Joseph Czuba, a 73-year-old landlord, has died in custody just months after being sentenced for the murder of a 6-year-old Muslim boy and the stabbing of his mother. Czuba was convicted in February of this year for the brutal attack on Wadee Alfayoumi and his mother, Hanan Shaheen, which occurred in October 2023.

Czuba was sentenced to 53 years in prison for his crimes, which included murder, attempted murder, and hate crime charges. The attack was reportedly motivated by Czuba's animosity towards the victims' Islamic faith, coinciding with the outbreak of conflict between Israel and Hamas.

He died Thursday while in the custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections, as confirmed by the Will County Sheriff's Office. The cause of his death has not been disclosed.

During the trial, prosecutors presented compelling evidence, including emotional testimony from Shaheen and her frantic 911 call. Jurors deliberated for less than 90 minutes before reaching a verdict.

Czuba had been renting rooms to the mother and son in his home in Plainfield, located about 40 miles from Chicago. Testimony revealed that he attacked Shaheen first, insisting they leave because they were Muslim, before turning his violence on Wadee.

Witnesses described the attack as particularly brutal, with Czuba stabbing the boy 26 times and leaving the knife in his body. The graphic nature of the evidence led the judge to turn away television screens showing the crime scene photos from the audience, which included Wadee's family.

The incident has raised concerns about anti-Muslim discrimination, particularly in the Plainfield area, which has a significant Palestinian community. Wadee's funeral attracted large crowds, and local officials have since dedicated a park playground in his memory.