JOLIET, Ill. (AP) - A landlord who was convicted of a brutal attack on a Palestinian American boy and his mother has passed away while serving his sentence. Joseph Czuba, 73, was sentenced to 53 years in prison three months prior to his death for the violent act that resulted in the death of 6-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi and the injury of his mother, Hanan Shaheen.
Czuba was found guilty in February 2023 of murder, attempted murder, and hate crime charges. The attack took place in October 2023, targeting Alfayoumi and Shaheen because of their Islamic faith, as well as being influenced by the outbreak of violence between Israel and Hamas that occurred days before the incident.
According to a statement from the Will County Sheriff’s Office, Czuba died on Thursday while in custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections. Ahmed Rehab, the executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations’ Chicago office, commented on Czuba's death, stating, "this depraved killer has died, but the hate is still alive and well."
During the trial, the prosecution presented chilling evidence, including the testimony from Shaheen and recordings of her frantic 911 call, along with graphic crime scene photographs and police video footage. Jurors deliberated for less than 90 minutes before reaching a verdict. At the time of the attack, the family had been renting rooms in Czuba’s home located in Plainfield, approximately 40 miles from Chicago.
Key evidence in the prosecution’s case was the harrowing testimony from Shaheen, who recounted that Czuba attacked her and then moved on to her son, asserting that they needed to leave because they were Muslim. Testimony from Czuba's ex-wife, Mary, further indicated that he had become increasingly agitated by the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict that had erupted shortly before the attack.
Police investigations revealed that Czuba used a knife from a belt holder, stabbing Wadee Alfayoumi 26 times, with the blade ultimately left embedded in the child's body. Some of the images from the crime scene were so graphic that the presiding judge ordered the screens broadcasting them turned away from the audience, which included relatives of the young victim.
The attack renewed concerns about anti-Muslim discrimination, resonating deeply within Plainfield and its neighboring communities, which are home to a significant and established Palestinian population. The funeral for Wadee Alfayoumi saw a large turnout, and officials in Plainfield have since dedicated a park playground in his memory, symbolizing the community's mourning and solidarity.
This tragic incident sheds light on the damaging effects of hate and violence, with the case serving as a grim reminder of the ongoing struggles against discrimination and prejudice faced by many minority communities in the United States.
