Landlord Charged In Child's Hate Crime Killing Had 3 Knives, Knife Holster: Deputies

JOLIET — Will County Sheriff's Deputy Matthew Starcevich responded to the two-story house of Joseph Czuba on Oct. 14, 2023, minutes after learning of an assault in progress. "Her landlord was killing her kid," Starcevich testified Wednesday morning during the murder and hate crime trial of Joseph Czuba.

The 73-year-old Plainfield landlord is charged with murdering 6-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi and the attempted murder of the little boy's mother, Hanan Shaheen, age 31 at the time. The Muslim family rented two bedrooms from Czuba and his wife, Mary, at 16301 South Lincoln Highway.

While Starcevich searched the upstairs for any suspects, "we were alerted that they found someone, so we retreated to the main hallway. I observed a female subject standing there, bleeding profusely from the face."

Will County prosecutor Christopher Koch played for the jury the body camera video from Starcevich inside through the house on the day of Wadee's murder.

In the video, voices could be heard yelling, "Sheriff's Department! Will County Sheriff's Department! "Police!" On other police body camera footage, an officer could be heard saying, "We've got a child, lacerations to the chest."

Once Shaheen was rescued from the bathroom where she was hiding, and Wadee's slain body was found in a bedroom, Starcevich testified he continued to moving throughout the first floor of the house because "I was still looking for the suspect."

From the kitchen, the Will County deputy testified, he looked out the back window. "I was able to look out the rear door. I observed a male subject laying out on the driveway."

Starcevich's body camera video was played for the jury. On it could be heard sirens from Plainfield fire engines and ambulances responding to the Czuba property and the sounds of Starcevich screaming, "Hey, I got someone in the back!" Outside! Outside! I got someone out back! That's him!"

Koch asked Starcevich if he told Joseph Czuba that he was under arrest.

"No," the deputy testified. "I observed the male suspect sit up and place his hands behind his back. No commands given. He had blood on his body, his hands, and he was sweating profusely."

Koch asked the Will County sheriff's deputy if any knives were found near Czuba's body.

"There were a few knives laying on the ground beside him," Starcevich told the jury.

Starcevich testified that he asked if Czuba was the landlord, and "he nodded his head, yes."

Meanwhile, the Plainfield Fire Department paramedics retrieved a long knife sheath that was strapped to Czuba's pants leg, the sheriff's deputy told the courtroom during Wednesday's trial testimony.

"Fire retrieved a black sheath from his belt, who handed it to a Plainfield police officer, who handed it to me," Starcevich testified. "It was a black holster. I remember it had wording on it that said, SCUBA Pro."

After the knife holster was obtained and kept as police evidence, Starcevich testified that he followed the ambulance that was transporting Czuba to the Bolingbrook hospital for treatment of his injuries.

Koch presented the knife holster to the jury during Wednesday's trial.

"Was that taken off the left side of the body of the defendant?" Koch asked his witness.

"Yes," Starcevich answered.

During cross-examination, Czuba's attorney George Lenard contended that his client was not placing himself under arrest upon seeing two Will Count Sheriff's deputies approaching him, with their guns drawn.

"He did not place his hands behind his back like he was going to get handcuffed?" Lenard asked.

"Yes," the deputy agreed.

As for the three knives that Will County police retrieved, "those pocket knives were already laying out when you approached him?" Lenard inquired.

"Correct," Starcevich told the defense lawyer.

Czuba's trial resumes on Wednesday afternoon with several more witnesses being called by the Will County State's Attorney team of Koch, Mike Fitzgerald and Christine Vukmir. Czuba is being represented by Lenard and Kylie Blatti.

Mary Czuba, estranged wife of Joseph Czuba, is expected to testify for the prosecution Wednesday afternoon. Check back with Patch for details of her testimony.