News & Politics - Jennifer Hudson's mother & brother found dead

vc318 · 10-24-2008, 04:46 PM

Chicago news - 10/24/08 - Chicago News - abc7chicago.com

Actress Hudson's mother, brother dead; boy missing

Authorities search for Hudson's nephew

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The mother and brother of singer and Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson were found shot to death inside a home Friday.

Police have confirmed Hudson's mother, Darnell Hudson Donerson, 57, is one of the deceased. The other victim has been identified as Jennifer Hudson's brother, Jason S. Hudson, 29.

The home where the bodies were discovered aruond 3 p.m. Friday is at 7019 S. Yale in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood. Property records indicate the home belongs to Donerson.

A search is underway for a young boy who is missing from the home. A child, possibly Jennifer Hudson's 7-year-old nephew, Julian King, has been missing since Friday morning, according to Area 2 Deputy Chief Joseph Patterson.

Patterson said neighbors reported hearing shot between 8 and 9 a.m.

State police have issued an amber alert for the child. He may be with William Balfour, who police are looking for. Relatives said Balfour is the husband of Jennifer Hudson's sister, Julia.

Police are searching for an SUV that was seen in the area - a 1994 white Suburban, Illinois license plate number X584859.

He could also be driving a teal or green Chrysler Concorde, four-door with temporary tags 332K823.

Balfour is believed to have lived in the house where the bodies were found.

King may be wearing a tan polo shirt with the number 5 on it and khaki pants.

Patterson said a family member found the body of Donerson in the living room Friday afternoon and left the hose to call police. When authorities arrived, they found Jason Hudson in a bedroom.

Patterson said there was no sign of forced entry.

Jennifer Hudson is a member of Progressive Baptist Church on Chicago's South Side. Despite her daughter's celebrity, Donerson chose to stay and live on the South Side, a decision that did not go unnoticed by the church community.

"That says a lot about the fact of the kind of family Jennifer comes from," said Rev. Willie Davis, Progressive Baptist Church. "They're a family of faith. They want to be attached to their roots. And that's just the sign of the nature of their relationship with God."

The church is where Jennifer Hudson's mom sat in a front row pew and watched as her daughter sang to an absolutely packed house just one week before Jennifer Hudson would accept an Academy Award in Hollywood.

"I'm so grateful to have my mother here celebrating with me, my boyfriend, my sisters and brothers back home. I got two of them here. Thank you all for being here and supporting me," Jennifer Hudson said in her acceptance speech.

Church leaders say they have been told that Jennifer Hudson is flying home to Chicago from Tampa.

"I'm waiting now to hear from Jennifer, and I understand she's making her way back into the city. And I have already made a call to make sure that once she arrives, that I can be made available to be there for her and her family," Davis said.

Jennifer Hudson's cousin is the music director at Progressive Baptist Church. He was getting ready for the regular Friday children's choir rehearsal when he got a phone call alerting him to what happened just a couple of miles away.

Jennifer Hudson attended Dunbar High School. Her dad died many years ago, and her mother, brother and sister still lived in Englewood.

What sad news! What the hell is going on with this world?! My thoughts and prayers go out to her.

Tugi · 10-24-2008, 04:49 PM

This is horrible.

My thoughts are with the child, hope they found him.

**TheAngel** · 10-24-2008, 07:20 PM

I saw that today. It's horrible. I feel so sorry for this poor woman and I hope she's going to be OK. I also really hope that they find the child.

4N6 DNA · 10-24-2008, 07:29 PM

This really is a tragedy. She has lost so much of her family/

At least they have the license number. I hope they find the culprit soon.

**Cristofle** · 10-24-2008, 08:30 PM

This is so, so tragic

To lose so much of her family at once. Poor Jennifer. My prayers are with her, and I continue to pray that her nephew is found safe and sound. If I'm not mistaken, the little boy's mother (Jennifer's sister) also has not been seen since this broke. I'm praying for her safety as well.

Age-a-licious · 10-25-2008, 11:55 AM

They arrested the suspect but he wont tell where the little boy is

**Cristofle** · 10-25-2008, 12:13 PM

I'm very, very concerned that he wasn't with the suspect, if the suspect is in fact guilty

**Cristofle** · 10-27-2008, 06:56 AM

CNN is reporting that the SUV has been found and there are reports of a child's body inside.

This is absolutely unspeakable. I don't understand what compells anyone to kill period, but killing a CHILD. What could EVER possibly possess someone? He was only seven years old

**Mio** · 10-27-2008, 08:29 AM

This only cements why I am becoming a forensic criminalist.

LaraCroft01 · 10-27-2008, 09:38 AM

From US Magazine

Quote:

A body believed to be Jennifer Hudson's 7-year-old nephew was found in Chicago Monday morning, according to reports.

Police had been searching for Julian King since Friday, when they found the bodies of Hudson's mother and brother, who had been shot to death.

Julian is the son of Hudson's sister, Julia.

Police issued an amber alert for the boy Friday, and asked people to watch out for a white SUV that had been stolen from the house. According to the Chicago Medical Examiner's Office, a boy's body was found in the same SUV Monday, reports the Chicago Tribune.

On Sunday, Hudson offered a $100,000 reward for the safe return of her nephew.

She also posted a message asking people to "keep praying" for her family on her Celebrity MySpace page.

From Eonline

Quote:

Boy Found Dead in Chicago, No Word on ID Yet

n what may be the horrible conclusion to an epically tragic weekend for Jennifer Hudson's family, Chicago authorities have recovered the body of a 7-year-old boy, fitting the description of the entertainer's missing nephew.

However, there has been no confirmation that the remains, found in an SUV abandoned on a Chicago street, are those of Julian King.

Julian vanished following the slayings of Hudson's mother and brother, who were shot dead in their home Friday. Police issued an Amber Alert and FBI kidnapping experts were called in to help search for a white 1994 Chevy Suburban—the same vehicle where the body was discovered.

Over the weekend, Hudson and her sister, Julia, the boy's mother, both made emotional pleas for Julian's safe return. The Oscar-winning Dreamgirls star also offered a $100,000 reward and asked fans "to pray for our family."

The boy's stepfather, William Balfour, was detained by police but has not formally been charged. He is currently in the custody of state officials.

This is so unspeakable. My prayers and thoughts are with Jennifer and her sister right now.

Dana_Lana · 10-27-2008, 02:17 PM

This breaks my heart.

Why would anyone do this???

vc318 · 10-27-2008, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dana_Lana (View Post)

This breaks my heart.

Why would anyone do this???

I know. I can't imagine what Jennifer must be going through right now.

**Cristofle** · 10-27-2008, 02:48 PM

It is beyond comprehension, to be capable of doing something like this. That poor, poor little boy

I am so sorry for his mother, and for Jennifer. I feel sick thinking about Julia. She lost her mother, her brother, and her son.

vc318 · 10-27-2008, 02:49 PM

Oh my gosh. I can't believe this:

Body in SUV is Hudson's nephew, FBI says - CNN.com

No way. Please don't say it's true. Poor girl.

4N6 DNA · 10-27-2008, 02:51 PM

I don't know what else to say


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