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Body identified as nephew of actress Jennifer Hudson
Tuesday, 28 October 2008
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Chicago police say the body of a child found in a sport utility vehicle has been identified as that of Julian King, the seven-year-old nephew of Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson.
The body of Julian King was lying in the back seat of the white car they had been looking for since the shooting of the actress's mother and brother in Chicago on Friday. The child had vanished from the house in the wake of the double murder, prompting a city-wide hunt for the boy.
Ms Hudson identified the boy's body at the Cook County Medical Examiner's office Monday afternoon.
The original alert for Julian, the son of Julia Hudson, the actress's sister, said that he may have been snatched from the house by someone driving a 1994 white Chevrolet Suburban.
On Sunday, Ms Hudson, who soared to fame with her role in the 2007 musical film Dreamgirls, issued an appeal to the public in her MySpace blog for help in returning Julian. She also offered a $100,000 (£63,000) reward for his return. Julia Hudson, who was at work as a school bus driver at the time of the murders, had made a similar plea to friends and neighbours on Saturday. Julian had been the subject of a frantic search since the killings, which Chicago police have characterised as "domestic related".
Authorities have been questioning Julia Hudson's estranged husband, William Balfour, 27, who is held in state custody on a parole violation relating a previous conviction, when he served seven years in prison for attempted murder. Balfour is the stepfather of Julian. No one has yet been charged for the killings and the motive remains unknown. However, officials said that Mr Balfour remained a "person of interest" in the investigation.
The bodies of the first two victims, Jennifer Hudson's mother Darnell Donerson, 57, and her brother, Jason Hudson, 29, were found by a family member later on Friday in the house that belonged to Ms Donerson and was home to several members of her extended family. By then, Julian was already missing.
The mother of Mr Balfour has publicly insisted that her son was no longer involved with Julia and had nothing to do with the murders of the brother and mother.
However, police sources told The Chicago Sun-Times that he remained their "primary suspect", saying they had tracked his whereabouts on Friday from mobile telephone records. Mr Balfour's girlfriend, who lives at the house where he was arrested, is believed to have contradicted his alibi.
A neighbour of the girlfriend told the paper that he recalled seeing a man matching Mr Balfour's description drive up in a white SUV and park on the block late on Friday morning – at least two hours after the slaying. The man got out of the car carrying what appeared to be a bottle of spirits and walked into the home where Mr Balfour was arrested later in the day.
The tragedy is an extraordinary reversal of fortune for Ms Hudson, who first found fame as an also-ran on the reality talent show, American Idol. She went on to win the Oscar for supporting actress in Dreamgirls. She had been preparing to promote a new album this week and her new movie The Secret Life of Bees has been well received and reviewed.
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Comments
29 Comments
This is so sad, almost unreal,Three members of a family all gone in a week. this is a huge burden to bear.
Jennifer, I want you to know this long and torturous walk to healing , God will be with you every step of the way. This is a time all members of the family need to find solace in each other to heal, no anger or blaming.
I pray for comfort and strength for you. Continue to be the joyful person you are and find comfort in all the gifts God has given you, It will help. Much love.
Posted by Ade | 30.10.08, 09:57 GMT
I want to give you and your family my condolences anf this is very tragic cannot explain what and how you are feeling at this present moment.
You will always be in my prayers
Cindy
Posted by Cindy | 28.10.08, 18:48 GMT
Jennifer and Julia,
My prayers go out to you and your family during this difficult time. You all have my deepest condolences. Jennifer, Julia trust in your faith. God's word St. John 3:16, for God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotton Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Mother Hudson, brother Jason and Angel Julian have everlasting life now with our father who is in heaven. Family keep looking up God is with you every step of the way. God continue to heal and bless this family is my prayer.
Posted by fran | 28.10.08, 18:41 GMT
I want to give you and your family my condolences anf this is very tragic cannot explain what and how you are feeling at this present moment.
You will always be in my prayers
Cindy
Posted by Cindy | 28.10.08, 18:39 GMT
To the Hudson Family: God would not give it to you if you could not handle it. I have recently went through a similar experience loosing two sisters and my mother, my best friends here in Erie, PA. What gives me strength is that they are with me every step of the way, I can feel that. When I am unsure, I look to the the hills. I shall not bear false wittness, It will be hard, but what keeps me going is knowing that "Gods grace is yet and still sufficient for me," no matter what comes my way. Hold your heads up for your loved ones are not lost, we all know where they are. Many blessings to the family.
Posted by Sarah Bridgett | 28.10.08, 18:33 GMT
May GOD give you peace. Our PRAYERS goes out to the Hudson family.
From the Brown Family,
Mitchellville, Md.
Posted by CONNIE ALEXANDER-BROWN | 28.10.08, 18:28 GMT
What can be said? It's so sad. I cant even imagine what you are going through. God be with you. I'll pray for you. Love you Mrs Hudson.
Posted by FlyMomy | 28.10.08, 18:28 GMT
I can't understand Why Jennifer had to identify her nephew. Please explain so I can know.
Posted by Faye Mitchell | 28.10.08, 18:08 GMT
May GOD be with you and you family in this of sorrow. My prayers are with you and you family stay strong and keep FAITH.
Posted by Tosha | 28.10.08, 18:05 GMT
Jennifer, There is a place and a time for everyone in this world. God chooses the place and the time. Your loved ones are at their place and time safe with Him. You and the rest of your family are still here at this place, at this time. We all have to continue to give all that God placed within us while we are still of this world. God chooses our direction and how far we travel in life. He fixes all things in His time and He will fix the pain. Keep traveling the direction He has chosen for you and yours. God love you, God keep you safe, God keep you strong, God keep you singing, for all that is good is praise. Never stop praying, never stop traveling ever forward.
Posted by Shirl | 28.10.08, 17:58 GMT
so sorry for ya lost u have my condolences they will always be in my prayer
Posted by sophia | 28.10.08, 17:47 GMT
May GOD be with you in this hard time. My deepest condolences go out to the Hudson family.
Posted by Stephanie | 28.10.08, 17:44 GMT
My prayers and condolences are with the Hudson family! God is always with you just Trust in Him, He will get you guys through this!! God knows who did this and He will judge them according to His Will and commandments. Keep your faith and everything will be okay.
Posted by Nikki | 28.10.08, 16:38 GMT
My most deepest and sincere condolences go out to the Hudson Family. In the wake of this tragic event we can only pray for the victims souls to be at peace. As for the person or persons who commited this horrific murder, only god can be the judge of what there fait should be anger and rage will only promote violence more. My prayers are with you all.
Posted by Alba | 28.10.08, 16:30 GMT
may god be with the hudson's family as they are going threw this terrible tragedy. be blessed and live everyday as if it is our last.
Posted by deon renae marks | 28.10.08, 15:52 GMT
This tragedy goes beyond human words and understanding all I think about is the Hudson family and the many families dealing with this sort of evil that has been loosed in the earth today im daily asking God to strengthen them during these trying times and to give NO rest and NO peace to those responsible for such an un- imaginable crime!!
I am so angry!! Because this has to stop!! Will the real men of our communities please stand up and take back your families be the protectors that God has created you to be. When good men do nothing, Evil prevails
Posted by Sherry | 28.10.08, 15:52 GMT
To The Hudson's Family...
The Accessioners from The Dept. Of Pathology At Johns Hopkins Hospital are praying that God threw his son Jesus to give you all strength doing this difficult time.
Posted by Yasmam | 28.10.08, 14:24 GMT
I would like to send my deepest condolences to the entire Hudson Family. I pray that the plan that GOD has for your future will help the entire nation as a whole. For everthing there is a season. GOD blessed you with a loving family. GOD has recieved three of your precious family members into his throne of "GRACE". I pray that Julia and her son's father will be able to forgive and thank GOD for the perfect seven years GOD has blessed her with her prince; "Dr. King". And I pray that you will allow GOD our Father to be a mother to you and a brother (I know that he will). Keep your head to the sky...
"Jennifer and family you made your MOM, brother and nephew proud, so don't give up!!!
From Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn...
It's praying times
Posted by It's Praying time | 28.10.08, 13:16 GMT
Jennifer and family my heart goes out to you all in this time of sorrow know this that God will bring to justice the person or people that has created such an ungodly act as this.may God clothe you,Julia,and family in his peace.Nuggetta Pieper Indiana.
Posted by Nuggetta Pieper | 28.10.08, 13:09 GMT
IT WAS NOT JENNIFER HUDSON "GRANDMOTHER" THAT WAS MURDER BUT HER "MOTHER" ---- DARNELL DONNERSON AND "BROTHER"-----JASON HUDSON HER NEPHEW "JULIAN KING"
THE HUDSON FAMILY IS MY PRAYERS......
Posted by MIMI | 28.10.08, 13:04 GMT
29 Comments