, Hanan Shaheen. The verdict was delivered in February 2025 following a rapid deliberation of less than 90 minutes by jurors.
Czuba targeted the mother and son in October 2023, motivated by their Muslim faith and the outbreak of conflict between Israel and Hamas, which had begun shortly before the attack.
According to a statement from the Will County Sheriff’s Office, Czuba died on Thursday while being held by the Illinois Department of Corrections.
Ahmed Rehab, the executive director of the Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, commented on Czuba’s passing, stating that although the perpetrator has died, hatred persists in society.
The case included disturbing evidence, such as Shaheen’s testimony, her urgent 911 call, and graphic crime scene imagery presented during the trial. Testimony from Czuba’s ex-wife, Mary, highlighted his escalating agitation regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict just days prior to the incident.
Czuba had been renting rooms in his Plainfield home, located roughly 40 miles from Chicago, to Shaheen’s family at the time of the assault.
Central to the prosecution’s argument was Shaheen’s account of the events, in which Czuba confronted them, insisting they leave because of their faith.
During the trial, it was revealed that Czuba used a knife taken from a belt holder to stab Wadee 26 times, leaving the weapon in the child’s body. The trail was characterized by profoundly graphic images, prompting the judge to turn screens away from Wadee’s relatives present in the courtroom.
This violent incident has reignited concerns about anti-Muslim sentiment, particularly affecting the established Palestinian community in Plainfield and its neighboring areas. Wadee’s funeral attracted significant attendance, and local officials have since honored him by naming a park playground after him.
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