Landlord convicted in hate crime killing of 6-year-old Muslim boy dies in custody

WILL COUNTY, Ill. (WGN) — The Illinois landlord convicted of killing a 6-year-old Muslim boy and injuring his mother in a brutal hate crime attack in October 2023 has died in custody just months after he was sentenced to more than 50 years in prison.

73-year-old Joseph Czuba died Thursday while in the custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections, officials from the Will County Sheriff's Office confirmed Saturday.

Earlier this year, Czuba was found guilty of killing 6-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi and wounding his mother, Hanan Shaheen, after he attacked them over their Islamic faith.

Czuba's death comes less than three months after a judge handed him a 53-year sentence for the deadly attack.

Back in February, Czuba was convicted on murder and hate crimes charges.

In court, prosecutors said the attack was a response to the war between Israel and Hamas, which had escalated greatly following the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas.

Czuba had been renting rooms to the pair in his home at the time of the attack.

Evidence at trial included harrowing testimony from Shaheen and her frantic 911 call, along with bloody crime scene photos and police video. Jurors deliberated for less than 90 minutes before handing in a verdict.

Authorities have not provided details on Czuba's cause of death.