Jennifer Hudson Update – 10/29/08
Update: Update as of 4:35 p.m.: Police recovered a gun today in an alley near where Jennifer Hudsonà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s nephew was found shot to death inside a sport-utility vehicle on the West Side. It was not immediately known whether the gun was used in the killings of Hudsonà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s mother, brother and nephew. Earlier today, police sent about 100 personnel to the area near 13th Street and Kolin Avenue to search for evidence. The handgun was found in an alleyway about a block from where the vehicle was parked along the street.
Here’s the latest on the Hudson case, for those of you who are still following it. The police say there is evidence that the murderer did not act alone. William Balfour could have gone to jail in June on a parole violation–he was caught with a gram of cocaine, but officials decided not to terminate his parole. WTF??? Julian Hudson’s autopsy report came back, and his death was officially ruled a homicide. William Balfour’s mother still insists he was not involved. Extra reports that Jennifer is in hiding and surrounding herself with security guards.
Read the headlines below. If anything significant happens today, I’ll update this post. So far, no one has been charged in the murders.
More Headlines after the Jump…
Latest in Jennifer Hudson family case: Police say murderer may have had help
Although Chicago police have only one known suspect in the slayings of three relatives of actress Jennifer Hudson, some evidence suggests that more than one person may have been involved, law-enforcement sources said today.
Investigators have focused on suspect William Balfour’s movements on Friday, the day of the murders, as well as his conflicts with his estranged wife, Julia Hudson, and other members of the family. They are trying to determine whether another person drove Balfour to the West Side after the killings at the Hudsons’ South Side home, sources said.
Witnesses said Balfour drove his teal Chrysler to the Hudsons’ block Friday, arriving about 7 a.m. But later the vehicle was discovered by police parked about a mile away outside Robeson High School. Balfour’s girlfriend told police that he was at her West Side home not long after the slayings of Hudson’s mother, Darnell Donerson, and the Oscar-winning actress’ brother, Jason, at their Englewood home, sources said.
Violation may snag suspect in Hudson case
Did the suspect in the killings of actress Jennifer Hudson’s mother, brother and nephew fail to meet his anger-management requirements stemming from a decade-old felony conviction?
A Nov. 10 hearing at Stateville prison will decide if there’s probable cause to violate William Balfour’s parole for a 1999 attempted murder and vehicular hijacking conviction. He’s not charged in the killings, but police have named him as a suspect. He’ll remain in prison until his parole hearing.
Autopsy: Hudson nephew shot multiple times
CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) — Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson’s 7-year-old nephew — one of three Hudson relatives found slain in Chicago since Friday — died of multiple gunshot wounds, the Cook County medical examiner’s office said Tuesday.
But the office, which performed an autopsy on Julian King’s body Tuesday, didn’t answer questions about when the child died and where his wounds were.
Julian was found shot to death in an abandoned Chevrolet Suburban on Chicago’s West Side on Monday. Police had begun a massive search for him on Friday, the day Hudson’s mother, Darnell Donerson, and brother, Jason Hudson, were found shot to death in their South Side Chicago home.
Hudson in Hiding
After losing her mother, brother and nephew this past weekend, actress/singer Jennifer Hudson may be worried about her own safety.
“Extra” received chilling new details on how Hudson in hiding and surrounding herself with security guards — according to blogger Liz Crokin. “I can’t disclose where Jennifer is staying — I can just tell you it’s a hotel,” said Liz. “She has bodyguards… and the hotel she’s staying at has a great security team. She left to go to the medical examiner’s office Sunday night.”
Mother: My son not involved in Hudson killings
CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) — The mother of a “person of interest” in the slayings three of Jennifer Hudson’s family members insisted Monday night on CNN that her son was not involved in the crime.
“No means did my son do this,” Michele Davis-Balfour said on CNN’s “Nancy Grace.”
She said that her son, William Balfour, 27, was with a girlfriend Friday when the bodies of Jason Hudson and Darnell Donerson, Hudson’s brother and mother, were discovered shot to death in their South Side Chicago home.
“My son’s alibi was [he was] with one of his girlfriends, OK?” Davis-Balfour said. When Grace asked which girlfriend he was with Friday, the mother said her son was with a woman named Diana on Friday night, and with a woman named Kate on Saturday morning.
A mountain of grief at Hudson home
Shalance Burnett doesn’t know actress Jennifer Hudson, her sister Julia or their three slain relatives.
But that didn’t stop the South Side dialysis technician from visiting the Hudson home on a chilly Tuesday afternoon to pay her respects.
Burnett and her son Maurice, 5, spent only a few minutes outside the Englewood house, long enough to whisper a quick prayer and place a new teddy bear on a massive pile of stuffed animals along the sidewalk. Though she mourns all three, the gesture was meant as a tribute to the actress’ 7-year-old nephew, Julian King, whose body was found Monday on the West Side.
“I was heartbroken when I heard the news,” she said. “I came out here because I felt like I had to do something.”
Jennifer Hudson Gets Support From Ashanti, Nelly, ‘Sex And The City’ Co-Star Mario Canton
The condolences keep pouring in for Jennifer Hudson, who lost not one, but three family members over the weekend in a triple-homicide: her mother, brother and nephew, who was found dead late Monday.
“It’s insane,” Ashanti told MTV News on Monday night. “I can’t even express it, the pain that she must be going through. I can’t imagine going through that. I just pray that she’s strong and she takes the time to heal herself. My prayers go out to her and her family. God bless.”
Since everyone grieves in their own way, Nelly told MTV News there’s no real right or wrong thing to say to someone when you’re trying to console them à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ just saying something, period, is what matters. “It’s a rough thing to talk about,” he said. “It’s like, what do you say? You really don’t know what to say to a person when you talk about death or losing a loved one.”
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13 Responses to “Jennifer Hudson Update – 10/29/08”
How extra frightening now that someone might still be out there! Wasn’t there another car that they were looking for? Some green old type car?
Agree. WTF on not sending him back to jail after the parole violation? Why would they ignore it? Sad to think all this could have been avoided if the as*h*le had been sent back to jail where he belonged.
Why does that person even tell that JH is in a hotel? Why not just say she’s in seclusion with NO CLUES.
The police must have some good ideas/clues on this. For the Hudson family I pray that this doesn’t drag on. They need to feel safe and have some degree of closure.
I strongly agree, hapi, no one (but her family) needs to know where Jennifer is.
This Balfour guy being with one girl on Fri night and another on Sat morning????? Something doesn’t jive there. (at least to me).
MJ, your first link, to the Chicago Tribune, now has this update:
I haven’t know what to think or say about these murders other than remarking to friends about how terrible it is. That poor little boy probably died because he saw everything and knew too much. But, listening to the local (Chicago) news reports and updates just now, I am wondering if the police would give this sort of situation the same level of care and attention if it were not celebrity related. I think I know the answer, so consider it a rhetorical question.
I know someone who was stabbed to death by her son because she wouldn’t give him the keys to the car. That one confessed and is in jail. But, I also know someone whose family member was a victim of a revenge/crime of passion perpetrated by a girlfriend through a third party and it took 10 years and a stroke of luck for the Chicago police to open up that cold case and solve his murder. I hope they identify the guilty in the Hudson case quickly, bring it to trial, and punish him/them to the fullest extent of the law.
I do wonder whether or in what way the situation was affected the celebrity status of JH. I think it’s possible that having a star in the family can affect expectations family members, friends, and others so you never know. Sort of like how distant cousins and long-lost friends come out of the woodwork when a family member wins the lottery. You never know how demanding/presumptuous/violent people can get.
I know I’m rambling and mean in no way to diminish the tragedy or to show any disrespect; it’s just that the situation is so tragic and insane.
I dunno… I think a triple homicide would have gotten the same kind of care and attention from investigators even if it wasn’t a celebrity’s family that was involved. Probably not the same level of national attention in the MEDIA in regards to reporting every update, though.
I’m sure it’s a bit of both. The CPD has had a lot of problems lately, so the fact that this is a high profile case probably ensures they will want to do this right and fast. That said, I’m with Sarah… a triple homicide would also be a high priority, media circus or not.
I was mugged once here in Chicago in the 90s. The guy told me he had a gun and to give him all my money. I was on my way to the train station at 8am in broad daylight. I gave him the cash in my wallet and just kept going towards the train so he wouldn’t know where I lived. I phoned in a police report and yes, a few months later I got a call to identify him in a line-up. Later I got a letter saying he was convicted. I didn’t even have to show up in court. I guess I wasn’t his only victim.
I think there’s going to be a lot of physical evidence in this case, so I’m hopeful that it will be resolved convincingly.
I had to take a breather from this for a bit today because I’m drained. Did anyone else see last night this footage CNN showed of the CSI taking photos of the SUV? They showed a brief shot of Julian’s body slumped over the backseat and I had a very bad reaction to it. I was a little disgusted CNN didn’t go to more trouble editing it out because it was very disturbing.
Was this posted from TMZ?
Drug Raid at Hudson Murder House in 2002
I can ´t believe they did that, and I ´m thankful I didn ´t watch…I hate whrn news and media do that kind of things, dodn ´t they think in the family of the person that their showing…
No, it wasn’t. Jennifer had so much garbage going on around her, and she managed to rise above it all. I hope she’s stays strong and doesn’t let this horrible tragedy derail the incredible path she’s on.
Totally agree with hapi. I’m appalled some reports dropped clues as to where Jennifer is staying, especially when we’re told an accomplice to the murders may be out there! Whoever did this has no conscience at all.
Personally, I don’t think “a hotel” in Chicago is much of a clue. I’m pretty sure she is probably safe…
This case is getting more attention, but raising funds for domestic violence is a positive outcome. Prayers continue for Jennifer and family.
Have any of you seen, “The Secret Life of Bees”? Seeing it this week really had me thinking about Jennifer. She is such a talented actress. I highly recommend this movie. All the stars do a terrific job and it is very thought provoking – especially now.