Posts Tagged ‘julian king’

Hudson Homicide Suspect Remains in Custody

November 10th, 2008

William Balfour, a suspect in the killing of Jennifer Hudson’s mother, brother and nephew, appeared in court today in Chicago where it was found that he should remain in state custody until at least December for violating his parole, according to TMZ.

 

The estranged husband of Jennifer’s sister Julia Hudson, William has been in custody since Oct. 26, but has not been charged for the triple-homicide that has shattered the Hudson family.

 

The Illinois Prisoner Review Board determined this morning that there is enough evidence to show that Balfour has committed a crime that violates his parole, based on his girlfriend’s testimony that he appeared to have a gun that matched the murder weapon. Otherwise he could’ve gone free.

 

He has admitted to being in the Hudson home on the morning of the murders, and one of his current girlfriends told police that Balfour had said he was involved in the killing of Darnell Donerson, Jason Hudson, and Julian King.

 

Public Memorial Service Set for Hudson Family

October 31st, 2008

The Chicago community that lost Darnell Donerson, Jason Hudson and Julian King, all members of Jennifer Hudson’s family, will be allowed to attend a public memorial scheduled for the slain victims on Sunday, according to Entertainment Tonight.

 

While Jennifer and her sister Julia Hudson won’t be there, the service will bring together the neighborhood to grieve the loss they’ve suffered.

And, in the aftermath of the tragedy that took three of their family members away from them, Jennifer Hudson and sister Julia Hudson have announced a new foundation to help murder victims’ family members.

 

Named after Darnell Hudson Donerson, Jason Hudson and Julian King, Jennifer’s mother, brother and nephew who were slain last Friday, the Hudson-King Foundation for Families of Slain Victims was announced on Wednesday night, after a Chicago prayer vigil.

 

"The specific purpose of the Foundation is to care for the needs of families who have lost relatives to a violent crime," the family says in a statement. "This encompasses their basic needs of food, clothing and shelter as well as grief counseling."

Donations to the Hudson-King Foundation can be sent:
c/o Abrams Garfinkel Margolis Bergson, LLP
Attn: William L. Abrams, Esq.
237 West 35th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10001

Funeral Date Set for Hudson Murders

October 30th, 2008

Jennifer Hudson and her family have been through hell and back, made no easier by the fact that the media and general public have watched the story of their murdered relatives unfold since the tragedy occurred nearly a week ago.

So it is no wonder that on Thursday, the family confirmed it had chosen a private service to say goodbye to their murdered loved ones, which will be held on Monday morning at Chicago’s Apostolic Church of God.

According to E! Online, the memorial will be open to invited guests only. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to be made to the newly created Hudson-King Domestic Violence Protection Fund, named in honor of the tragedy’s three victims–Jennifer’s mother Darnell Donnerson, 57, brother Jason Hudson, 29, and nephew Julian King, 7.

As of now, no public memorial service is planned, however the Hudson Funeral Home (owned by Jennifer’s aunt) will make an announcement regarding a potential open memorial on Friday.

 

Police have still made no arrests in connection with the slayings, though 27-year-old William Balfour is being held in custody and is considered a "person of interest."

Balfour is Jennifer’s brother-in-law and was Julian’s step-father.  Although on Wednesday police discovered what they believe is the murder weapon--a .45 caliber gun–Balfour has reportedly refused to take a polygraph test.

Suspected Murder Weapon Found in Hudson Case

October 30th, 2008

There’s been a new development in the murders of Jennifer Hudson’s mother, brother and nephew.

On Wednesday, police found a handgun in an abandoned lot, about a block away from the SUV where 7-year-old Julian King’s body was found, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Earlier in the day, cops sent 100 personnel to search the area where the boy’s body was discovered. Officials believe the gun they found was used in all three murders.

Story developing…

 

Jennifer’s Family Nightmare

October 29th, 2008 / Author: OK! Staff

This last year has been an amazing year for Jennifer Hudson. Besides enjoying a career high that currently includes a starring role in the film The Secret Life of Bees, and her self-titled debut album, the Oscar-winning actress became engaged to fiance David Otunga. Life couldn’t have looked better for the girl who first got her start as an American Idol castoff.

But on Oct. 24, Hudson’s luck took a tragic turn as news broke of the brutal murders of her mother, Darnell Donerson, 57, and big brother, Jason Hudson, 29. The two were found shot to death in their home on Chicago’s South Side. Jennifer’s 7-year-old nephew, Julian King, was missing.

 

The actress flew from Florida where she’d been promoting The Secret Life of Bees, to Chicago to aid in the search for the second grader. On Oct. 25, Jennifer offered a $100,000 reward for Julian’s return, along with a heartwrenching plea on her Web Site, "Please keep praying for our family and that we get Julian King back home safely," she wrote.

Sadly, the family’s worst nightmare came true on Oct. 27, when police discovered Julian’s lifeless body in the back seat of a 1994 white Chevrolet Suburban which they said had been taken from the murder scene three days earlier. On the day she was supposed to launch a world tour for her self-titled debut CD, Jennifer instead had to sit in the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office, waiting for officials to identify the body of her little nephew.

"At 27, Jennifer was on the top of the world–Oscars, honors, accolades–and someone just stole her dream away," Jenifer Lewis of Broadway’s original cast of Dreamgirls told OK!.

Jennifer, along with three other relatives, had the catastophic task of confirming that the victim’s body was Julian’s before authorities announced the determinations. An autopsy was scheduled for Oct. 28, the cause of death believed to be multiple gunshot wounds.

On Oct. 24, police picked up Hudson’s brother-in-law and Julian’s step-father, William Balfour, 27. An ex-con who spent 7 years in jail for, among other crimes, attempted murder, Balfour has since been turned over to state officials for a parole violation, which will keep him behind bars while the case is being investigated. While no charges have been filed, police are calling Balfour a "person of interest."

 

As for Jennifer’s state of mind, a friend tells OK! that the actress is doing her best to keep it together for her remaining relatives.

"Jennifer only has her sister left — they need to move on together," Hudson’s pal Marco tells OK!. "But she is a very strong lady. With her family, friends and fans standing behind her, she will get through this."

For the entire story on Jennifer Hudson’s family nightmare, pick up the new OK! — on newsstands everywhere on Thursday.

Family Dispute at Center of Hudson Homicides

October 28th, 2008

Troubles between Jennifer Hudson’s sister Julia Hudson and her estranged husband William Balfour may be the motive behind the triple homicides of her mother Darnell Donerson, brother Jason Hudson and nephew Julian King, according to the Chicago Tribune.

 

A police source tells the paper that there was an ongoing dispute between Julia and Balfour, after he’d borrowed her car and promised to keep up the payments on it. When Julia found her wages garnished last Friday because of unpaid payments, she called William to complain.

 

The 27-year-old parolee had been thrown out of the Hudson home before, and Julia says he’d threatened to harm the family, and kill Julia if she ever had any other boyfriends.

 

Balfour is being held at Stateville Correctional Center for violating his parole, as a suspect in the murders. He was convicted in 1999 for attempted murder and spent seven years in jail. One of his girlfriends contradicted his alibi and told cops he was involved in the slayings on Friday.

 

Police are also looking into the possibility that Balfour involved someone else in the crime.    

Simon & Paula React to Hudson Tragedy

October 27th, 2008

As word leaks out around the world of the tragic murders of Jennifer Hudson’s mother, brother and nephew, her former critics, American Idol judges Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul, are reaching out to the Oscar-winning actress.

In an interview with Extra from London, Cowell said, "I was horrified when I heard the news. This is an appalling tragedy. My thoughts right now are with Jennifer and her family."

Paula adds, "This is a horrific tragedy and my thoughts and prayers go out to Jennifer and her entire family. The time I had to get to know Jennifer and forge a wonderful friendship with her while she was on Idol was very special to me, and I personally can’t imagine a greater loss for any family."

 

Earlier today, Chicago police confirmed that the body of a young boy found in an SUV was that of Hudson’s nephew, 7-year-old Julian King. The actress had remained hopeful that the missing boy would be found, offering a $100,000 reward for knowledge of his whereabouts.

The news comes at the heels of Friday’s shocking shooting deaths of Hudson’s mother and brother. Police are currently calling Hudson’s brother-in-law and Julian’s step-father, William Balfour, a "person of interest."

Police Confirm Body is Hudson’s Nephew

October 27th, 2008

The tragic story of Jennifer Hudson’s slain family members, including brother Jason Hudson and mother Darnell Donerson, is about to take another sad turn:

On Monday, the Chicago Police confirmed the family’s worst nightmare: That the body of a young boy found inside an SUV is indeed Hudson’s 7-year-old nephew, Julian King. According to TMZ, the boy suffered at least one gunshot wound to the head, but an official cause of death has not been issued.

Police are reviewing surveillance tapes in the neighborhood where the SUV was found and are zeroing in on a timeline, although they say it is still unclear when the SUV showed up in the neighborhood with Julian’s body.

 

Police are currently calling William Balfour, Jennifer’s brother-in-law and Julian’s step-father, a "person of interest" but have not named anyone as an official suspect.

 

Earlier today, a top FBI official said the agency believed the body was Julian’s. At the time, Hudson was on her way to the medical examiner’s office to identify the body.

 

The 7-year-old son of the actress’ sister Julia has been missing since Friday, after the bodies of Jason and Darnell were found inside a Chicago home.

 

Chicago police said the body of a black male child was found shortly after 7 a.m. in the rear seat of an SUV. An autopsy was planned for Tuesday.

 

TMZ reports the body was inside a 1994 white Chevy Suburban, the same SUV owned by Jennifer’s murdered brother which was reported missing after he and Jennifer’s mother were shot dead last Friday.

 

Earlier today, FBI Deputy Director John Pistole said the body is "believed to be" Julian, according to reports.

 

William Balfour has been arrested, although no charges have been filed against him yet.

 

Jennifer and her family had offered a $100,000 reward for the safe return of Julian, and the actress had posted a plea for her nephew on MySpace.

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