Jennifer Hudson’s Mother And Brother Found Murdered, Nephew Missing
Actress and former American Idol contestant Jennifer Hudson’s mother and brother were found murdered in Chicago:
The mother and brother of Jennifer Hudson were found shot dead Friday at a South Side home, and police were looking for a missing child who is the nephew of the singer and Oscar-winning actress.
“We can confirm that there is an ongoing investigation concerning the deaths of Jennifer Hudson’s mother, Darnell Donerson, and her brother, Jason Hudson,” Hudson’s personal publicist, Lisa Kasteler, said in a statement. “No further comment will be made and the family has asked that their privacy be respected at this difficult time.”
Police spokeswoman Monique Bond said the deaths appeared to be the result of domestic abuse. The Cook County medical examiner’s office said autopsies for Donerson, 57, and Jason Hudson, 29, were pending. [...]
Deputy Chief Joseph Patterson said a family member entered the home around 3 p.m. Friday, found a woman shot on the living room floor and left to notify authorities. Responding officers found a man shot in the bedroom, Patterson said. There was no sign of forced entry.
Jennifer’s nephew Julian is also listed as missing:
Authorities issued an Amber Alert for 7-year-old Julian King and were seeking a 1994 white Chevrolet Suburban. The child was the grandson of the female victim, Patterson said.
The alert said the child was possibly abducted and could be accompanied by a man named William Balfour — considered armed and dangerous — who was a suspect in the double homicide investigation. Records from the Illinois Department of Corrections show Balfour, 27, who has not been charged with a crime, is on parole and spent nearly seven years in prison for attempted murder, vehicular hijacking and possessing a stolen vehicle. [...]
The two could also be in a teal or green Chrysler Concorde with a temporary license plate, a left front headlight hanging out and scratches on the left side of the vehicle, police said.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Jennifer and her family.
UPDATE: It seems that there is a suspect in custody, and this whole sad story apparently stems from an ongoing domestic problem within the family:
The hunt for Jennifer Hudson’s 7-year-old nephew continues to intensify. And we’re told the operating theory among Chicago detectives is an “ongoing domestic dispute” between the suspect, William Balfour, and his estranged wife, Julia Hudson.
Chicago cops would not be more specific, other than to tells us there is an “underlying domestic aspect” to the investigation … that there was “trouble in the marriage.”
We’re told cops continue to interview people, but no one other than Balfour is in custody. As for Balfour, so far no charges have been filed.
Chicago cops are now using flyers with Julian King’s pic to find the missing boy.
The boy hasn’t been seen since the bodies of Hudson’s mother and brother were found Friday in her home in the South side of Chicago. The two had been shot to death.
The police will be handing out the flyers today all over Chicago, particularly on the South side.
Pink Stripe WordPress Theme Designed by Joni Mueller &
What a tragedy for Jennifer and her extended family. We can only hope this innocent little boy is found alive.
I have to wonder what would possess a woman with a young child to marry a man who spent 7 years in prison for attempted murder and car-jacking.
Comment by Rachel — October 26, 2008 @ 5:42 pm
Sadly, the body of a young child has been found in the SUV believed to be the getaway vehicle:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,444192,00.html
Comment by Rachel — October 27, 2008 @ 10:29 am
My heart and prayers go out to this family. What a terrible tragedy.
Comment by Kimi — October 28, 2008 @ 7:06 am