Plainfield|News|
Plainfield Hate Crime Killer Dead 2 Months After Sentencing: Reports
The 73-year-old was found guilty of killing 6-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi and seriously wounding his mother, Hanan Shaheen.
Shannon Antinori, Patch Staff
Plainfield Hate Crime
Patch's coverage of the slaying of 6-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi in Plainfield Township.
Plainfield|News|
Monument Will Be Dedicated To Boy, 6, Fatally Stabbed In Plainfield Hate Crime
The upcoming dedication ceremony will reaffirm "the community's commitment to peace, remembrance, and justice against bigotry."
Emily Rosca, Patch Staff
Plainfield|News|
Plainfield Landlord Child Murderer Learns Sentence
Joseph Czuba stood trial in February at Will County's Courthouse for the deadly stabbing of 6-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi at Czuba's house.
John Ferak, Patch Staff
Plainfield|News|
GUILTY: Landlord Guilty On All Counts In Boy's Hate Crime Murder
Joseph Czuba stood trial this week at Will County's Courthouse for the deadly stabbing of 6-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi at Czuba's house.
John Ferak, Patch Staff
Plainfield|News|
'Hanan Killed Her Son,' Plainfield Landlord's Lawyer Argued: Vukmir
Prosecutor Christine Vukmir implored the jury to reject Joseph Czuba's lawyer George Lenard's argument that Hanan Shaheen killed her son.
John Ferak, Patch Staff
Plainfield|News|
Slain Boy, Wounded Mom Called 'Infested Rats' By Czuba: Testimony
Will County Sheriff's Sgt. Patrick Jones obtained incriminating admissions in the hate crime murder from Joseph Czuba, Jones testified.
John Ferak, Patch Staff
Plainfield|News|
Joseph Czuba's Ex-Wife Testifies For The Prosecution In Murder Trial
Mary Connor told jurors she has divorced Joseph Czuba. He's on trial for the murder and attempted murder of their Plainfield tenants.
John Ferak, Patch Staff
Plainfield|News|
Plainfield Landlord Had 3 Knives, Diving Knife Holster: Deputies
Joseph Czuba's lawyer George Lenard insisted his client was not placing himself under arrest when two Will County deputies found him.
John Ferak, Patch Staff
Plainfield|News|
Slain Boy, 6, Naked, Knife Embedded Inside His Chest: Testimony
Two Plainfield police and a Will County Sheriff's deputy responded to the home where Wadee, 6, and his mother were both stabbed in 2023.
John Ferak, Patch Staff
Plainfield|News|
'The Landlord Is Killing Me And My Baby': Plainfield Murder Trial
Hanan Shaheen, now 33, is the first witness for Will County prosecutors in their hate crime murder trial of landlord Joseph Czuba.
John Ferak, Patch Staff
Plainfield|News|
Plainfield Hate Crime Murder Trial Underway: Jury Picked
Joseph Czuba, 73, is being represented by Will County Public Defender's Office, notably Kylie Blatti and George Lenard.
John Ferak, Patch Staff
Plainfield|News|
Sensory Playground To Be Named For Plainfield Boy Killed In Hate Crime
The Plainfield Park District will name the sensory park on the east side of Van Horn Woods in remembrance of Wadee Alfayoumi.
Emily Rosca, Patch Staff
Plainfield|News|
President Biden Meets With Mom Of Boy Killed In Plainfield Hate Crime
Wadee Alfayoumi's mother met with Biden in the final days of his presidency for an exchange amid the rise of Islamaphobia.
Emily Rosca, Patch Staff
Plainfield|News|
Plainfield To Come Together Again To Remember Boy Killed In Hate Crime
The nonprofit American Muslims Assisting Neighbors is hosting a tribute for Wadee Alfayoumi, a year after he was killed.
Emily Rosca, Patch Staff
Plainfield|News|
Plainfield Boy Was Killed In Hate Crime, Senate Resolution Recognizes
Illinois' U.S. senators and a congresswoman helped draft the resolution in honor of 6-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi.
Shannon Antinori, Patch Staff
Plainfield|News|
Joseph Czuba Trial: What's Next In Plainfield Hate Crime, Murder Case
The 72-year-old landlord appeared this week at a hearing in the slaying of 6-year-old Wadee Alfayoume.
Emily Rosca, Patch Staff
Plainfield|News|
Defense Wants Jail Staff Prohibited From Reading Joseph Czuba Notes
All of Joseph Czuba's legal notes written at the Will County jail have been "briefly read and 'scanned,'" according to the defendant's team.
Emily Rosca, Patch Staff
Plainfield|News|
Father Of Slain Boy Sues Plainfield Landlord For Wrongful Death
Wadee Alfayoumi's father filed a wrongful death suit against murder and hate crime defendant Joseph Czuba, his wife in the death of the boy.
Emily Rosca, Patch Staff
Plainfield|News|
'Hate Has No Home In This Town': Werk Force Unveils New Brew
The Plainfield brewery released a new beer to bring the community together to condemn the hate crime against Wadee Alfayoumi and his mother.
Emily Rosca, Patch Staff
Plainfield|News|
Psychiatric Tests Requested For Plainfield Murder Defendant: Report
The judge granted the attorney's request to receive federal reports and any audio recordings of talks between Czuba and others in jail.
Emily Rosca, Patch Staff
Plainfield|News|
Plainfield Hate Crime Slaying: Lawyer Wants Jailhouse Recordings
The landlord indicted on murder charges has had conversations with someone potentially "purporting to be an inmate," documents read.
Emily Rosca, Patch Staff
Plainfield|News|
Joseph Czuba's Marriage Coming To An End, Wife Seeks Divorce
Mary Czuba hired DeVriendt & Associates to file this week's dissolution of marriage petition. Her husband faces first-degree murder charges.
John Ferak, Patch Staff
Plainfield|News|
Plainfield Man Accused Of Stabbing Child 26 Times Faces New Judge
The 71-year-old Joseph Czuba appeared in front of Will County's longest serving Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak for his murder case, on Monday.
John Ferak, Patch Staff
Plainfield|News|
Plainfield's Murder, Hate Crime Defendant Returning To Court
Come Monday, 71-year-old Joseph Czuba will appear in front of Will County's longest serving Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak for his murder case.
John Ferak, Patch Staff
Plainfield|News|
Plainfield Hate Crime Slaying Defendant Gets New Judge
Will County public defenders George Lenard and Kylie Blatti entered not-guilty pleas for all eight felony charges against Joseph Czuba.
Emily Rosca and John Ferak, Patch Staff
Plainfield|News|
Plainfield Murder Trial Sparks Fair Trial Concern From Lawyer
Joseph Czuba has his arraignment Monday with Will County Judge Dave Carlson. The judge will allow photos, but not audio or video recording.
John Ferak, Patch Staff
Plainfield|News|
Plainfield Landlord Indicted On Murder, Hate Crime, Battery Charges
Prosecutors said his attack was motivated by the family's Muslim faith as a result of his grievances with the war between Israel and Hamas.
Emily Rosca, Patch Staff
Plainfield|News|
Attorney Ben Crump Retained By Mom Of Boy, 6, Killed In Plainfield Twp
The attorney is famous for representing the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Tyre Nichols.
Emily Rosca, Patch Staff
Plainfield|News|
Hanan Shaheen Speaks Out After Stabbing: 'She Harbors No Hatred'
The Plainfield woman and mother of Wadee Alfayoumi was discharged from the hospital Oct. 19 and is "recovering nicely," police said.
Emily Rosca, Patch Staff
Plainfield|News|
'Only One With Access': Donor Bank Account Set Up For Mom Of Slain Boy
The banker who established the account said "it will not only help her move forward but help her get all the financial help she can get."
Emily Rosca, Patch Staff
Plainfield|News|
Small Town, Big Hearts: Plainfield Unites To Help Palestinian Family
As one Italian restaurant plans a fundraiser, parents across Plainfield are coming together to secure food donations for first responders.
Emily Rosca, Patch Staff
Plainfield|News|
Diocese Responds To Boy's Death As Plainfield Church Plans Holy Hour
"Let us strive to reject hatred and violence in all forms," the Diocese of Joliet said in a statement about the death of Wadee Alfayoumi.
Emily Rosca, Patch Staff
Plainfield|News|
Vigil Planned For Boy, 6, Stabbed To Death In Plainfield Township
Mayor Arougdelis said the vigil will "make a ... statement that across the spectrum of Plainfield we categorically reject hate and bigotry."
Emily Rosca, Patch Staff
Plainfield|News|
Fundraiser For Slain Boy's Funeral Costs, Mother's Hospital Bills
"He was a bright and energetic young boy who loved basketball and soccer," campaign organizers wrote of 6-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi.
Emily Rosca, Patch Staff
Plainfield|News|
Conservative Talk Radio Influenced Plainfield Child Killer: Prosecutor
Plainfield murder defendant Joseph Czuba told his wife there was an event that would occur on Oct. 14, a Will County prosecutor revealed.
Emily Rosca and John Ferak, Patch Staff
Joliet, IL|News|
Plainfield Hate Crime Stabbings: Read All 8 Charges Filed
"This act of hate against a Palestinian Muslim family has no place in America," President Joe Biden wrote in a statement on Twitter.
John Ferak, Patch Staff
Plainfield|News|
'Sickened': Biden, Pritzker React To Hate Crime Slaying Of 6-Year-Old
"Wadea should be heading to school in the morning," Gov. Pritzker said. "Instead, his parents will wake up without their son."
Emily Rosca, Patch Staff
Plainfield|News|
Muslim Community Responds To Plainfield Township 6-Year-Old's Killing
“He has no clue about these larger issues happening in the world that he was made to pay for,” one community leader said Sunday.
Anna Schier, Patch Staff
Joliet, IL|News|
Hate Crime, Plainfield Boy's Murder: Bertino Calls It 'Reprehensible'
Joseph M. Czuba, 71, of Plainfield, is charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and two counts of hate crimes.
John Ferak, Patch Staff
Plainfield|News|
6-Year-Old Killed By Landlord In Hate Crime Stabbing: Police
A 6-year-old boy and a 32-year-old woman were attacked due to their religion at a Plainfield Township home, police said.
Anna Schier, Patch Staff
