As the war between Hamas and Israel unfolded in recent days, a Plainfield man became increasingly concerned about what he was hearing on conservative talk radio — and became agitated about the tenants living in his home, a Palestinian American mother and her young son[…]
On Saturday, he allegedly attacked her and then stabbed her 6-year-old son to death — horrific allegations that have stunned the Muslim community in Chicago and beyond and drawn condemnation[…]
Joseph Czuba, 71, appeared in Will County court Monday morning[…]
Judge Donald W. DeWilkins ordered Czuba held in jail while he faces three counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted murder, two counts of aggravated battery and two counts of committing a hate crime[…]
In the 45-minute detention hearing, prosecutors detailed how the crime against Shaheen and her son allegedly unfolded

Czuba’s wife told detectives that Czuba “believed he was in danger and [his tenant, Shaheen] was going to call Palestinian friends to come and harm them,” said Michael Fitzgerald, a Will County assistant state’s attorney

Fitzgerald said Czuba told his wife that Shaheen was Muslim and that he wanted her out of the residence, where they had lived for the past two years[…]
Czuba’s wife, who wasn’t home at the time of the attack, told detectives that he had withdrawn $1,000 from his bank because he believed “the grid” would go down, Fitzgerald said

He was also worried about a “national day of jihad” Oct. 13, and even though nothing happened then, he told his wife that he believed something would happen the next day, without specifying what, Fitzgerald said

Czuba’s wife told detectives that he regularly listens to conservative talk radio and was very interested in current events, Fitzgerald said

Shaheen told detectives that Saturday morning began peacefully as she had breakfast with her son, Fitzgerald said. Czuba then allegedly knocked on their door and began arguing with Shaheen about the Middle East