An Illinois landlord convicted of killing a six-year-old Palestinian-American boy in a brutal hate crime has died in prison, less than three months into his 53-year sentence.

 

Joseph Czuba, 73, was serving time at the Illinois Department of Corrections when he died on Thursday, according to the reports. The cause of death has not yet been disclosed.

 

Czuba was convicted in May for the murder of Wadea al-Fayoume and the attempted murder of his mother Hanaan Shaheen, in an attack that police said was motivated by anti-Muslim hate. The incident occurred in October 2023, shortly after the outbreak of Israel's war on Gaza. 

 

The family was renting rooms from Czuba in Plainfield, a suburb about 40 miles from Chicago, when the attack took place. 

 

Czuba stabbed young Wadea 26 times. The child later died in a hospital from his injuries. His mother survived the attack but suffered serious wounds.

 

During the trial, Shaheen testified that Czuba told her, “You, as a Muslim, must die,” before attacking her with a knife and then turning on her son. Graphic footage from the crime scene was deemed too disturbing for public viewing during the trial.

 

Czuba was found guilty of six counts, including first-degree murder, attempted murder, two counts of aggravated battery, and two hate crime charges. The jury took less than 90 minutes to deliver a unanimous verdict in a case that sparked nationwide outrage and fears over rising anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian sentiment.

 

Ahmed Rehab, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations’ Chicago chapter, responded to Czuba’s death by saying, “This depraved killer has died, but the hate is still alive and well.”

 

In June, a memorial honoring Wadea al-Fayoume was unveiled at a playground in Plainfield, which is home to a significant Palestinian community.