Chicago police say "family disputes over money" and "unpaid car payments" may have been the motive behind the brutal slayings of Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother and nephew.
Meanwhile, the Oscar-winning actress and six relatives viewed a closed-circuit TV screen at the morgue Monday afternoon and identified the body of Hudson’s 7-year-old nephew Julian King. The Chicago Sun Times reports, "The identification came from Hudson. 'She said, "Yes, that is him," according to Sean Howard, a spokesman for the Cook County medical examiner’s office. 'Jennifer Hudson was incredibly strong for her family, she was leader in that group and kept her composure.' "
The singer's mother and brother were found shot to death in their Chicago home on Friday. Hudson's nephew, the son of her sister, was missing from the crime scene and an Amber Alert was issued over the weekend. The boy's body was found Monday morning in a missing white SUV.
In custody is the boy's stepfather, 27-year-old William Balfour, married to Hudson's sister Julia. Balfour was estranged from his wife and police say his "girlfriend contradicted his alibi and told police that he was involved in the slayings."
The Tribune reports Balfour has previously threatened Julia Hudson and her family and a weekend argument over unpaid bills may have sparked Balfour's rage. "When Julia Hudson arrived Friday morning at Sunrise Bus Co. on payday and discovered her wages had been garnished because of unpaid car payments. Sources said Balfour had taken her car months earlier but promised to make the payments on the vehicle. After seeing her pay stub, Julia Hudson called Balfour to complain about the unpaid bills, sources said."
Family Disputes Eyed in Hudson Killing [Tribune]
Hudson Identified Body of Nephew [Sun Times]
Did You Read ...
Report: Child's Body Found in SUV Linked to Jennifer Hudson Shooting [R20]
Child killer. What else can you say? The lowest form of human beast.
Well, Ms Hudson, her sister, and their family will have to call upon the Lord to help them move forward, but the grief is tremendous, and it must seem endless right now. This kind of grief can't go away. I guess, you just continue on with life the best you can--for the sake of the other children in the family.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | 28 October 2008 at 13:01
Spot a horrible crime, find a lowlife, good for nothing, mf-er behind it. Always.
A criminal past should always be a deal-breaker when it comes to seeking a mate.
Posted by: Bernie | 28 October 2008 at 14:58
Money really is the root of all evil ... was all that really worth killing three people? Just sad ... I feel so bad for Jennifer.
Posted by: S. Flemming | 29 October 2008 at 07:03
What happened to that little boy is sad. However the more I look at Jennifer Hudson sister and that on the D/L looking ex of her's I see two pea in a jar. If I were Jen I would run away as fast as I could. This type of excess baggage is only going to wear HER down. It is not HER fault they got stuck in first gear and she did not. Help them yes. Let the pull her down, HELL NO.
Posted by: gurlene | 29 October 2008 at 07:36