Bio

Elias Hanna Syriani was born on January 7, 1938, in Jerusalem. He grew up during a challenging time, as his village was affected by political unrest. When he was twelve years old, his village was annexed by Israel, and many men, including his father, were taken to a camp. His father returned after more than a year, but he was never the same. This traumatic experience deeply affected Elias and his family.

Elias worked at a young age to help support his family after his father fell ill and could no longer work. He learned the machinist trade and eventually entered the Jordanian Army as a civilian. In 1974, he married Teresa Yousef in an arranged marriage. Shortly afterward, he moved to the United States, following Teresa to her home in Washington, D.C. They later settled in Chicago, where they raised their children.

Elias and Teresa had a total of four children: Rose, Sarah, John, and Janet. Elias worked hard to provide for his family, but their marriage faced numerous challenges. As the years went by, cultural differences and changing dynamics put stress on their relationship. Teresa began to adopt a more Western lifestyle while Elias struggled to adjust.

By the late 1980s, their relationship had deteriorated significantly. There were reports of domestic violence, and police were called multiple times to their home. Teresa eventually obtained a restraining order against Elias, leading him to leave their house and move into a motel. Despite these difficulties, Elias still hoped for a reconciliation with Teresa.

In the summer of 1990, just weeks before the tragic events that would follow, the couple had an argument over their relationship and Teresa's desire for a divorce. This situation would culminate in a violent confrontation that changed the lives of everyone involved, particularly for their children who witnessed the turmoil within their family.

Murder Story

Elias Hanna Syriani murdered his wife, Teresa Yousef Syriani, on July 28, 1990, in Charlotte, North Carolina. At the time of the crime, the couple was separated, and there was a history of domestic violence between them. That night, Teresa was driving home from work with their ten-year-old son, John, in the passenger seat. Elias drove to the area and blocked her path with his van.

As soon as Teresa tried to reverse her vehicle to escape, Elias exited his van and confronted her car. He reached into the vehicle and began stabbing Teresa multiple times with a screwdriver. John witnessed the attack and attempted to stop his father, but was unable to do so. In fear, he exited the car and ran home to get his older sister for help.

Elias's attack on Teresa continued until neighbors approached; he then walked away. Teresa suffered critical injuries and was rushed to a hospital. She remained in a coma for twenty-eight days before succumbing to her injuries. Following the attack, Elias went to a fire station seeking help for minor injuries he claimed were inflicted by Teresa. He was arrested that same night.

The murder weapon, the screwdriver, was never found. Elias was charged with first-degree murder due to the premeditated nature of the attack. At trial, evidence of the history of abuse and the circumstances surrounding the murder were presented. Despite this, he was convicted and sentenced to death in 1991.

Elias spent over fourteen years on death row before his execution, which was carried out by lethal injection on November 18, 2005. He maintained a relationship with his children during this time, but they had initially distanced themselves from him after the murder. In the years leading up to his execution, the children reconciled with their father, expressing forgiveness, but they also made pleas for his life to be spared. Their requests for clemency were ultimately denied.