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Balfour's Troubles Go Way Back

Hudson murder suspect had abusive mother, imprisoned father

By Drew Nelles, Newser Staff

Posted Dec 7, 2008 5:49 PM CST

(Newser) – William Balfour grappled with depression and rage for years before his arrest in the Jennifer Hudson family killings, the Chicago Tribune reports. The son of a convicted killer, Balfour lived in and out of correctional facilities, suffering physical abuse at home and smoking dope to quell his anger. After serving 8 years for attempted murder, he tried to turn his life around—by marrying Jennifer Hudson's sister.

"The youngster harbors deep-seated feelings of hostility toward the maternal figure, whom he views as cruel and punitive," a counselor once wrote of him. Balfour fought with his wife Julia, who said Balfour threatened her life. On a day they argued, Balfour allegedly went to the Hudson home and opened fire. Balfour's mother later cried at a police station and told reporters her son was innocent. "I didn't raise no murderer," she said.

[Images (4)]

[Videos (1)]

[Quotes (2)]

Michelle Davis-Balfour, mother of accused murderer William Balfour, refuses to talk to the media as she leaves Cook County Circuit Court in Chicago Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2008. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

An Oct. 28, 2008 file photo shows a photograph of Darnell Hudson Donerson and her 7-year-old grandson, Julian King, at a makeshift memorial outside Donerson's home in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)

Actress and singer Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother and nephew were murdered in October. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, file)

A Wednesday,Dec. 3, 2008 booking photo released by the Cook County Sheriff's Department shows William Balfour. (AP Photo/Cook County Sheriff's Department)

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Jennifer Hudson's estranged brother-in-law was charged last week with three counts of first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of three of her family members. (AssociatedPress)

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He would like to use marijuana sometimes to keep from going crazy. - a therapist, on a young William Balfour

Mother was physically abusive to her sons. She has stated that she can do nothing with them to control them. - 1995 Illinois Department of Children and Family Services report

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Balfour's Troubles Go Way Back