February 11, 2009 2:07 PM
- Text
Family Tragedy: Hudson's Nephew Found Dead
(CBS/AP)
The frantic, two-day search for actress Jennifer Hudson's missing 7-year-old nephew ended Monday morning with the worst possible outcome - the discovery of an SUV missing from the crime scene with a boy's body inside, CBS News correspondent Cynthia Bowers reports from Chicago.
It was Hudson, the Academy Award-winner - not her sister Julia Hudson, the mother of the child - who identified the remains of Julian King late in the afternoon, Chicago police said.
"We can confirm the body found was that of Julian King," said Chicago police Superintendent Jody Weis.
The little boy was reported missing Friday afternoon, when his mom Julia Hudson came home to find her son gone - and her mother Darnell Donnerson and brother Jason Hudson shot to death. By nightfall Julia's estranged husband, William Balfour, was in custody - but there was no sign of the boy, prompting her to issue a heartbreaking plea.
"I don't care who you are," Hudson said Sunday. "Just let my baby go, please."
Jennifer Hudson has remained in seclusion since returning to Chicago late Friday, although she did put up a $100,000 reward for the safe return of her nephew on Sunday.
The tragedy came at time when the Oscar-winning "Dreamgirls" star was living the dream. She has a hit single on the music charts and a newly released movie. But she still relied heavily on her close-knit family and her faith to help her stay grounded.
"Hopefully that faith will pull her through what is an unimaginable tragedy," said CBS station WBBM-TV entertainment reporter Bill Zwecker.
Many in the inner-city say these high profile slayings will help put a face on frightening statistics.
With at least 429 homicides already this year, Chicago is the nation's murder capital - ahead of both New York and Los Angeles.
"For the most part, a lot of us got desensitized," says Angela Russell, a Chicago neighbor of Hudson's.
Gunshots are so commonplace in the city, Bowers reports, that when they rang out early Friday no one reported them. That gave the killer what amounted to a seven-hour head start with his captive, little Julian King, in tow.
The SUV was found parked on the street in a neighborhood of brownstone homes and apartment buildings, and matched the one sought in an Amber Alert issued after Hudson's mother and brother were found slain Friday, police Cmdr. Wayne Gulliford said.
CBS radio station WBBM confirmed that the vehicle was registered to Jason Hudson, one of the victims in Friday's brutal slayings.
Chicago police have characterized the killings as "domestic related" and have been questioning Balfour, who is being held in state custody on a parole violation. Balfour is not the boy's father and has not been charged in the slayings.
He was taken into custody Friday by Chicago police for questioning in the killings. On Sunday, he was transferred to the Illinois Department of Corrections "based on his active parole violation unrelated to this investigation."
Records from the Corrections Department show Balfour is on parole and spent nearly seven years in prison for attempted murder, vehicular hijacking and possessing a stolen vehicle.
Balfour's mother, Michele Balfour, has said Hudson's mother kicked Balfour out of the family home last winter. She denied her son had anything to do with the killings.
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, and it was unclear whether Balfour had an attorney.
The medical examiner's office confirmed Hudson, 27, identified the bodies of her mother, Darnell Donerson, 57, and 29-year-old brother, Jason Hudson. The deaths were ruled homicides.
Neighbors and well-wishers brought stuffed animals and other items to a makeshift memorial outside Donerson's two-story white clapboard home as news of Monday's discovery spread.
"Everybody knows Jennifer Hudson, but I would be here even if it was little Suzy on the corner," said Tacara Juarez, 26, who doesn't know the family but lives in the neighborhood.
"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," said a statement from her publicist.
It was Hudson, the Academy Award-winner - not her sister Julia Hudson, the mother of the child - who identified the remains of Julian King late in the afternoon, Chicago police said.
"We can confirm the body found was that of Julian King," said Chicago police Superintendent Jody Weis.
The little boy was reported missing Friday afternoon, when his mom Julia Hudson came home to find her son gone - and her mother Darnell Donnerson and brother Jason Hudson shot to death. By nightfall Julia's estranged husband, William Balfour, was in custody - but there was no sign of the boy, prompting her to issue a heartbreaking plea.
"I don't care who you are," Hudson said Sunday. "Just let my baby go, please."
Jennifer Hudson has remained in seclusion since returning to Chicago late Friday, although she did put up a $100,000 reward for the safe return of her nephew on Sunday.
The tragedy came at time when the Oscar-winning "Dreamgirls" star was living the dream. She has a hit single on the music charts and a newly released movie. But she still relied heavily on her close-knit family and her faith to help her stay grounded.
"Hopefully that faith will pull her through what is an unimaginable tragedy," said CBS station WBBM-TV entertainment reporter Bill Zwecker.
Many in the inner-city say these high profile slayings will help put a face on frightening statistics.
With at least 429 homicides already this year, Chicago is the nation's murder capital - ahead of both New York and Los Angeles.
"For the most part, a lot of us got desensitized," says Angela Russell, a Chicago neighbor of Hudson's.
Gunshots are so commonplace in the city, Bowers reports, that when they rang out early Friday no one reported them. That gave the killer what amounted to a seven-hour head start with his captive, little Julian King, in tow.
The SUV was found parked on the street in a neighborhood of brownstone homes and apartment buildings, and matched the one sought in an Amber Alert issued after Hudson's mother and brother were found slain Friday, police Cmdr. Wayne Gulliford said.
CBS radio station WBBM confirmed that the vehicle was registered to Jason Hudson, one of the victims in Friday's brutal slayings.
Chicago police have characterized the killings as "domestic related" and have been questioning Balfour, who is being held in state custody on a parole violation. Balfour is not the boy's father and has not been charged in the slayings.
He was taken into custody Friday by Chicago police for questioning in the killings. On Sunday, he was transferred to the Illinois Department of Corrections "based on his active parole violation unrelated to this investigation."
Records from the Corrections Department show Balfour is on parole and spent nearly seven years in prison for attempted murder, vehicular hijacking and possessing a stolen vehicle.
Balfour's mother, Michele Balfour, has said Hudson's mother kicked Balfour out of the family home last winter. She denied her son had anything to do with the killings.
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, and it was unclear whether Balfour had an attorney.
The medical examiner's office confirmed Hudson, 27, identified the bodies of her mother, Darnell Donerson, 57, and 29-year-old brother, Jason Hudson. The deaths were ruled homicides.
Neighbors and well-wishers brought stuffed animals and other items to a makeshift memorial outside Donerson's two-story white clapboard home as news of Monday's discovery spread.
"Everybody knows Jennifer Hudson, but I would be here even if it was little Suzy on the corner," said Tacara Juarez, 26, who doesn't know the family but lives in the neighborhood.
"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," said a statement from her publicist.
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