Family Tragedy: Hudson's Nephew Found Dead

Oscar Winner's 7-Year-Old Relative Found In SUV 3 Days After Her Mother, Brother Were Shot To Death

(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.

[grvmstrj]

Gregg 7 - you have the **** nerve to relate some bull about politics to this tradgedy? YOU ARE OBVIOUSLY A HATEFUL DEMENTED S.O.B.! I am certain that you are on god''s MOST WANTED listing!

[avigil2]

Only a idiot would think someone from southside of chicago should be elected President and mess the country up. - Posted by Gregg_7

Yeah, cause our country isn''t messed up already. Where have you been for the last year, let alone for the last 8 years? Condolenses to the Hudson family.

[pmaldona]

"atheists scare me - you scare me. i cannot fathom not believing. if you''''re right, i have nothing to lose by believing"

Nothing wrong with having your beliefs because for a lot of people it keeps them grounded, however I think if you let your faith totally run the way you live your life...you''re going to miss out on a lot of life and experiences and viewpoints all for a story?? "Everyone''s an atheist of some gods, some of us just go one further"

[honestabe8]

i am sick because i don''t believe in life after death?

[luvcanines]

honestabe8:

better leave now if you want to keep that appt with your shrink - you''re one sick puppy. enough of you - the end.

[honestabe8]

again, i cannot be afraid of retaliation from a being in which i do not believe, EVEN IF I WANTED TO. as far as praying for me, get on your knees, slave

[luvcanines]

atheists scare me - you scare me. i cannot fathom not believing. if you''re right, i have nothing to lose by believing; however, if I''M right, you can bend over and kiss your foolish azz goodbye. by your writing, you are even more a pitiful fool. i''ll pray for you.

[honestabe8]

luvcanines: i, too, feel sympathy for the family. as far as calling me a pathetic idiot for not believing in life after death, tell me how someone is supposed to be afraid of retalaition from a being in which they do not believe. i will be waiting for your reasoned answer.

[luvcanines]

honestabe8:

you are a pathetic idiot if you don''t believe everything we do will have to be accounted for when we die. you need to mend your ways today, fool. as far as this story, what a waste of precious life; the little boy obviously was a witness to the other 2 murders and had to be ''done away with''. i am so very sorry for the hudson family. God bless each of you.

[honestabe8]

the day will come when we will have to answer for our choices in this life.
Posted by MissUT2

MissUT2: No we won''t. It''s just an empty proxy threat. Heck, it''s even sillier. It''s an anonymous empty proxy threat.

[biomegaly]

Start Keeping It Real by cleaning up the attraction to the Ghetto!!!! Posted by sarailove at 06:35 AM : Oct 28, 2008

Sarailove,
you are a bit racist. I think you are crazy to think there is any ''attraction'' to the ghetto, other than all those foolish hip-hop artists with there big gold necklaces on the videos. Do you really think people living in the ghetto wanted to be there in the first place?

[sarailove]

I can not get enough of saying how the neighborhood of Englewood is just the most simple minded. They are conditioned to think it is ok to hear gunshots and be so accepting of it. If the people truly wanted to change things they could stop all the ******* reasoning behind ignorant behavior but they love it. I watch the loud mouthed ghetto people from neighborhoods like this and I say why do they exist ....I mean why?!

[sarailove]

Keeping it real!!!
That statement is the most asinine statement that ever came out of an individuals mouth. Look what keeping it real has resulted into..Gunshots were heard in the neighborhood but no one calls the police because of conditioning like lab rats 7 hours pass before the police is called.....just maybe if someone in the neighborhood was not keeping it so real Julian King might still be alive....Julia Hudson my heart goes out to you and Jennifer losing your entire immediate family like that but let''s look at what keeping it real did for you....Julia you brought into your family lives this guy because you just " keeping it real " I am sorry I looked at your myspace page and his...typical ghetto behavior and mentality....People ignorance such as this can''t be allowed to continue on like this....the man had no business around her family and child even if he proved not to be guilty which I seriously doubt...the killings are most def a power play I will take everything away from you that means something to you see because she is suffering more than anything because she has to be reminded of this everyday for the rest of her life....Pray and Change in behavior......Start Keeping It Real by cleaning up the attraction to the Ghetto!!!!

[sarailove]

Keeping it real!!!
That statement is the most asinine statement that ever came out of an individuals mouth. Look what keeping it real has resulted into..Gunshots were heard in the neighborhood but no one calls the police because of conditioning like lab rats 7 hours pass before the police is called.....just maybe if someone in the neighborhood was not keeping it so real Julian King might still be alive....Julia Hudson my heart goes out to you and Jennifer losing your entire immediate family like that but let''s look at what keeping it real did for you....Julia you brought into your family lives this guy because you just " keeping it real " I am sorry I looked at your myspace page and his...typical ghetto behavior and mentality....People ignorance such as this can''t be allowed to continue on like this....the man had no business around her family and child even if he proved not to be guilty which I seriously doubt...the killings are most def a power play I will take everything away from you that means something to you see because she is suffering more than anything because she has to be reminded of this everyday for the rest of her life....Pray and Change in behavior......Start Keeping It Real by cleaning up the attraction to the Ghetto!!!!

[sarailove]

Keeping it real!!!
That statement is the most asinine statement that ever came out of an individuals mouth. Look what keeping it real has resulted into..Gunshots were heard in the neighborhood but no one calls the police because of conditioning like lab rats 7 hours pass before the police is called.....just maybe if someone in the neighborhood was not keeping it so real Julian King might still be alive....Julia Hudson my heart goes out to you and Jennifer losing your entire immediate family like that but let''s look at what keeping it real did for you....Julia you brought into your family lives this guy because you just " keeping it real " I am sorry I looked at your myspace page and his...typical ghetto behavior and mentality....People ignorance such as this can''t be allowed to continue on like this....the man had no business around her family and child even if he proved not to be guilty which I seriously doubt...the killings are most def a power play I will take everything away from you that means something to you see because she is suffering more than anything because she has to be reminded of this everyday for the rest of her life....Pray and Change in behavior......Start Keeping It Real by cleaning up the attraction to the Ghetto!!!!

[sarailove]

Keeping it real!!!
That statement is the most asinine statement that ever came out of an individuals mouth. Look what keeping it real has resulted into..Gunshots were heard in the neighborhood but no one calls the police because of conditioning like lab rats 7 hours pass before the police is called.....just maybe if someone in the neighborhood was not keeping it so real Julian King might still be alive....Julia Hudson my heart goes out to you and Jennifer losing your entire immediate family like that but let''s look at what keeping it real did for you....Julia you brought into your family lives this guy because you just " keeping it real " I am sorry I looked at your myspace page and his...typical ghetto behavior and mentality....People ignorance such as this can''t be allowed to continue on like this....the man had no business around her family and child even if he proved not to be guilty which I seriously doubt...the killings are most def a power play I will take everything away from you that means something to you see because she is suffering more than anything because she has to be reminded of this everyday for the rest of her life....Pray and Change in behavior......Start Keeping It Real by cleaning up the attraction to the Ghetto!!!!

[sarailove]

Keeping it real!!!
That statement is the most asinine statement that ever came out of an individuals mouth. Look what keeping it real has resulted into..Gunshots were heard in the neighborhood but no one calls the police because of conditioning like lab rats 7 hours pass before the police is called.....just maybe if someone in the neighborhood was not keeping it so real Julian King might still be alive....Julia Hudson my heart goes out to you and Jennifer losing your entire immediate family like that but let''s look at what keeping it real did for you....Julia you brought into your family lives this guy because you just " keeping it real " I am sorry I looked at your myspace page and his...typical ghetto behavior and mentality....People ignorance such as this can''t be allowed to continue on like this....the man had no business around her family and child even if he proved not to be guilty which I seriously doubt...the killings are most def a power play I will take everything away from you that means something to you see because she is suffering more than anything because she has to be reminded of this everyday for the rest of her life....Pray and Change in behavior......Start Keeping It Real by cleaning up the attraction to the Ghetto!!!!

[sarailove]

Keeping it real!!!
That statement is the most asinine statement that ever came out of an individuals mouth. Look what keeping it real has resulted into..Gunshots were heard in the neighborhood but no one calls the police because of conditioning like lab rats 7 hours pass before the police is called.....just maybe if someone in the neighborhood was not keeping it so real Julian King might still be alive....Julia Hudson my heart goes out to you and Jennifer losing your entire immediate family like that but let''s look at what keeping it real did for you....Julia you brought into your family lives this guy because you just " keeping it real " I am sorry I looked at your myspace page and his...typical ghetto behavior and mentality....People ignorance such as this can''t be allowed to continue on like this....the man had no business around her family and child even if he proved not to be guilty which I seriously doubt...the killings are most def a power play I will take everything away from you that means something to you see because she is suffering more than anything because she has to be reminded of this everyday for the rest of her life....Pray and Change in behavior......Start Keeping It Real by cleaning up the attraction to the Ghetto!!!!

[sarailove]

Keeping it real!!!
That statement is the most asinine statement that ever came out of an individuals mouth. Look what keeping it real has resulted into..Gunshots were heard in the neighborhood but no one calls the police because of conditioning like lab rats 7 hours pass before the police is called.....just maybe if someone in the neighborhood was not keeping it so real Julian King might still be alive....Julia Hudson my heart goes out to you and Jennifer losing your entire immediate family like that but let''s look at what keeping it real did for you....Julia you brought into your family lives this guy because you just " keeping it real " I am sorry I looked at your myspace page and his...typical ghetto behavior and mentality....People ignorance such as this can''t be allowed to continue on like this....the man had no business around her family and child even if he proved not to be guilty which I seriously doubt...the killings are most def a power play I will take everything away from you that means something to you see because she is suffering more than anything because she has to be reminded of this everyday for the rest of her life....Pray and Change in behavior......Start Keeping It Real by cleaning up the attraction to the Ghetto!!!!

[gregg_7]

zietzke,

Only a true idiot would ignore what a mess South Side of Chicago really is and the liberal slum policies there. Only a idiot would think someone from southside of chicago should be elected President and mess the country up.