Hate Crime Killer of Palestinian-American Boy Dies in Prison

Joseph Czuba, the landlord sentenced to decades in prison for the hate-crime murder of 6-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi and the wounding of his mother, Hanan Shaheen, has died while in custody.

Czuba, 73, passed away on Thursday in the custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections, as confirmed by the Will County Sheriff’s Office. His death comes just three months after he was sentenced to 53 years behind bars for the brutal attack.

The heinous crime occurred in October 2023, when Czuba targeted the Palestinian-American family because of their Islamic faith, a response he claimed was linked to the war between Israel and Hamas. He was found guilty in February on charges of murder, attempted murder, and hate crime.

Ahmed Rehab, Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations’ Chicago office, commented on Saturday, stating, “this depraved killer has died, but the hate is still alive and well.”

The trial saw harrowing testimony from Shaheen and evidence including graphic crime scene photos and a frantic 911 call. Czuba had stabbed Wadee 26 times, leaving the knife in the child’s body. The attack, which occurred in Plainfield, Illinois, reignited fears of anti-Muslim discrimination and deeply impacted the local Palestinian community.

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