Hudson Offers Reward For Nephew's Return

Cops To Transfer "Person Of Interest' In Double-Homicide Case To State Authorities

(AP)  Jennifer Hudson and her family offered a $100,000 reward Sunday for the safe return of her missing nephew, as investigators looked for forensic evidence near the home where her mother and brother were found shot to death.

Mourners dressed in their Sunday best milled outside the childhood home of the singer and Oscar-winning actress, along with investigators seeking clues to the whereabouts of 7-year-old Julian King, the son of Jennifer Hudson's sister, Julia.

In a statement Sunday evening from publicist Lisa Kasteler, Jennifer Hudson appealed to the public for its help, offering the reward and asking that any information be given to Chicago police.

"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," the statement said.

Chicago police ramped up search efforts for Julian around the Englewood neighborhood, where Hudson grew up, and transferred custody of a "person of interest" in the killings to state authorities.

An Amber Alert remained in effect Sunday for Julian, who disappeared Friday, the day the bodies of his grandmother, Darnell Donerson, 57, and 29-year-old uncle Jason Hudson were found in the home they shared on the city's South Side. The deaths were ruled homicides.

The Amber Alert listed William Balfour, the estranged husband of Julia Hudson, as a suspect in a "double homicide investigation."

Police said they did not have a motive for the killings but called the case "domestic related." Bond said Balfour had not been charged.

"Detectives are working 24 hours on this case," said Chicago police spokeswoman Monique Bond. "There's a lot of forensic evidence. We have to work the evidence and try and solve this case. Most importantly, we want to find the child."

Authorities said the search for Julian would be citywide, but on Sunday residents and officers focused their efforts "in the immediate vicinity" of the home, said police spokesman Dan O'Brien.

Bond said no weapon had been found at the Hudson home, a three-story house sandwiched by vacant lots littered with trash. Investigators on Sunday moved in and out of the home and examined the trash.

Mourners stopped by the Hudson home, many laying teddy bears along the chain link fence around the property. Others signed a cross that rested on the fence.

"We love you," one message read. Another said, "We'll find the people who did this."

Police officers were instructed to place fliers with Julian King's picture and description in every business in the area.

Jennifer Hudson, who won an Academy Award for best supporting actress in 2007 for her role in "Dreamgirls," was in Chicago with her family during the weekend, her sister said. Her publicist did not disclose her whereabouts, but the Cook County medical examiner's office confirmed she had identified the bodies of her mother and brother.

Bond said Balfour, who had been in police custody since Friday, was transferred Sunday to the Illinois Department of Corrections "based on his active parole violation unrelated to this investigation."

Records from the Corrections Department show Balfour, 27, is on parole and spent nearly seven years in prison for attempted murder, vehicular hijacking and possessing a stolen vehicle.

Corrections spokeswoman Januari Smith said Balfour would probably remain in state custody until the Illinois Prisoner Review Board looked at his case. She would not say where Balfour was being held.

It was unclear whether Balfour had an attorney Sunday, but his mother, Michele Balfour, has denied he was involved the killings or in Julian's disappearance.

In a MySpace blog entry on Sunday, Jennifer Hudson said she was grateful for community support and posted a picture of her sister's son.

"Thank you all for your prayers and your calls," she wrote. "Please keep praying for our family and that we get Julian King back home safely."

[ericv2644]

I hope that Jennifer is able to make it through this horrific tragedy.

[ericv2644]

I hope that Jennifer is able to make it through this horrific tragedy.

[akpals]

Who cares about anything but the fact that two people are dead and a little boy is missing! Why should it matter what color he is, and how does Obama fit in here?

[nishaboston]

So now it is Barack Obama''s fault that this happend? LOL

[gop_will_win]

brdliky14, its basket weaving time.

[reedtaz73]

William Balfour and his massive Afro; he looks like 97% of every mug shot and convict I''''ve ever seen. Black man shooting a bunch of black people, not exactly a big suprise.Posted by michaelt302 at 10:30 PM : Oct 26, 2008

Would it surprise you more if the victims were white, or would that make it better or worse for you? You sir are an idiot.

[reedtaz73]

This is in Chicago, Obama''''s home base. It is a tragedy but were it not Jennifer Hudson''''s family we would never even hear about it. Obama wants to change something? Stop the rampart black on black crime!!!!!! Posted by bob5ford at 07:17 PM : Oct 26, 2008

Wow, Mccain did a great job in curbing white on white crime...another stupid statement from a soon to be sore loser...He actually made a good point tho, missing black american children hardly ever make the news. Even if the crime was surrounded by violence it''s just not that important to mainstream media. But Kaylee, she make the news every day and they still can''t find her, bless her soul.

[rhondag7]

I hope and pray that they find the killer and that the baby is found.I will pray for him every nite.I get so aggervated that people want to put politics in on this.I am white and I love all different people my best friend is mexican,my male friend is from India,and my room mate is black....I don''t see as if Obama has anything to do with this as neithe Mccain.This was done by a sick person color of skin is nothing in this matter...just a sick sick person

[ascension64]

Its a sad day any child is killed. If the person that did it is found and brought to justice, I would gladly volunteer to "pull the switch" if that is the penalty handed down. For anyone to somehow connect this with Obama is absurd. I''m starting to wonder why Mr Obama would even want this job as president. If he wins some folks will try to blame him for everything from the Beatles breaking up to that 8 year old kid shooting himself by mistake with that Uzi.

[ascension64]

Posted by brdliky14
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brdliky14 uh..what??