The jennifer Hudson Family murders
the bodies of Academy award-winning actress Jennifer Hudson's mother and brother were found in the family's home on Chicago's South Side. Shot to death was Hudson's mother, Darnell Donerson,and her her brother, Jason Hudson. Missing from the home was Julian King, the son of Jennifer's sister Julia Hudson.
three days lather the body of 7-year-old Julian, Hudson's nephew, was found in the back seat of a SUV parked on the West Side. He also had been shot. A . 45-caliber gun found near the parked SUV was linked to all of the shooting deaths. The SUV was later confirmed to be that of Hudson's murdered brother, Justin King. A gun was also found in a vacant lot in the same neighborhood as the SUV, police said
The case drew national attention because of the fame of family member Jennifer Hudson, who won the best-supporting-actress Academy Award for her 2007 role in the film "Dreamgirls." Hudson first gained fame after she was outsed on season three of the television talent show "American Idol."
Julia's Estranged Husband Questioned
William Balfour, the estranged husband of Julia Hudson, was taken into custody the day first two bodies were found and held for 48 hours. He was then taken into custody by the lllinois Department of Corrections on suspected parole violation.
Balfour married Julia Hudson in 2006 but had been separated at the time of the shootings. He was thrown out of the Hudson home by Julia's mother in the winter of 2007, according to reports. He denied any involvement with Hudson case and denied statements that he had been seen with a gun, but remained in police custody.
Balfour served almost seven years in prison after being convicted of attempted murder, vehicular hijacking and possession of a stolen vehicle. He was on parole at the time that the murder took place.
Brother-in-Law Arrested
ิBalfour was arrested at Stateville Correctional Center where he was bring held on parole violation charges. Prosecutors believed that the shootings at the Hudson family home were the result of an argument Balfour had with Julia about another man. Investigators learned the Balfour tried to get a former girlfriend, Brittany Acoff-Howard, to provide him a false alibi for the day that the murders occurred
"I'm Going to kill your family"
According to court records, Balfour threatened to kill members of Hudson's family on at ;east two dozen occasions before the three murders in October 2008. Assistant State's Attormey James McKay said the threats began shortly after Balfour and his wife Julia Hudson broke up ad he moved out of the family house.
McKay said Balfour told Julia, "if you ever leave me, I'm going to kill you, but i'm going to kill your family first. You will be the last to die.