Hudson in-law charged with killing 3 relatives
Dec. 3, 2008 – The murders of three of Jennifer Hudson’s family members have just gotten closer to being solved. William Balfour, Hudson’s brother in law was charged with murder yesterday.

Balfour has been in custody since Oct. 24. He was picked up on an unrelated parole violation after the murders occurred.

Hudson’s mother, Darnell Hudson Donerson and brother, Jason Hudson, were discovered dead in their south side Chicago home. Three days later the body of Julian King, Balfour's stepson and Hudson's nephew, was found in a sport utility vehicle.

Balfour, 27, has long been considered a "person of interest" in the investigation.

Balfour's attorney says he’s innocent, "It is scary as hell, he's charged with terrible crimes that he adamantly contends he's not guilty of," attorney Joshua Kutnick said. "He's exhibited to me, at least, the patience to let the process unfold."

Chicago police say Balfour has not confessed but are "confident in the evidence." They believe he acted alone.

Deputy Superintendent Steve Peterson, says, "There is physical evidence," but he would not elaborate. – by John Rohn

Simon Cowell & Paula Abdul Send Love to Jennifer Hudson 
Oct. 29, 2008 – Not only are fans, friends and family sending support and love to Jennifer Hudson but the American Idol clan are also reaching out. Yesterday Idol judges Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul have expressed their sympathy for Jennifer Hudson. Both were horrified at the news that Hudson’s Mother, brother and nephew were killed on Friday weekend.

Simon said: "I was horrified when I heard the news. This is an appalling tragedy. My thoughts right now are with Jennifer, and her family."

Paula added: "This is a horrific tragedy and my thoughts and prayers go out to Jennifer and her entire family. The time I had to get to know Jennifer and forge a wonderful friendship with her while she was on 'American Idol' was very special to me, and I personally can't imagine a greater loss for any family."

Both were on hand when Hudson reached the top 12 in 2004.

Police and family are astonished at how strong Hudson is being through this terrible ordeal.
   
Chicago Medical examiner's office spokesperson Sean Howard, said: "Jennifer entered the room with her head bowed but remained strong for her family. It was very clear she was the leader. She held hands with her family. It was obviously a very emotional moment.” – By Robbie Steiner

Body Found in Hudson Vehicle Confirmed as Nephew, Julian King
Oct. 28, 2008 – The Hudson family have had their worse fears confirmed today. The body found in the family SUV is that of 7 year old Julian King, the nephew of Jennifer Hudson. After identifying the bodies of her mother and brother on Friday the singer had the same awful task today with young Julian.

Police issued this statement, “The boy’s stepfather, William Balfour, is being held on a parole violation after he stopped cooperating with police but has not been charged. Estranged from Hudson’s older sister Julia, he has denied involvement in the murders or disappearance.”

Chicago police figure the gunmen shot through the door of the Hudson home, killing Jason, 29, the brother first and then Hudson’s mother Darnell Donerson, 57, as she entered the room.

An autopsy is scheduled to be done on the body of 7-year-old King today at the Cook County medical examiner's office.

The police confirmed that the boy was shot several times.

 Friends, neighbours and relatives have formed a huge memorial in the 7000 block of South Yale Avenue, where the family lived in Chicago. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family. – Shannon Edwards

Boys Body Found in Jennifer Hudson’s Family Vehicle
Oct. 27, 2008 – Police have found the family vehicle owned by Jennifer Hudson’s mother and the news is not good. The body of an African American boy has been discovered inside. It’s feared to be that of Hudson’s 7 year old nephew Julian King.

It’s been a nightmare for the singer, she found out her mother and brother were shot to death Friday, she identified the bodies and now Jennifer Hudson worries that her nephew is dead in that car. Yesterday the singer/actress offered a $100,000 Reward for his safe return. In a statement Hudson management said, “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.”

Police have William Balfour in custody. He is the estranged husband of Julia Hudson, Jennifer’s sister. Chicago police say the killings were “Domestic related.”

King disappeared on Friday the day the bodies of Hudson’s mother Darnell Donerson, 57, and 29-year-old brother Jason Hudson were found.

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, who shares the same Chicago hometown as the singer, issued a statement Saturday. "Michelle and I were absolutely 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," the Illinois senator said. "We also pray for the swift and safe return of her young nephew."

Jennifer Hudson was a contestant on American Idol and won an Academy Award for best supporting actress in 2007 for her role in "Dreamgirls," – by Kari Graham

Jennifer Hudson’s Mother, Brother Murdered
Oct. 25, 2008 – Jennifer Hudson is living through a personal hell today. Her mother Darnell Donerson, 57, and brother, Jason Hudson, 29, were killed in Chicago yesterday. To make matters worse, her 7 year old nephew Julian King, is missing (an Amber Alert has been issued). The boy may have witnessed the murders.

Word coming out of Chicago says a suspect is in custody and it’s believed the incident centers around a domestic dispute. William Balfour, 27, a suspect in the double homicide investigation has previously been convicted of attempted murder, car theft and vehicular hijacking. He was released from prison in 2006. Michelle Balfour, William’s mother says her son had been married to Hudson's sister, Julia, and the couple were separated. Jennifer’s mother had ordered him out of the family home last year. Balfour has not been charged with anything yet.

Police say the pair were shot and that Hudson returned to Chicago last night.

CBS News Consultant, Paul Ciliano, a former Chicago police officer says the Englewood neighborhood where the crimes were committed is "probably the toughest neighborhood in the city of Chicago.”

He adds, "This is a notoriously violent area, the most shootings and car hijackings and tough-and-rumble place on the South Side of Chicago.”

A neighbor of the Hudson family, Vanessa Stanton, says, "It really saddens me because they were actually good people.”

Hudson rose to fame via the third season of American Idol in 2005. She made it to the top 12. Her success after was nothing short of miraculous, winning the Oscar in 2007, for best supporting actress for Dreamgirls. She also starred in the ‘Sex and the City’ movie and the new movie ‘The Secret Life of Bees.’ Her song ‘Spotlight’ is on top Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop chart.

Hudson lives in New York but visits her family in Chicago on a regular basis. Recently Hudson said, "My faith in God and my family, they're very realistic and very normal, they're not into the whole limelight kind of thing, so when I go home to Chicago that's just another place that's home.” She adds, "I stand in line with everybody else, or, when I go home to my mom I'm just Jennifer, (so she says), 'You get up and you take care of your own stuff.' And I love that; I don't like when people tell you everything you want to hear, I want to hear the truth, you know what I mean."

Hudson is engaged to David Otunga, best known for his stint on VH1's reality show "I Love New York."

Police are still trying to find Julian King, 7. He is four feet 11 inches and weighs 130 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes, and was wearing a brown polo shirt with stripes and khaki pants.

If you have any information, please call 911 or the Chicago Police Department at (312) 747-8380. - By John Beaudin and Shannon Edwards