WILL COUNTY, In poor health. (WGN) — The Illinois landlord convicted of killing a 6-year-old Muslim boy and injuring his mom in a brutal hate crime assault in October 2023 has died in custody simply months after he was sentenced to greater than 50 years in jail.
73-year-old Joseph Czuba died Thursday whereas within the custody of the Illinois Division of Corrections, officers from the Will County Sheriff’s Workplace confirmed Saturday.
Earlier this 12 months, Czuba was discovered responsible of killing 6-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi and wounding his mom, Hanan Shaheen, after he attacked them over their Islamic religion.
Czuba’s dying comes less than three months after a decide handed him a 53-year sentence for the lethal assault.
Again in February, Czuba was convicted on homicide and hate crimes fees.
In courtroom, prosecutors mentioned the assault was a response to the battle between Israel and Hamas, which had escalated significantly following the October 7 assault on Israel by Hamas.
Czuba had been renting rooms to the pair in his residence on the time of the assault.
Proof at trial included harrowing testimony from Shaheen and her frantic 911 name, together with bloody crime scene images and police video. Jurors deliberated for lower than 90 minutes earlier than handing in a verdict.
Authorities haven’t supplied particulars on Czuba’s reason behind dying.