Jennifer Hudson’s Mom And Brother Murdered, Suspect In Custody, Nephew Still Missing
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.
Related Content:
Jennifer Hudson Mother And Brother Shot Dead
Jennifer Hudson Explains How Punk Proposed
Jennifer Hudson Gets Punk’d On The View
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October 28th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Jennifer Hudson
Hey girl just wanted to say how deeply sorry for you loss. You are in my prayers and god will get you through this just hang in there.
October 28th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
I JUST WONT TO SAY IM SORRY FOR YOUR FAMILY. AND IF HE DID IT GOD IS NOT GONE LET HIM GET AWAY FROM IT.GOD WILL SEND HIM HOME.
October 29th, 2008 at 1:24 am
When I heard about the news i felt like i was apart of your family crying with you. I send you my deepest smypathy and support. Jennifer you will get through this leave it all up to god and he’ll see you through. You are in my prayers
October 29th, 2008 at 3:04 am
i trhis that dis person should b put away for a very long time. he should never see the light of day. he should not even b able to breathe another day. he better hope that no one finds him n does to him what he did wit this family. i pray that one day he can actually live with this mistake that he did. also b a man n stand up for his actions. dont b a coward.
October 29th, 2008 at 9:15 am
well i think whoeva did this should be put away for life and more. I mean its nothing i could think of that would make someone do something like this . Yea i have had something like this happen o me but everyone still ask the queston y but the only thing about wat happen to me is that he just went on ahead and toke his on life. jennifer my heart goes out u and ya family and everyone is always gonna ask him that question y its no answers just pray girl u strong.
October 29th, 2008 at 11:08 am
my heart truely goes out to the Hudsun’s nonthings more sad then loseing Your love ones I lost my baby his dad killed him. I felt like some one put a gun to my heart and shot me 100 times. I know it hurts and you cant stop crying but keep your head up and know that its no pain God cant feel. God loves you and he will hold you up in your time of need. God bless you
October 29th, 2008 at 11:42 am
I want to offer my prayers and support to Jennifer Hudson’s family. I know that God has a plan and we all know that putting this whole situation in his hands you can’t go wrong. Whoever did this crime will pay dearly. I just can’t understand what situation could ever make someone commit murders and believe they can get away with it. WHOEVER YOU ARE YOU WILL GET CAUGHT!!!!!!!!!
October 29th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
This is something that is really hard to believe, Im so devastated that a trgic like this had to happen, to the Hudson family I want to keep you guys in prayer, and at a time like this my best advice for you, Is to not stop doing what you are doing until you justice, and you deserve it. So just be strong keep praying and at a time like this look up to god and try to get through it . ust pray and trust , and if your family isnt close, then at a time like this just try…
October 29th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
jennnifer i really feeling your pain cause you just can’t live with out your best friends that is your family cause i myself i lost my brotherlaw just last year murdered and the police have not got a suspect everday i ask god why but you can’t ask god a ? yes the pain is alway there your daily life never change he was the family life line how we cry everyday. nobody never couldn.t understand when you lose someone you love to the hudson family hold the hope is coming my family love you bye!
October 29th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Hi Jennifer,
I know that you don’t no me but I am a fan of yours and I wanted to take this time to send you and your family my deepest condolense for the lost of your family. God does things for a reason and I’m sure you are like me when people are taken those words are of no comfort. Stay strong girl you have a solid force looking over you because God has given you some more Angels to help you through life.
May God continue to Bless you.
Dee Dee
October 29th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
My prayers and Love goe out you, Jennifer and your family. Life is not as we plan it to be and the Lord do not give us too much, whereas we cannot handle it. I know that the Lord is holding you up and you just keep your faith and your head up. Things will get Brighter and better you will find the Strength to go on & the courage to accept the things that you cannot change. God is a Good God and He is Good All the Time. Do not let this Beat You! Keep your head up and your Knees Bent!!!! May God Continue to Bless you and keep you lifted up. I know how you may feel, I have lost family members and one died in my arms, so just thank God for giving you another day to go on and to hold you close to him. You will find Strength in his love and I am Praying for you and Yours!!! May God Bless You and Watch over you and those around you!! Remember, Weeping may come in the night but Joy will come in the morning!!!! Jennifer, you are loved and Prayed for….. Keep your Faith and May God Bless you and Keep you!!!!
October 29th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
Holy Greeting Jen, What has happen to your family will be a process of healing. It’s so important that you understand what you will feel from time to time. As you walk this road remember the Lord is there with you when you’re angry,and sad. Out of your pain is purpose to change so many lives. In your alone time with the Lord he will comfort you and reveal. There’s only so much I can say now, but there’s a word in my spirit.
Minister Ales
October 29th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
wats Jennifer Hudson I am a big fan of your work and I am very sorry about your family
in hope you have a good blesse day in big up to you and your love ones
LOVE YOUR FAN SHANTE THORNTON
October 29th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
Ever since I heard about what happened I started praying for you. I have been through something like that in my life and all I can do is pray for you and wish u the very best of everything. I lost my mother 20 years ago and all the people that talk to u about closer, forget it. Just concentrate on yourself and what is left of your beautiful family.
I heard what New York had to say before your tradegy and now after your tradey. You are a beautiflul strong black woman. You have worked hard and deserve EVERYTHING that comes your way. You are so talented and just like everyone else in the world we wish you the best! God Bless you and your fiance also.
Just remember everyone makes mistakes, it is unfortunate that his were on TV. But even in that situation people watching could tell that he is a man of integrity. I wish u both the best in everything. God Bless and Good LucK!!!!!!!! Love judi
October 30th, 2008 at 12:54 am
Dear Jennifer,
My heart goes out to you and your family I will keep YALL in my prayers. As times get hard think about the good days because they will always weigh out the bad we love you.
Li Monie
October 30th, 2008 at 11:40 am
Dear Sweet Jennifer;
My heart goes out to you and your entire friends and family. No one deserves to go through such pain and devastation. As a phychic medium I can offer that your family is in a good place and are in no pain and would not want you to worry about them, and they don’t suffer the after effects of the ‘human’ emotions of pain and anger, only love. Your nephew is with them. I can imagine it is hard to go through all the wonderful things in your life right now with all that has happened, but they are there with you.
Vanessa
October 30th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Does anyone know if William Balfour has a sister? If so, what is her name?
October 31st, 2008 at 7:02 pm
JENNIFER, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO TELL YOU HOW DEEPLY SORRY I AM FOR YOU RIGHT NOW. I JUST PRAY THAT GOD GIVE YOU THE STRENGTH YOU NEED TO PUSH ON EVEN THROUGH THIS TRADEGY. YOU LOOK LIKE YOU ARE A STRONG, YOUNG WOMAN SO JUST PRAY AND I PROMISE YOU GOD WILL EASE THE BURDEN. SO JUST TAKE IT TO JESUS AND LEAVE IT THERE. SWEETIE, IT IS GOING TO BE ALRIGHT AFTER A WHILE.
November 1st, 2008 at 6:38 pm
So sad is the song…what she needs is friends with support. and love. It is
always unforunate, when somebody is murdered, but so very sick, when our
children pay the ultimate price, for our mistakes. Whomever did this crazy
disgusting act, knew them.. He or She, or Them, knew the family or a party of
the family. Perhaps too angry and at the blink of an eye..he went too far. God
help this world. Jenniffer… in your aloneness that only if for the moment, you
must believe, God is there and you are not alone.. Hold on girlfriend.. it will
seem worse at first, but i promise you, it will get better even though the pain
will remain. My heart goes out to you and yours…
Love RamblinRose..
November 1st, 2008 at 7:10 pm
For the comment made Oct 26, by Shakenda, you have to be young, to have made a comment
so dumb… Do you understand the depth of it? well, there could be a lot of reasons that her
Mother did not move. how do you know her mother was penniless? why would you sound so crude.. slum? and just where do you live? close by, that you used the terminology slum.. you
sound like black people from the slum are bad .. what is slum… Shakenda some things in
life are better left unsaid sweetie. like Mother used to say.. Watch what you say, when you
say i !! She needs love… and friends…
November 1st, 2008 at 9:31 pm
JENNIFER, MY HEART GOES OUT TO YOU ALONG WITH ALL MY PRAYS. MAY GOD BE WITH YOU DURING YOUR TIME OF GRIEF AND SORROW. EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY DON’T WANNA HEAR THIS BUT LIKE YOU PROBABLY DONE HEARD BEFORE, THE GOOD LORD IS NOT GOING TO HAND YOU NOTHING YOU CAN’T HANDLE. MAYBE THIS IS FOR THE BEST. ME, MYSELF WAS YOUNG WHEN I LOST MY NIECE AND COULDN’T UNDERSTAND WHY SHE HAD TO GO BUT AS I GOT OLDER I SEE NOW THAT IT WAS FOR THE BEST. SO I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW YOU HAVE MY CONDOLENCES AND DEEPEST SYMPATHY.
November 2nd, 2008 at 3:08 am
TO THE HUDSON FAMILY, I AM SO SORRY THAT THIS HAPPENED TO YOUR FAMILY , AND YAL ARE IN MY PRAYER I CAN’T SAY I KNOW HOW IT FEEL TO LOSE LOVE ONE’S FROM A GUN ONLY THINK BUT ONE THING I DO KNOW IT’S HARD TO LOSE ANY ONE SO STAY STRONG AND KEEP PRAYING STAY IN CHURCH AND FORFULL THE DREAM YOUR MOTHER WOULD WANT FOR YOU. MY GRANDMOTHER USE TO ALWAYS TELL ME THAT THINGS HAPPEN FOR A REASON AND YOU HAVE TO GO THOUGH SOMETHING TO MAKE YOU STRONGER AND I USE TO WONDER WHY USE TO SAY THAT BECAUSE EVERYTHING I WENT THREW WAS NOT SO GOOD THEN ONE DAY I SEEN WHAT SHE MENT BY THAT AND I AM A BETTER PERSON NOW SO STAY STRONG AND THINGS WILL GET BETTER LATER TAKE TIME OUT FOR U AND U WILL SEE THAT YOU WILL BE ALRIGHT NO MATTER WHAT THE DEVIL TRY TO THROW TO U AND YOUR FAMILY. ALSO TO YOUR SISTER WHO HAVE LOST HER CHILD I AM SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOST AS A MOTHER TO LOSE YOUR CHILD IS VERY HARD TO GO ON BUT U WILL IN TIME AND TAKE ALL THE TIME U NEED TO GET IT TOGATHER FOR U AND AT THE END OF THAT DARK ROAD U WILL SEE THE LIGHT THATS GOING TO SHOW U LIFE TO LIVE FOR ANDSTAY STRONG BECAUSE U WILL BE REUNITED WITH YOUR LOVE ONE’S AGAIN. ME AND MY FAILY IS PRAYING FOR YOU ALL THE HUDSON FAMILY STAY STRONG AND THINGS WILL BE BETTER AT THE END OF THIS SADNESS …………… LOVE ALWAYS A FAN OF THE HUDSON FAMILY……………………………..
November 2nd, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Im so sorry to here about what happend to your family. But God there watching over you and your family. Me and my family keep you in our prays.
November 3rd, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Sorry to hear what happened no one should have to go through anything like that. Something like that happended to one of my close friends so I know what you are going through.Who ever would take the life of a young boy needs to be put under the jail. I hope they catch up to the sick person.I was shocked when I heared about it because no one would think it would happen to the family of a star.Your family is in my prayers my god be with you thought this rough time.
God Bless You
November 4th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
r.i.p i hope yall are better soon…..jennifer, keep singing. im sorry this had to happened its going to be better soon. i hope there is a great explanation for this!
November 4th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Jennifer i know this is hard on you but the lord will see you through . Your family is at peace now and they are just waiting for you to join them in heaven. The lord knows what he is doing just have faith and he will see you through my prays are with you and your family. I hope they find the person are persons who committed this murder. May god bless you and your family.
November 9th, 2008 at 3:07 am
Jennifer I am deeply sorry to learn of your loss It is truely sad how people can not just learn to let things go. My prayers and thoughts are with you and your loved ones during this hardship The road may seem long and weary but the lord is by your side and will see you through and may the lord shine down on you and your family to make sure that this person does not walk the streets again for what he has done is truely the worst may god bless you and yours and keep you all safe. You are all in hearts and prayers god bless
November 17th, 2008 at 4:03 am
I doubt ya takin the time out to read this and I understand. But if you are, my name is Lea Sheppard and I’m from Jersey. This is the first time I read about this and I just can’t force myself to stop cryin for you. I feel like they were my own. Then seein the picture of your family breaks my heart. I’m not GOD’s helper but I can feel it in my heart that the heartless (_(@$&^@$%$~`%*_~&~ who’s done this will get what’s comin to him (or her). And may that sorry son of a bitc* rot and burn in hell for all eternity. As vulgar as that sounds, my heart bleeds for you. It is truly swollen right now and I still don’t feel any justice may come of this, besides the truth, cuz nuttin can bring them back. My love and prayers go out to ya nephew, who I feel will be located. May Love and Happiness make your dayz and guide your way through Faith. And may the Lord heal your crying heart. I love you baby girl. Peace be with you and all around you.
November 17th, 2008 at 4:27 am
Jennifer, I just flipped through the photos and I realize your nephew was found already. I feel for you more than you’d ever believe. It makes me feel a little better, just a little, to know where they all are smiling together right now. Hearing that is not supposed to make your day, I know. But it helped mine out a little. I know you’re being very strong right now because that’s who you are. Something like this would break any and all, but I know you’ll put the pieces together again. May the Lord heal your cryin heart sweetie. I love you so much.
November 17th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
GIRL YOU GOT YOU A GOOD MAN. AND PUNK DONT DO MY GIRL WRONG. GOD BLESS YOU BOTH
November 17th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
GOD WILL MAKE A WAY FOT THE HUDSON FAMILY STAY STRONG GOD IS WITH YOU
November 17th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
I LOVE TO SEE A FAMILY TOGEATHER SORRY FOR YOUR LOST
November 20th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
how could you do something like that specilly take a seven year old child or really take any1s life.your sick and i pray that you rot in jail………..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
November 23rd, 2008 at 9:08 pm
There is no words to explain the death of someones mom or brother or nephew and all at once it is painful to the heart I lost my brother in 96 and I still grieve for him it is the type of hurt that is unbearable but liveable .I can relate only to the death of my brother but jennifer going through the lost of three close family members and them all being so close is unspeakable I pray for you and your strength because you have held up good in the public eye and I know its hard because I wasnt able to cry until they were taking him away for my last goodbye it was hard to cry with everyone watching but I let go and let god because he is the reason I go on.And I know you will b ok in time. He makes no mistakes
December 2nd, 2008 at 3:48 am
Dear Jennifer
I think you are the most talented girl on earth, who ever killed you mom and brother was just against the fact that you are going up high and couldn’t stand it. What happened to you family is sick and I pray that you get better and be the strong Jennifer the world knows. You are a woman and no one is gonna take that away from you. May your mother and little brother rest in peace
Godfrey
December 25th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
YEAH, I FEEL SO BAD 4 HER…I MEAN IMAGINE THAT HAPPENING TO YOU. IT’S SO SAD THAT SOMEONE WOULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND THE GUY WHO KILLED HER FAMILY MEMBERS WAS HER SISTER’S FRICKEN HUBBY. WHAT TYPE OF SH*T IS THAT?!
January 29th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
All i wanna know is Y.I think tht’s wht everybodi wanna know.
January 31st, 2009 at 10:15 pm
i love u stay srog i am 10 years old and i lost my grandmother at the age of 6 and i am still strog
March 18th, 2009 at 11:02 am
JENNIFER STAY STRONG AND KEEP YOUR HEAD UP. YOUR FAMILY IS IN A BETTER PLACE. MAY GOD BLESS YOU! AND DONT GIVE UP.GOD GAVE YOU THAT BEAUTIFUL VOICE FOR A REASON SO THAT YOU CAN TOUCH MANY MANY PEOPLE LIVES.
April 3rd, 2009 at 2:19 pm
I’m glad they got your +*))$$^)*@~`)@( for killing three beautiful people.. I hope they wring your +*))$$^)*@~`)@( out in jail… especially for what you did to that baby………..