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Convicted Plainfield Landlord in Muslim Boy’s Killing Dies in Custody

The timing of his death remains unclear pending review by prison authorities.

FILE - Joseph Czuba, 71, stands before Circuit Judge Dave Carlson for his arraignment at the Will County courthouse, Oct. 30, 2023, in Joliet, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)
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Joseph Czuba, shown here when he was formally indicted on felony charges in connection with the death of 6-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi and the stabbing of his mother, was sentenced to 53-years in prison for the hate crime on May 2, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)

Overview

  • The Illinois Department of Corrections and Will County Sheriff’s Office confirmed 73-year-old Joseph Czuba died Thursday while serving a 53-year prison sentence.
  • Authorities have not released details on when or how Czuba died.
  • Czuba was found guilty in February of first-degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated battery and a hate crime for the October 2023 stabbing of 6-year-old Wadea Al-Fayoume in Plainfield Township.
  • In May he received a 53-year term for the racially and religiously motivated attack that also seriously wounded the boy’s mother, Hanan Shaheen.
  • The case prompted federal and state hate crime probes, community vigils and a wrongful death lawsuit by the victim’s father.