Arrest Made (Finally) in Hudson Family Murders

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

02 Dec 2008 05:18 AM

More than a month after police discovered the slain bodies of Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew in Chicago, the Oscar-winner's estranged brother-in-law has been arrested for the murders.

According to Chicago newspapers, Balfour has not been formally charged in the slayings (prosecutors say that could come in the next day or so), but he has been transferred from an Illinois state prison--where he has been held on suspicion of a parole violation--back into police custody.

Insiders say 27-year-old Balfour, who is separated from Hudson's sister, Julia, will likely be charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of Hudson's 57-year-old mother Darnell Donerson, her 29-year-old brother Jason, and her young nephew, Julian King.

You'll recall the bodies of Donerson and Hudson were found October 24th in the family's home on Chicago's South Side, while King's body was not discovered until three days later in the backseat of an abandoned SUV parked 10 miles from the family's home. The coroner says all three died from gunshot wounds.

No new evidence has been uncovered and police are remaining tight-lipped on a motive; however, the Chicago Tribune just published interviews it made with sources close to the case to create a timeline of events that likely took place on the day of the killings.

Police sources told the newspaper that on the morning of the killings Julia Hudson reported to her job as a school bus driver and learned that her paycheck had been garnered due to unmade payments on a car that Balfour had taken earlier. She then reportedly called Balfour with whom she had a contentious relationship. The Tribune is also reported that based on police interviews with one of Balfour's girlfriends, the suspect then went to the Hudson home and fired through the front door, striking Jason Hudson and later gunning down Darnell Donerson as she entered the living room.

One news report indicated that Jennifer Hudson is still in Chicago right now, though the singer/actress' rep would not confirm her client's whereabouts.

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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