Jennifer Hudson

Jennifer Hudson's estranged brother-in-law, William Balfour, was arrested late Monday in the slayings of the Oscar winner's mother, brother and seven-year-old nephew, according to Chicago police and the Chicago Tribune.

Formal charges have not yet been brought by the Cook County prosecutor's office, but Balfour was transferred from an Illinois state prison – where he has been held on suspicion of a parole violation – back into police custody.

He has been considered the prime suspect for weeks.

Balfour, 27, who is married but separated from Hudson's sister, Julia, was arrested in the first-degree murders of Hudson's mother Darnell Donerson, 57, brother Jason Hudson, 29, and Julia's son - his own stepson - Julian King, 7.

William Balfour, who previously served prison time for attempted murder and car hijacking, was arrested hours after the first victims were discovered.

The bodies of Donerson and Hudson were found shot to death October 24 in the family home on Chicago's South Side by Hudson's sister, Julia.

The body of King, Julia's son, was found three days later in the backseat of Jason's abandoned Chevrolet Suburban. All died from gunshot wounds.

Balfour and Julia Hudson married on December 30, 2006.

They lived together at the family home at first, but their relationship was marred by myriad fights over money and infidelities, according to family members.

Continue Reading...

William Balfour, the murder suspect in the Jennifer Hudson family deaths, will remain in prison as investigators continue to investigate the triple slaying.

According to the Chicago Tribune, the Illinois Prisoner Review Board ruled this morning that there was reason to believe Balfour violated his parole.

Balfour's girlfriend had said that she had seen him with a gun that matched the murder weapon, according to Jorge Montes, chairman of the review board.

He also violated parole by being in places where drugs were sold, stemming from a June 19 drug arrest, but Balfour's parole was not revoked at that time.

William Balfour, who is not represented by an attorney, protested the evidence used to hold him. A full hearing on whether to revoke his parole is set for December 3.

Balfour, who is still technically married to the American Idol singer and Academy Award-winning actress' sister, Julia Hudson - the mother of Julian King, 7, who was slain - has been on parole for a 1999 attempted murder conviction.

After he was questioned by Chicago detectives for 48 hours, his parole was temporarily revoked following the brutal killings of Julian King, Jennifer's mother Darnell Donerson, and her brother, Jason Hudson, the morning of October 24.

Although he has not been formally charged with any of the murders, Balfour's current girlfriend also told police that he told her he had been involved in the killings of Donerson and Hudson, according to sources. Stay tuned.

In the wake of the notorious shootings, hundreds of friends and relatives gathered to mourn the deaths of Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother and nephew, at Pleasant Gift Memorial Baptist Church on Chicago's South Side on Sunday.

At the public memorial, mourners listened to songs and recounted stories about Darnell Donerson, 57, Jason Hudson, 29, and Julian King, 7.

Neither Jennifer Hudson nor her sister Julia Hudson - the mother of Julian King, and whose estranged husband, William Balfour, is still in police custody but has not been charged with the murders - were not in attendance.

Julian King with Julia and Jennifer Hudson, and their mom Darnell Donerson.

Jennifer Hudson and her sister also created the Hudson-King Foundation for Families of Slain Victims in the wake of the deaths, according to Jennifer's rep.

The foundation will provide care for the families who have lost relatives to a violent crime, including giving food, clothing, shelter and grief counseling.

A friend of Jennifer Hudson says he tried to warn the family about William Balfour, who is currently the main "person of interest" in the shootings of Hudson's mom, Darnell; brother, Jason and 7-year-old nephew, Julian King.

William Balfour, a.k.a. "Flex" - who's divorced from Hudson's sister, Julia, a bus driver - got into a huge fight with Julia, Darnell and Jason about a month ago, a neighbor says. James Peyton, Hudson's ex-fiance, was also present.

"Flex tried to start a fistfight with Jason, and James beat up Flex," the neighbor tells Us Weekly, which features the Hudson family murders on its cover.

Shortly after, Balfour began to threaten the family, saying "he would kill Julia and mess up everyone inside the house." One supposed reason for the feud? Julia claimed that Balfour sold one of their cars without permission.

"Flex was crazy, but Jason never took him seriously," the source said. "Jason always thought he would be safe, that he could protect himself."

Continue Reading...

The murder weapon used to kill Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson's mom, brother and young nephew has been found, police in Chicago believe.

The gun was found by a detective searching land close to where the body of seven-year-old Julian King was discovered in a car last weekend.

Mother Darnell Donerson, 57, brother Jason Hudson, 29, and nephew Julian King, 7, are believed to have been killed with a .45-caliber weapon.

Technicians from the Illinois State Police crime lab will test the gun they found today against shell casings recovered at the crime scenes.

Nick Roti, deputy police chief, said a few other "small bits of evidence" were recovered in the thick shrubbery where the gun was found in a parking lot.

Police sent about 100 personnel to the area on the city's West Side after the breakthrough yesterday. Suspect William Balfour remains in custody.

The Dreamgirls star's family tragedy took place last Friday, when her mother and brother were found shot and killed at their home in Chicago.

That was when Julian King was reported missing, and Jennifer Hudson offered a $100,000 reward for any information leading to his return.

A day later, the boy's body was found in the rear of a 1994 white Chevrolet Suburban vehicle. He was shot at least once in the head.

William Balfour, the estranged husband of Hudson's sister (Julian's mom) Julia, is under investigation as the person of most interest in the case.

While he has not been charged with the killings, he has been arrested on parole violations, having just served seven years for attempted murder.

The case is building against William Balfour, the man police sources have pinpointed as the primary suspect in the Jennifer Hudson family murders.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Balfour's girlfriend - whose house he was arrested at Friday - has contradicted his alibi from the window during which the murders took place, and cops have caught him in at least one other lie.

William Balfour is still technically married (we think) to Jennifer's sister, Julia, whose little boy officially became the third murder victim yesterday. He is said to have been involved in an "ongoing domestic dispute" with the Hudson family.

Police have been tracking William Balfour through his cell phone records. These are his mug shots past (he served seven years for attempted murder) and present.

A neighbor says a man he believes to be Balfour was seen pulling up to his girlfriend's house around noon on Friday, got out of the car "carrying what appeared to be a bottle of liquor," and was wearing a white hooded sweatshirt.

William Balfour is in custody and is considered the primary suspect in the killings of Hudson's mother Darnell Donerson, her brother Jason Hudson, and presumably her seven-year-old nephew Julian King, whose body was discovered yesterday.

In tragic but sadly expected news, Chicago police have officially confirmed the boy's body they found earlier in the day was in fact that of Julian King.

The seven-year-old nephew of Jennifer Hudson had been missing since Friday, when her mother, Darnell Donerson, and brother, Jason Hudson, were slain.

King's discovery comes not long after Hudson issued a public plea for his safe return - and a $100,000 reward for any information about his whereabouts.

Police found the body in an abandoned SUV in Chicago earlier today and are reviewing surveillance tapes in the neighborhood where the SUV was found.

The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office has not yet published any autopsy results, but the murdered child suffered at least one gun shot to the head.

R.I.P. Julian King, 7, was the son of Jennifer's sister, Julia. All of our hearts go out to Jennifer Hudson and those close to her as they mourn this tragedy.

Authorities are also trying to pin down the timeline - it remains unclear when the SUV showed up in the neighborhood with Julian's body. One witness stated it was parked there Saturday, while two other accounts say it was not.

There is no official suspect, but William Balfour - who was once married to Julia and was on parole (having served seven years for attempted murder) prior to being arrested Friday in this case, is in police custody and "a person of interest."

Others believe that an "ongoing domestic dispute" is at the center of this unspeakable crime and that Balfour is indeed the prime suspect. Stay tuned.

According to news reports, Chicago police have found the body of a child and are investigating whether it is that of Jennifer Hudson's nephew, Julian King.

The medical examiner has not yet made an ID, but the body is that of a seven-year-old African-American boy, the same age and race as missing Julian.

The vehicle that was found in Chicago with the body inside could be the key in unlocking the mystery behind the double murders of Jennifer Hudson's mother, Darnell Donerson, and her brother, Jason Hudson, both of whom were slain Friday.

A neighbor who lives a block away from where the SUV was found says he remembers seeing the car on Saturday. During a police press conference, the man came forward and claimed he called cops that day but no one responded.

Meanwhile, two other neighbors say they're sure that the SUV was not there Saturday - meaning it could have been driven and left there sometime during that day.

If true, it would mean someone other than the suspect, William Balfour, drove it there with the body inside. Balfour was arrested Friday and is in police custody.

Jennifer Hudson with her sister Julia, late mother Darnell and nephew Julian King, who is missing. Our hearts go out to Jennifer and her family. [Photo Credit: FilmMagic]

Jennifer Hudson and her family members are offering a $100,000 reward for the safe return of her missing seven-year-old nephew Julian King, who has been unaccounted for since the grisly double murders of her mother and brother on Friday.

A rep for Hudson said that Jennifer and her family “appreciate the enormous amount of love, support and prayers they have received while she and her family try to cope with this tragedy and continue the search for Julian.”

Suspect William Balfour, who was once married to Jennifer's sister Julia (Julian's mom), is in custody. He was on parole after serving seven years for attempted murder, and was said to be involved in an "ongoing domestic dispute" with Julia.

J-Hud's rep also offered the reward and asked the public to look for him and give any available information regarding Julian to the Chicago police. A similar message was posted on Jennifer Hudson’s MySpace, which contained a picture of Julian:

Thank you all for your prayers and calls. Please keep praying for our family and that we get Julian King back home safely. If anyone has information about his whereabouts please contact the authorities immediately. Here is a picture of Julian and what he was last seen wearing. Once again thank you for being there for us in this tough time.

Sincerely,
The Hudson Family

While family and friends mourn the tragic death of Jennifer Hudson's mom and brother, who were shot and killed Friday, support for the American Idol singer and Oscar winner continues to pour in - including from Barack Obama.

The U.S. Senator and Democratic Presidential candidate, who shares the same Chicago hometown as Jennifer Hudson, issued this statement on Saturday:

"Michelle and I were heartbroken to learn about this unimaginable tragedy and we want Jennifer to know that she is in our thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time. We also pray for the swift and safe return of her young nephew."

Jennifer Hudson sang the national anthem at the Democratic National Convention in August after a personal request from Barack Obama's campaign.

Police issued an Amber Alert for 7-year-old Julian King, who they believe may have been abducted by William Balfour, who is currently the prime suspect in the killings of Hudson's mother, Darnell Donerson, and her brother, Jason Hudson.

William Balfour is in custody but is not cooperating.

The operating theory among Chicago detectives is the alleged "ongoing domestic dispute" between Balfour and estranged wife Julia Hudson - Jennifer's sister.