Landlord Who Murdered 6-Year-Old Palestinian American Boy Dies in Prison After 53-Year Sentence

Joliet, Illinois – A Tragic Chapter Ends, But the Pain Lingers

A man convicted of a brutal hate crime that shook a community has died while serving a lengthy prison sentence. Joseph Czuba, a 73-year-old landlord from Plainfield, Illinois, passed away in the custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections, just three months after being sentenced to 53 years in prison for a violent attack that claimed the life of 6-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi and left the boy’s mother, Hanan Shaheen, seriously injured.

A Crime Fueled by Hate

In October 2023, Czuba launched a deadly knife attack on the Palestinian American family who had been renting rooms in his home. Prosecutors revealed that Czuba was driven by hatred toward Muslims and was agitated by the recent escalation of violence between Israel and Hamas at the time. The court heard chilling testimony that Czuba had demanded the family leave because they were Muslim before attacking them.

Evidence presented during the trial included disturbing 911 recordings, graphic crime scene photographs, and emotionally powerful testimony from Shaheen, who survived the assault. Jurors delivered a unanimous guilty verdict in less than 90 minutes on charges of first-degree murder, attempted murder, and committing a hate crime.

A Mother's Testimony and a Community in Mourning

Shaheen recounted how Czuba first attacked her and then turned his rage on her son, stabbing the child 26 times. The violence was so severe that the judge had to turn screens showing photographic evidence away from the courtroom audience, which included grieving family members.

Czuba’s ex-wife, Mary, testified during the trial that he had grown increasingly obsessed and angry about the Middle East conflict in the days leading up to the attack. She had since divorced him.

A Death That Closes One Chapter But Not the Wounds

News of Czuba’s death has drawn mixed reactions. While some may view his passing as closure, others in the community see it as a stark reminder of the deep-rooted hate and Islamophobia that persist in American society. “This depraved killer has died, but the hate is still alive and well,” said Ahmed Rehab, a local civil rights leader, emphasizing the broader issue of rising anti-Muslim sentiment.

Legacy of a Young Victim

The murder of young Wadee Alfayoumi left a deep scar on the tight-knit Palestinian community in the Chicago suburbs. His funeral drew hundreds of mourners, and the tragedy inspired local officials to name a park playground in his memory—a lasting tribute to a life taken far too soon.

As the community continues to heal, many are calling for broader efforts to combat hate and protect vulnerable families from similar tragedies in the future.