Jennifer Hudson's Mother, Brother Slain

Victims Found Shot In Oscar-Winning Actress' Chicago Home; Nephew Missing; Suspect In Custody

(AP)  Authorities investigating the shooting deaths of Jennifer Hudson's mother and brother were searching for the missing 7-year-old nephew of the Oscar-winning actress.

A suspect in the deaths was in custody Friday night, but young Julian King had not been seen since the bodies of Darnell Donerson, 57, and Jason Hudson, 29, were found Friday afternoon.

A family member entering Donerson's South Side home Friday afternoon found the woman shot on the living room floor. Responding officers later found Hanson shot in the bedroom, police said.

At least one of the victims suffered defensive wounds, said authorities who described the shooting as domestic violence.

William Balfour, a man suspected in the deaths, was arrested Friday but had not been charged, law enforcement sources told the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times.

Police spokeswoman Monique Bond said investigators were talking to "a number of people in custody" but she declined to elaborate. An Amber Alert issued Friday said Balfour was a suspect in the double homicide.

Records from the Illinois Department of Corrections show Balfour, 27, is on parole and spent nearly seven years in prison for attempted murder, vehicular hijacking and possessing a stolen vehicle. Public records show one of Balfour's addresses as the home where Donerson and Jason Hudson were shot.

The Cook County medical examiner's office said autopsies for Donerson and Jason Hudson were pending.

Balfour's mother, Michelle, said her son had been married to Hudson's sister, Julia, for several years, but they were separated. She also said Donerson had ordered him to move out of the family's home last winter.

Jennifer Hudson's personal publicist, Lisa Kasteler, said the family wanted privacy.

The tragedy comes as Hudson, who grew up in Chicago, continues to reach new heights in her career. Her song "Spotlight" is No. 1 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop charts and her recently released, self-tiled debut album has been a top seller. She was featured in this year's blockbuster "Sex and the City" movie and is also starring in the hit film "The Secret Life of Bees."

She won an Academy Award for best supporting actress in 2007 for her role in "Dreamgirls." In an interview last year with Vogue, Hudson credited her mother with encouraging her to audition for "American Idol," which launched her career.

The singer, whose father died when she was a teenager, described herself as very close to her family. In a recent AP interview she said her family, which includes older siblings Julia and Jason, helped keep her grounded.

"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 said. "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 recently announced her engagement to David Otunga, best known for his stint on VH1's reality show "I Love New York."

Hudson's representatives would not disclose her whereabouts Friday. She had been scheduled to appear Monday in Los Angeles to collect an ensemble cast honor at the Hollywood Awards for "The Secret Life of Bees" with co-stars including Alicia Keys, Queen Latifah and Dakota Fanning.

[justice2012]

look at here cant yall see whats she is going throught i mean she has lost her mother and brother all ready just give her a break but this goes to jennifer " God is going to make a way for you and your sister i promise b/c the god i surve has done many powerful thing so just play an he will pull you through" just take throws words an keep them close by you heart an keep the faith

[sassalin]

shyam8,

It is sad that you can dismiss this without any sadness. Maybe if people in the getto were outraged and helped police this would not happen in the getto anymore.

[Cas2dy]

She came from a ghetto. That happens all the time in the ghetto.


Posted by shyam8 at 05:12 AM : Oct 26, 2008
Yeah, yeah, you bigot. Where did Sharon Tate come from? Or that famous designer (Versace) who got shot down? Or John Lennon, Selena, Nicole Simpson, Mahatma Ghandi, the young woman who played Mindy''s (Mork & Mindy) little sister (or was she really Pam Dawber''s sister, I forget)... Killers are just like other people...they oftentimes llok like us, talk like us, walk like us, dress like us. They blend into whatever sector of society they wish to...and sometimes you just cannot recognize them.

[miztee92]

I Hope The Man Who Did This Gets The Electric Chair Because He Deserves It!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[miztee92]

I Just Have A Quick Prayer For You And Your Sister And Your Nephew!!!!When the soul is about to depart from the body, then, more fervently than ever, should those present pray for the dying brother. The Holy Name of Jesus should constantly be invoked. If the departing brother be able to speak, such words as the following should be again and again repeated in his ear:
INTO Thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit. O Lord Jesus, receive my soul. Holy Mary, pray for me. O Mary Mother of grace, Mother of mercy, do thou protect me from the enemy, and receive me at the hour of death.

["To the faithful in danger of death who cannot be assisted by a priest ... Holy Mother Church nevertheless grants a plenary indulgence to be acquired at the point of death, provided they are properly disposed and have been in the habit of reciting some prayers during their lifetime. To use a crucifix or cross in connection with the acquisition of this plenary indulgence is a laudable practice.

[miztee92]

Well first I am going to say that have the deepest symphathy in my heart because of this.I am so said that this happened to my idol. Jennifer just keep your head up and the lord will help you through this.

[shyam8]

She came from a ghetto. That happens all the time in the ghetto.

[hmazzenga]

No one deserves to lose their family in this manner. My heart goes out to you, Ms. Hudson.

-Heather Mazzenga

[usadvisor101]

exactly why we need a death penalty !!

thats is my opinion


this is horrible, I feel so sorry for all the relatives.

[natmosely]

My heart goes out to Jennifer Hudson and her family. I pray that God is watching over young Julian and he is returned safely.

Please understand, for every action comes a consequence whether good or bad. To the person or person''s who committed this terrible act, you will reap what you sow. Every man is given a choice, it''s the path you choose that determines life''s longevity... It''s just unfortunate one man''s bad choice can affect the lives of so many others-

[hunterdon6]

Basically, you can not have a gun in Chicago. Then why are so many people getting killed by guns? Because the bad guy will never give them up. And the good guy can''t defend himself. God Bless the Hudson family over this ordeal.

[ladyephesus1]

Jennifer is doing so well and now she loses the loves of her life......

I am speechless.

[longtree-2009]

deaths appear to be result of domestic abuse. the suspect is on parole after spending nearly seven years in prison for attempted murder, vehicular hijacking and possessing a stolen vehicle. why was he even paroled? why only a 7 year sentence? the suspect, whether he did this crime or not, should still be in prison for at least another 25 years. some say we are likely to be murdered by a family member or friend than by a stranger. no matter what, install a monitored alarm system and use it even when at home. be aware of family members, friends, as well as strangers. be prepared to defend yourself by any and all means. there are too many criminal mutants and not enough LEOs per thousand law abiding citizens. law abiding citizens are denied the ability to arm themselves so citizens are easy targets.

[mrmalco]

A prayer for the family.
"What is really going on in America?" neeNiowa asks.
A wonderful country that started under the blessing of genuine intentions for liberty and equality - but over the centuries the vested interests that have dehumanised the country have muddied that clear water. USA is now the world''s greatest exporter of images of violence and greed(Hollywood) also of actual violence dressed in the guise of world policing that is very hypocritical - and in the homeland itself there is a wilderness of soul that breaks out in acts of horror. So we all pray for America ... one of humanity''s greatest projects that has lost much of its soul in politicized and commercialized piety on one side and selfishly callous criminality on the other. A nation that consumes 25% of the world''s resources, makes 25% of the world''s polution with only 4% of the world''s population needs to examine its conscience at some depth. By their fruits you shall know them. This is written, with no joy, by someone who is one of America''s friends.

[xzonz]

this kind of shootings and many more have come to identify America. Gun control laws should be defined by the states not by the federal govt

[neeniowa]

My condolences to Jennifer Hudson and her family. I pray that her nephew will be found safe. It''s a shame that any family would have to deal with something so brutal. WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON IN AMERICA?

[millie34]

Jennifer I love your music and I will be praying for your family. I live in Chicago and I don''t know what is going on with the people of today. There is to much killing.

[barbaraf4]

My heart goes out to this family. I hope the boy will be safely returned.

[cattlekate]

My heart just breaks for the Hudson family. I am so sorry. We watched that pretty, talented girl a few years ago on AI, and I cannot imagine how proud her Mother was of Jennifer''s Voice from God. As a run-of-the-mill Mom, I was proud of Jennifer.

Jennifer has the voice of an angel and I pray the angels can keep her family, and her, strong during this awful tragedy.

[dj1655]

Could this have anything to do with her sister? Why is the nephew cared for by the grandmother? Was this case involving a severe conflict with a guy who her sister was invoved with and were arguing about the boy,the guy got mad and came looking for her? This seems to be another domestic dispute happening in the Black community.I really feel sorry for Jennifer, and all the things she has now has to face.Shocking!But as you can see a situation like this just proves that just because your''e on the top, doesn''t mean your''e not a real person.I really feel for the Black community,I wish everyday, that young Black men will rise to their potentials and stop being thugs, and start thinking about their lives, and their children.