TINLEY PARK, Ill. – A heartbreaking tragedy unfolded in a quiet neighborhood when 63-year-old Maher Kassem admitted to authorities that he had killed his wife and three adult daughters on Sunday. Appearing in court for the first time since the incident, Kassem faced attorneys, at times shaking his head as he listened to the gruesome details.
The chilling events unfolded on a Sunday at 11:30 a.m. when Kassem called 911 to report that his wife had been shot. When police arrived at the family’s home in the 7400 block of 173rd Place in Tinley Park, Kassem directed them to the basement, where they found his wife and three daughters dead, each shot multiple times after a dispute with Kassem, according to court documents.
Kassem, who now faces first-degree murder charges, confessed to police that he was responsible for the deaths. His 19-year-old son, who also resides in the home, witnessed the horrifying incident. Although the exact motive for what officials are calling “an act of senseless domestic violence” is unclear, Kassem was recorded venting his frustrations to the police, citing mistreatment by his family.
Community members gathered at the Mosque Foundation for a special funeral prayer service in honor of the victims, identified as Majeda Kassem, 53, and her three daughters, 25-year-old twins, Halema and Zahia, and 24-year-old Hanan Kassem. Tinley Park Mayor Michael Glotz expressed deep sadness over the horrific loss and labeled it as a tragic event, unprecedented in the area since the 2008 murders of five women at a Lane Bryant store.
During the court proceedings, the judge expressed concern over Kassem’s stability and potential threat to the community, ordering him to be detained until the next court appearance on Feb. 16. The case will undoubtedly continue to stir emotions and raise questions about domestic violence and its impact on families and communities moving forward.