Hudsons Beg for Boy's Return

Murders of mother, brother come at height of her success

(NEWSER) - Even as she rose to fame and fortune, Jennifer Hudson never forgot her family. “One reason my dreams have been able to come true is because of the people in my life,” she said last year. “They’ve always believed in me.” Now, just as her career is reaching its peak, that sustaining force has been stripped away with the double murder of her mother and brother, the Chicago Tribune reports. More»

(AP) - The 7-year-old nephew of Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson was still missing today, one day after the shooting deaths of Hudson's mother and brother in their Chicago home. A suspect in the deaths remained in custody, but young Julian King had not been seen since the bodies of Darnell Donerson, 57, and Jason Hudson, 29, were found Friday afternoon. Jennifer Hudson's personal publicist said the family wanted privacy. More»

Actress' nephew reported missing after Chicago shooting

(NEWSER) - Chicago police took a man into custody today in the shooting deaths of Jennifer Hudson's mother and brother, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. No charges have been filed against William Balfour, 27, who was involved with a member of the Hudson family and had lived with Hudson's mother, Darnell Donerson. Balfour was paroled 2 years ago after committing attempted murder and other crimes. More»

Dead brother reported gun stolen months ago

(NEWSER) - Chicago police are investigating the possibility that the gun used to kill Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother, and nephew may have belonged to her murdered sibling, who reported the weapon stolen just months ago. The chrome and black .45-caliber Sig Sauer semiautomatic pistol, found near the body of Hudson's 7-year-old nephew, is identical to the one Jason Hudson reported stolen, reports the Chicago Tribune. More»

Car movements indicate involvement of other drivers

(NEWSER) - If William Balfour killed Jennifer Hudson’s family as police suspect, he probably had help, law-enforcement sources tell the Chicago Tribune. Witnesses place Balfour on the Hudsons’ block at 7am, driving his teal Chrysler. But the car later turned up a mile away at Robeson High School. Security cameras show an unidentified person leaving the car at 12:30. But Balfour was on the West Side at that time, according to his girlfriend and cell phone records. More»