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Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson’s mother, Darnell, and brother, Jason, were found shot and killed in Jennifer’s mothers Chicago home today. The victims were found by Jennifer’s cousin who lives close to the house around 3:00 pm Chicago time, according to TMZ.
There is no more information being made public at this time, although Chicago police are saying they believe the shootings were domestic.
There has been no comment from Jennifer’s representatives yet.
We will continue to update this story as more information becomes available. Our thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathies go out to Jennifer Hudson and her family.
Update: A seven year-old boy, Hudson’s nephew, is missing from the home. Police are searching for him and for a man who is a suspect:
Police were searching for a man and 7-year-old boy. The missing boy, identified as Julian King — Donerson’s grandson — may have been abducted by William Balfour, a suspect in the murder who is considered armed and dangerous, according to police.
Balfour may be driving a white Chevy Suburban SUV with Illinois license plate X584859 or a teal/green Chrysler Concord four-door sedan with a left front headlight hanging off and scratches along the left side with temporary tags 332K823.
[From CBS2Chicago]
Update: The AP is reporting that Chicago Police spokesperson Monique Bonds said that the murders and possible kidnapping appear to be the result of domestic violence. Which is taken to say that Balfour is well known to the family and the missing child.
Update: Chicago’s WGN is reporting that Willam Balfour is in custody and being questioned, but his step-son, Julian King, the son his wife and Jennifer’s sister Julia, was not with him.
He is not cooperating with police.
CHICAGO — Police say a suspect is in custody in the murders of Academy Award-winning actress Jennifer Hudson’s mother and brother.
Police had been looking for William Balfour who was believed to have fled the shooting with his 7-year old son, Julian King.
Balfour is currently being questioned by police, but investigators say the missing boy was not with him.
Police say there was no sign of forced entry and that the deaths appear to be the result of a domestic dispute.
An Amber Alert remains in effect for the 7-year old who was reported missing from the home by his mother, Jennifer Hudson’s sister, Julia.
Public records list one of Balfour’s previous addresses as Donnerson’s home.
Court records show Balfour pleaded guilty in 1999 to attempted murder and vehicular hijacking.
[From WGN]
Jennifer Hudson and her mother are shown at the NY premiere of Dream Girls on 12/4/06. Credit: Fame Pictures
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50 Responses to “Jennifer Hudson’s mother & brother murdered (update: suspect in custody)”
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That is so sad
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What a horrifying tragedy. My deepest sympathy to Jennifer.
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Oh no! That is truly horrific. I could not imagine having to go through that.
My thoughts go out to Jennifer and her family. I hope the person(s) who did it will be caught, so she can get closure. That is just absolutely gobsmacking and unreal, to think that she found them… It’s truly shocking what people have to go through (and I don’t mean just celebs) sometimes.
I hope she will be able to mourn properly and move on once the dust of this has settled. But losing a parent and a sibling is a wound that never fully heals. At least her mother and brother were still around to see her win a well deserved Oscar and see her career take off in such a great and promising direction.Hang in there Jennifer, we are all sending you good thoughts!
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Many, many prayers for Jennifer and her family. Just awful.
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WFLD in Chicago is saying that they believe a child is being held for ransom, and that the child is her sister’s.
edit* from WFLD on line;
A family member has confirmed that Academy Award-winning actress Jennifer Hudson’s mother and brother were found shot to death on the South Side on Friday afternoon. An all points bulletin has also been issued for Hudson’s 7-year-old nephew who may have been taken from the scene. Police are looking for a white 1994 Chevrolet Suburban SUV with license plate X584859. The victims were found unresponsive inside a home in the 7000 block of South Yale Avenue just before 3 p.m. according to police.
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@daisy 424: really? I wonder who the kidnapper is, if this is true. It seems like Jennifer is living through what probably are the most gruesome hours of her life. I hope the kid doesn’t get hurt and this will be resolved without any more bloodshed. Maybe the police and her rep are still holding back some information so as not to exacerbate the situation, whatever that may in fact be.
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The poor family - my sincerest condolences for their tragic loss.
Hopefully if the deaths were caused by someone outside of the house they will be caught and punished as soon as possible.
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How awful… I too will pray for her and her family. Why does domestic violence have to occur? Such a terrible tragedy - this and many others.
**Edit… just saw Daisy’s note - I’ll add my prayers for the child’s safe return.
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My heart broke for her when I heard this on the news. They hadn’t mentioned that Jennifer had found them, which just makes my heart break more. Absolutely tragic.
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Devastating! She is a darling gal and my heart bleeds for her.
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My thoughts and prayers are with Jennifer and her family. I hope that her young nephew is safe and remains unharmed… I cannot even begin to imagine how horrifying it must be to endure something as awful as this.
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i teared up a bit when i heard this… she had such a fairy tale life and for it to end this way is just absolutely tragic… my prayers go out for her
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WHAT the fuck? Oh my god. I know its trite, but my thoughts & prayers are with Jennifer & her family. I really am speechless…
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This is one f’ed up story. I feel so horrible for everyone of the people involved,and nobody will ever know what happened either because the dirtbag who did this will lie about what really happened. Or kill the child he stole and himself. Either way there is no happy ending for anyone involved. Sympathies to all concerned.
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that is so incredibly sad. poor Jennifer. i wonder if this scumbag is holding the kid ransom for a chunk of Jennifer’s money, being she’s successful. my prayers are with her and her family.
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Natasha, Jennifer did not find the bodies. She is in Tampa on her way back to Chicago. The bodies were found by Jennifer’s cousin. Awful news. Sad world.
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oh my, i just heard that on the news like 5 minutes ago but they said it was unsure who the family members were.Thats just horrible i hope she has good people around her cuz shes going to need them right now. I really hope they find her nephew soon.
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awful, just awful
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That poor family! I can’t imagine what Jennifer and her other family members must be going through right now. And how awful that the crimes were probably committed by someone who the family had helped out in the past. I hope William Balfour is found and (if guilty) brought to justice swiftly.
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Very sad when I read this on IMDb.
How heartbreaking.
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Lord, I can only imagine what Jennifer is going through. I lost my dad back in 2005 and I was a wreck but I could NEVER imagine losing my mother. My prayers certainly go out to Jennifer and the rest of the family.
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This is really tragic. I’ve never seen anything she was in, but I can’t and don’t want to imagine something so terrible…
I’m very relieved she didn’t find them, though. My thoughts are with her and her family. I hope they find the little kid. So sad. -
Absolutely horrible.
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I have nothing remotely snarky to add. This is absolutely the most horrible thing I’ve heard in a while. Best wishes to the family.
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Please pray for Jennifer & her family during this time and pray that her nephew is safe & sound. My prayers and sympathy go out to her & her family.
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Oh this is beyond heartbreaking!!! I pray that child is OK.
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This is such a tragic story
My heart goes out to her family.
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Terrible!!!
I send prayers and hope to Jennifer and her surviving family…
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This is just so sad. We all must realize that Celebs are regular people too. They have families, problems, worries and sadness in their lives too. We all need to take this to heart. Take great care of the people we love. My heart aches for her. I can’t imagine this at all. To lose you Mother this way, and brother. I hope she has lots of support.
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How terrible. Jennifer must be going through shock also.
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I really feel bad for her sister. To have her 7 year old SON missing on top of the murders of her mother and brother– I don’t think I could handle that at all
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Thanks CeeJay, I just realized that when I read the update this morning. Still tragic.
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God, just awful.
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Wait, does the line in the story mean Jennifer AND someone else found them, or that the cousin of Jennifer and Jason found them? It says “Jennifer and Jason’s cousin found them.” But does that mean Jason’s cousin, and Jennifer, found them —- or that “Jennifer and Jason’s” cousin found them?
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What horrible news. I cannot even imagine what Jennifer is going through.
Thoughts and good wishes to she and her family, especially the missing boy…
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How horrible! I hope Jennifer will be okay.
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I hope the one that did this rots in jail!
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No word on the child? This is just awful.
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That is really sad, after all she has accomplished and finally her dreams were coming true.For something like this to happen is devastating.I guess it is true how that saying goes, “you can’t have it all”.Something always tends to go wrong when everything in life finally seems to be going great.
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Jhud i can’t tell you how sorry i am about your mom and brother. I don’t know how you feel but i know it hurts.
But lit me tell you this your mother told you about God then you should know after that she and your brother is in a better place. Never give up on your dreams and keep holding on because i know this is something your mom wanted you to do. And know this it is okay to cry and get out. I love you and so do Lord Jesus Christ.PS. I will keep your nephew and my prays that this man will just bring him back. JHud it is going to be okay remember that. -
So incredibly sad. This story is a tragic example of how devastating domestic violence can be. I hope the little boy is found safe, and that all involved have strong support systems to help them cope with this terrible course of events.
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How horrible. My condolences to the Hudson family. I hope justice comes swiftly so they can begin the healing process.
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I’ve got no words to express how horrified and sad I am at this news. My heart goes out to Jennifer, as do my prayers that her nephew will be found unharmed.
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I am so sorry to hear about what happened. You are in my prayers.
Butterscotch
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The found the truck with the boy’s body in it this morning on Chicago’s west side. It’s all over the new here.
:((
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If this was me NOT ENOUGH MONEY IN THE WORLD can make up for my pain and terrible losts so i think whoever did this need some payback.
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that’s just terrible. my deepest sympathy goes out to you jennifer.
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what the hell is going on what is wrong with these people iam going to pray for her
:( 
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