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Jennifer Hudson; Actress' Family Tragedy
Topic Started: Oct 25 2008, 06:09 AM (195 Views)
FamousGroupie
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The mother and brother of Jennifer Hudson were found shot dead Friday at a Chicago home, and police were looking for a missing child who is the nephew of the singer and Oscar-winning actress.

A man suspected in the deaths was in custody Friday night, but the 7-year-old boy had not been located, according to published reports.

William Balfour was being questioned, but Julian King's whereabouts were not known, law enforcement sources told the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times. Balfour has not been charged.

Police spokeswoman Monique Bond said investigators were talking to "a number of people in custody" but she declined to elaborate.

An Amber Alert issued Friday said Balfour was a suspect in the double homicide of Darnell Donerson, 57, and Jason Hudson, 29, whose bodies were found Friday afternoon in a South Side home.

Jennifer Hudson's personal publicist, Lisa Kasteler, confirmed the deaths.

"We can confirm that there is an ongoing investigation concerning the deaths of Jennifer Hudson's mother, Darnell Donerson, and her brother, Jason Hudson," Kasteler said in a statement. "No further comment will be made and the family has asked that their privacy be respected at this difficult time."

The deaths appeared to be the result of domestic abuse, Bond said. The Cook County medical examiner's office said autopsies for Donerson and Jason Hudson were pending.

Deputy Chief Joseph Patterson said a family member entered the home around 3 p.m. Friday, found a woman shot on the living room floor and left to notify authorities. Responding officers found a man shot in the bedroom, Patterson said. There was no sign of forced entry.

Police tape blocked access to the large, white house, where a crowd gathered outside. Investigators searched with dogs and flashlights in foliage surrounding a church that faces the home.

Authorities issued the Amber Alert for King and sought a 1994 white Chevrolet Suburban. The child was the grandson of the female victim, officials said.

The alert said the child was possibly abducted and could be accompanied by Balfour, who was considered armed and dangerous and called a suspect in the double homicide investigation.

Balfour is the husband of Jennifer Hudson's sister, Julia, according to ABC 7, and have been married for a year-and-a-half. He is not Julian King's father.

Records from the Illinois Department of Corrections show Balfour, 27, is on parole and spent nearly seven years in prison for attempted murder, vehicular hijacking and possessing a stolen vehicle. Public records show one of Balfour's addresses as the home where Donerson and Jason Hudson were shot.

The alert said the boy could also be in a teal or green Chrysler Concorde with a temporary license plate, a left front headlight hanging out and scratches on the left side of the vehicle.

The tragedy comes as Hudson, who grew up in Chicago, continues to reach new heights in her career. Her song "Spotlight" is No. 1 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop charts and her recently released, self-tiled debut album has been a top seller. She was featured in this year's blockbuster "Sex and the City" movie and is also starring in the hit film "The Secret Life of Bees."

She won an Academy Award for best supporting actress in 2007 for her role in "Dreamgirls." In an interview last year with Vogue, Hudson credited her mother with encouraging her to audition for "American Idol," which launched her career.

The singer, whose father died when she was a teenager, described herself as very close to her family. In a recent AP interview she said her family, which includes older siblings Julia and Jason, helped keep her grounded.

"My faith in God and my family, they're very realistic and very normal, they're not into the whole limelight kind of thing, so when I go home to Chicago that's just another place that's home," she said. "I stand in line with everybody else, or, when I go home to my mom I'm just Jennifer, (so she says), 'You get up and you take care of your own stuff.' And I love that; I don't like when people tell you everything you want to hear, I want to hear the truth, you know what I mean."

Hudson recently announced her engagement to David Otunga, best known for his stint on VH1's reality show "I Love New York."

Hudson's representatives would not disclose her whereabouts Friday. She had been scheduled to appear Monday in Los Angeles to collect an ensemble cast honor at the Hollywood Awards for "The Secret Life of Bees" with co-stars including Alicia Keys, Queen Latifah and Dakota Fanning.
I don't believe in Bondi. I don't believe in rugby league. I believe in Yoko, John Lennon, the Lost Weekend and me.
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Dorfliedot
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I heard this on Nancy Gracy
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wackadoo
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The police found a young boy's body but have yet to identify whether it is Jennifer's nephew. This is such a sad, sad story. It scares me to think of all the girls out there who are with jealous boyfriends/husbands. I wonder if that will play into this story? My daughter was with one and I worried ALL the time. Luckily, she saw the light and dumped him.

My heart goes out to Jennifer and her family.
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Dorfliedot
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When I heard the news this morning I nearly cryed. I feel for the family.
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Monkey Chow
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beep beep m beep beep yeah
Dorothy
Oct 27 2008, 05:02 PM
When I heard the news this morning I nearly cryed. I feel for the family.
If it is Jennifer Hudson's nephew, my heart goes out to the family for this horrific tragedy.
Everybody's got something to hide 'cept for me and my monkey.
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mspeel 007
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Horrible :cry: :no:
[AND IN THE END.....THE LOVE YOU TAKE...IS EQUAL TO THE LOVE YOU MAKE
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FamousGroupie
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I've just heard on the news that the child's body found in the SUV is that of Julian King, Jennifer's nephew.

My heart and prayers go out to Jennifer, and Julian's mother, Julia Hudson.

Excuse me while I go hug my daughter.
I don't believe in Bondi. I don't believe in rugby league. I believe in Yoko, John Lennon, the Lost Weekend and me.
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Dorfliedot
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Who do that to that family. I hope they catch person who did that.
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update: suspect has been arrest.
http://www.vh1.com/news/articles/1597920/20081025/hudson__jennifer.jhtml
I am glad they found him.
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Very tragic. Who killed them and why?
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BlueMolly2009
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My heart goes out to Jennifer Hudson and her family. :(
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