US man who killed 6-year-old Palestinian boy dies in prison

Joseph Czuba, the 73-year-old Illinois man convicted of the hate crime murder of six-year-old Palestinian-American Wadea al-Fayoume and the attempted murder of his mother, Hanaan Shahin, died in prison on Thursday. 

His death occurred less than three months after he was sentenced to 53 years behind bars.

The horrific attack unfolded on October 14, 2023, in Plainfield Township, Illinois, when Czuba, the family's landlord, stabbed Wadea 26 times with a military knife.

His mother, Hanaan Shahin, also sustained critical injuries. Authorities swiftly classified the murder as a hate crime, stating it was motivated by anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian extremism, directly linked to the escalation of the war on Gaza.

Prosecutors revealed Czuba's agitation was fueled by his consumption of conservative talk radio, leading him to believe his tenants posed a threat.

Czuba was found guilty on all charges, including first-degree murder and hate crimes, on February 28, 2025, after less than 90 minutes of jury deliberation. He was sentenced on May 2, 2025.

While the official cause of Czuba's death was not immediately released by authorities, it was known he had been battling stage 4 cancer.

Ahmed Rehab, Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago), stated, "this depraved killer has died, but the hate is still alive and well".

The case deeply affected the Chicago area's large Palestinian community and highlighted rising hostility against Muslims and Palestinians in the US.

Plainfield officials have since dedicated a park playground in Wadea's honor, serving as a lasting memorial.