William Balfour Arrested In Hudson Family Murders

William Balfour was arrested yesterday in the murders of Jennifer Hudson’s mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew. Balfour, who is Hudson’s estranged brother-in-law, was previously a “person of interest” in the case. He was being held on suspicion of parole violation.

Balfour’s attorney, Joshua Kutnick, told reporters outside a Chicago police station that his client is innocent. “He vehemently denies that he is guilty in this case,” Kutnick said. “Any evidence pointing to Mr. Balfour is not even thin. It is very, very weak.”

Police haven’t yet disclosed a motive for the killings, but Balfour’s relationship with Julia Hudson (J-Hud’s sister) had deteriorated. On the morning of the killings, Julia called Balfour after learning that her paycheck had been garnered due to unmade payments of a car that Balfour had taken.

Jennifer Hudson has layed low since the tragedy, spending time with her sister and fiance (David Otunga, aka Punk on VH1) in Chicago. Last month, she used her MySpace page to thank fans for their support — and her profile picture still features Julian King, her murdered nephew.

This just in: Chicago police have apparently discovered the white Chevrolet Suburban vehicle they had been searching for in the case of Jennifer Hudson’s missing 7-year-old nephew, Julian King. The body of a male child around the same age was found on the scene (possibly in the car), somewhere on the 1300 block of South Kolin Avenue on the south side of Chicago. Police are not commenting on the reports and have not yet revealed the identity of the child.

This news is beyond sad and horrifying. Our thoughts and prayers remain with Jennifer and her family. [Chicago Sun Times]

Photos and related content after the jump.

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Jennifer Hudson and her family are offering a $100,000 reward for the safe return of her seven-year-old nephew Julian King, who has been missing since the double murder of her mother and brother on Friday. A rep for Hudson said that Jennifer and her family “appreciate the enormous amount of love, support and prayers they have received while she and her family try to cope with this tragedy and continue the search for Julian.” The rep also offered the reward and asked the public to give any available information regarding Julian to the Chicago police.

A similar message was posted on Jennifer Hudson’s MySpace page, which contains two pictures of Julian (see below):

Thank You All

Thank you all for your prayers and your calls. Please keep praying for our family and that we get Julian King back home safely. If anyone has any information about his whereabouts please contact the authorities immediately. Here is a picture of Julian and what he was last seen wearing. Once again thank you all for being there for us through this tough time.

Sincerely,
The Hudson Family

William Balfour, the prime suspect in the murders of Darnell Donerson and Jason Hudson, hasn’t been charged in the case. But he’s being held by police on parole violations from an attempted murder conviction for which he spent seven years in prison. [Top Photo: Getty Images]

William Balfour (above), who is the estranged husband of Jennifer Hudson’s sister and the prime suspect in the killings of her mother and brother, is in custody. He has not been charged with any crimes at this time. The Chicago Police Department released a photo of seven-year-old Julian King (pictured at right), who has been missing since the murders. A nationwide Amber Alert has been issued in an attempt to find him.

Gossip outlet TMZ, which appears to be scouring the block on the South Side of Chicago where the murders took place in the longtime home of the Hudson family, is claiming that police are focusing on a dispute over a car.

“TMZ has spoken with several other neighbors this morning who say Julia complained to them that William Balfour sold one of their cars without permission. One neighbor told TMZ the dispute got so heated William threatened to “kill Julia’s family” but she didn’t report it because she didn’t take it seriously.”

Bloggers and Internet users, hungry for information on the only known murder suspect, have been surprised to discover that William Balfour’s MySpace page has not been taken down. On the page, William describes himself as follows:

“I AM A 26 YEAR OLD, I RESIDE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO, I HAVE A WIFE HER NAME IS JULIA, AND I ALSO HAVE A 6 YR OLD STEPSON, I DON’T TOLERATE BULLSHIT, SO DON’T COME TO ME WITH IT, I LIKE TO LIVE LIFE AND EXPERIENCE EVERYTHING THATS WHY I’M HERE SEEING WHAT IT’S ABOUT, I MIGHT AS WELL LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT JENNIFER HUDSON IS MY WIFE’S SISTER I’M PROUD OF HER AND WISH HER NOTHING BUT THE BEST IN WHAT SHE DO BUT DON’T HIT ME UP ASKING BOUT HER, OTHER THAN THAT IT’S ON!”

The following picture of Jennifer’s murdered brother Jason was posted recently to Julia Hudson’s MySpace page. (Be sure to read the caption!)

This tragedy strikes Jennifer Hudson at a time when her career is skyrocketing. After winning an Academy Award for best supporting actress in 2007’s Dreamgirls, Jennifer not only performed at the Democratic National Convention at the request fellow Chicagoan Barack Obama but her single “Spotlight” is at the top of the R&B charts. She also had roles this year in Sex and the City and The Secret Life of Bees. Even more tragic: The killings come mere months after her engagement to David Otunga, aka Punk from I Love New York.

Share your condolences and browse pictures of Jennifer Hudson, her family and suspect William Balfour.

Jennifer Hudson with her sister, mother and nephew. [Photo: FilmMagic]

A shrine to Jennifer Hudson's family left by fans, friends and neighbors. [Photo: Getty Images]

Jennifer Hudson with her mother, Darnell. [Photo: AFP]

A shrine to Jennifer Hudson's family left by fans, friends and neighbors. [Photo: Getty Images]

A shrine to Jennifer Hudson's family left by fans, friends and neighbors. [Photo: Getty Images]

William Balfour with wife Julia, who is Jennifer Hudson's sister. [Photo: William Balfour's MySpace page]

William Balfour. [Photo: William Balfour's MySpace page]

William Balfour. [Photo: William Balfour's MySpace page]

William Balfour. [Photo: William Balfour's MySpace page]

William Balfour. [Photo: William Balfour's MySpace page]

Jennifer Hudson and fiancee David Otunga, known to VH1 viewers as Punk from I Love New York. [Photos: Getty Images]

The home where Jennifer Hudson's mother and brother were shot to death in Chicago. [Photo: Splash News Online]

police remove a body from a home in the Englewood neighborhood where 57-year-old Darnell Hudson Donnerson, the mother of Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson, was found shot to death on the living room floor October 24, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois. Hudson's brother and nephew were also murdered. [Photo: Getty Images]

Residents of the Englewood neighborhood watch police investigate the scene where 57-year-old Darnell Hudson Donnerson, the mother of Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson, was found shot to death on the living room floor October 24, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois. [Photo: Getty Images]

A picture posted on Julia Hudson's MySpace page of her and Jennifer Hudson's brother, Jason, who was murdered.

Journalists and residents of the Englewood neighborhood watch from outside police tape as police investigate the scene were 57-year-old Darnell Hudson Donnerson, the mother of Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson, was found shot to death on the living room floor October 24, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois. [Photo: Getty Images]

Jennifer Hudson posted this picture of her nephew, Julian King, on her MySpace page, pleading for his return. He was later found shot to death in a car.

Jennifer Hudson posted this picture of her nephew, Julian King, on her MySpace page, pleading for his return. He was later found shot to death in a car.

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Jennifer Hudson Gets Punk’d On The View

Police say Jennifer Hudson’s mother, Darnell Hudson, 57, and her brother, Jason, 29, were shot and killed in their Chicago home today in an apparent double homicide. Hudson’s seven-year-old nephew Julian King is reportedly missing, and is believed to be with the murder suspect — identified as William Balfour, an African-American male in his late 20’s, who is considered armed and dangerous. According to MTV News:

Balfour had been living at the residence, according to public records, and may have had a romantic relationship with Hudson’s sister Julia, as vehicles are co-registered to both of them. Police said Balfour is believed to be driving either a white Chevrolet Suburban, 1994 model, with the license plate X584859, or a green Chrysler Concord, with the license plate 332K823.

The Oscar-winning actress and singer grew up in Chicago and is engaged to David Otunga, known to VH1 viewers as Punk from I Love New York. Share your condolences …

[Photo: AFP]

It’s official. A rep for the Oscar-winning singer and actress Jennifer Hudson told People that she’s marrying I Love New York 2 cast-away Punk. The couple, who have kept their relationship as quiet as possible, got engaged Friday night on Hudson’s 27th birthday. Hudson and Punk — i.e., David Otunga (guess he just outgrew his nickname) — have been together for less than a year.

In an interview with the VH1 Blog, David was open about falling in love with New York during last year’s show, and we can’t help see irony in the fact that he’s now marrying a woman that has Dreamgirls under her belt and a new movie (The Secret Life of Bees) opening next month while New York is hussling to land a semi-respectable Hollywood gig.

Last year, we saw Punk on reality TV squirting whip cream on his bare chest in an attempt to turn on VH1’s H.B.I.C. This year, we’ll see him on the red carpet at the Academy Awards.