[vc318]

This is Lara here: Leah and I have decided to have a news thread where everyone from the board can come and post news. We will edit major news in the title thread.

*************

Hey guys. I thought I should post this news here:

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.

This really blew me away. Poor Jennifer. She must be in total disbelief right now.

[ladyle]

It's completely terrible what happened to Jennifer's family. I'll keep this post on the board for now, just incase anyone wants to make comments. Thank you, for this!

[IScream4Dean]

Yes I heard this earlier today and wondered if anyone posted anything, so sad I love Jenifer, I have her new CD, must have watched my Dreamgirls DVD a hundred times and last week I saw her move Secret Life of Bee's her career is really taking off and she was recently engaged, now all of her glory being shattered with tragedy

[LaraCroft01]

I have no words. I am litteraly stunned to the core. My heart goes out to her during this tragic time.

[ladyle]

Thanks for making the News thread, Lara! And yes, I was shocked when I heard this. My thoughts and prayers go out to her & her family.

[LaraCroft01]

No problem! I really hope they find her nephew and sister safe and sound.

[ladyle]

I hope they do, too. They sent out an Amber Alert for her nephew.

[LaraCroft01]

Her sister hasn't been seen since work.

[ladyle]

ohh...yipes!! i DO hope they find her then!!

[LittleMilkJug]

This is so sad

[LostEvi]

this is really sad, i was shocked when i heard the news!

[Gracie]

This is really sad, I was tearing up as I read articles on this, poor Jennifer My thoughts and prayers are with her family. I hope they find her nephew soon

[LaraCroft01]

From US Magazine

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

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.

I can't even imagine what she is going though right now. My thoughts and prayers are with her and her sister.

[LaraCroft01]

Report: Boy Believed to Be Jennifer Hudson's Nephew Was Shot Multiple Times
Monday October 27, 2008

US Weekly

The body of a boy believed to be Jennifer Hudson's 7-year-old nephew was shot multiple times, the Chicago Tribune reports. TMZ.com is also reporting that the boy suffered at least one gun shot to the head. FBI Deputy Director John S. Pistole said Monday afternoon that the body -- discovered at 7:06 a.m. Monday in the back seat of an abandoned white 1994 Chevy Suburban Monday on Chicago's West Side -- was believed to be that of Julian King. Chicago police have yet to confirm. The boy went missing after an unidentified assailant fatally shot Hudson's mother Darnell and brother Jason on Friday.

I can't believe how cold hearted and evil some people can be. Shooting anyone is just sad and tragic, but a 7 year old? I hope they catch whoever did this (if they haven't already) and that that person spends the rest of there life in jail.

[IScream4Dean]

This is some really twisted missed up stuff, how can someone harm a child or anyone, I feel so sad for Jenifer I cant even imagine what she's feeling I knew it had to be the boy the minute they said a young boy was found dead in that van, thanks for the updates.