Body of Jennifer Hudson's nephew found

by ojt | October 27, 2008 at 07:40 am

2812 views | 32 Recommendations | 24 comments

Chicago police have located the missing car associated with the double homicide of the mother and brother of Jennifer Hudson.

The vehicle belongs to Jason Hudson, the brother of Jennifer Hudson, who was found with a shot to the chest last Friday. The vehicle was found just 13 miles from the crime scene and just 2 miles from where William Balfour was located. A medical examiner confirmed that the body found inside the vehicle indeed was that of Julian King, Miss Hudson's 7 year old nephew. Miss Hudson offered a $100,000 reward to help locate Julian after he was reported missing last Friday.

William Balfour has had been questioned over the weekend and is currently back in prison due to parole violations.

Please see the related story update:
Police Confirm Body is Jennifer Hudson's Nephew

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dunkelberg

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 09:01 on October 27th, 2008

CNN previously reported the Chicago Tribune had identified the body as Julian King "citing the medical examiner's office". The report was posted in this space. That has changed and no such reference appears on the CNN or the Chicago Tribune websites. That story has been removed.

ABC now is stepping off the ledge.

The body of a young black boy recovered from a sport utility vehicle this morning is believed to be Jennifer Hudson's missing 7-year-old nephew Julian King, an FBI official told ABC News.

dunkelberg

at 06:09 on October 27th, 2008

Video of the scene where the SUV was discovered is also available at the site cited below.

A child's body was found in the vehicle police were looking for in their search for 7-year-old Julian King, the missing nephew of Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson.

The 1994 white Chevrolet Suburban with Illinois license plate X584859 was found in the 1300 block of South Kolin Avenue around 8 a.m. Live TV shots showed a white Chevrolet Suburban being towed away.

The Cook County medical examiner's office has sent investigators to the scene and said the body of a black boy was found inside, an office spokesman said. The child had not been identified.

A Chicago police spokesman released no information about the discovery.

Julian was reported missing and an Amber Alert was issued Friday after his grandmother and uncle were found shot to death inside the family's home in the 7000 block of South Yale Avenue.

Chicago police have interviewed William Balfour, 27, the estranged husband of the boy's mother, Julia Hudson. He was initially described by police as a suspect in the investigation.

Balfour has denied involvement in the killings or the disappearance of the boy, law-enforcement sources said. But at some point, Balfour stopped talking to authorities, sources told the Tribune.

ojt

at 06:12 on October 27th, 2008

Thanks dunkelberg

bobbydarling (not verified)

at 06:53 on October 27th, 2008

If OJT his reporting new information from unique sources, I apologize in advance. If OJT thinks he/she is reporting what is known fact, he/she should add the would "may" to his/her headline. To report that the police "have" not "has" found the body is irresponsible journalism. That has not been confirmed as fact.

The Public will continue to find all posting on these "news" sites suspect thanks to such careless reporting. When you ASSUME you make an A** out of U and ME.

Tina Kells

at 07:05 on October 27th, 2008

Thank you for your comments, your point is well taken. Although it is only speculation at this point that the body is that of Julian King, mainstream media is reporting it in a similar manner.

In what may be the horrible conclusion to an epically tragic weekend for Jennifer Hudson's family, Chicago authorities have recovered the body of a 7-year-old boy, fitting the description of the entertainer's missing nephew.

However, there has been no confirmation that the remains, found in an SUV abandoned on a Chicago street, are those of Julian King.

Julian vanished following the slayings of Hudson's mother and brother, who were shot dead in their home Friday. Police issued an Amber Alert and FBI kidnapping experts were called in to help search for a white 1994 Chevy Suburban—the same vehicle where the body was discovered.

Over the weekend, Hudson and her sister, Julia, the boy's mother, both made emotional pleas for Julian's safe return. The Oscar-winning Dreamgirls star also offered a $100,000 reward and asked fans "to pray for our family."

The boy's stepfather, William Balfour, was detained by police but has not formally been charged. He is currently in the custody of state officials.

bobbydarling (not verified)

at 07:39 on October 27th, 2008

"may' is the third word in this report. This clearly communicates that it is speculation at this point. OJT, in his headline, is reporting it as fact.

If this was your son. would you want someone to tell you he is dead before they KNEW for sure. These reports are not "similar" at all.

All of us don't want it to be the boy. Some of us are holding out hope and searching the internet for stories that will answer our prayers. For someone to dash those hopes in an attempt to be the "FIRST" to report such tragic news is beyond irresponsible journalism. It is just cruel.

bobbydarling (not verified)

at 08:31 on October 27th, 2008

You "may" have cancer. You go to be tested at a hospital. Many doctors agree that you show all the signs you "may" have the disease.

The lab tests have not come back, yet. However, one doctor who is going "off-shift" wants to be the FIRST tell you the bad news. Based on all the other doctors opinions and your symptoms he believes its a 99% chance you have the disease. He calls and tells you "I'm sorry it has been confirmed that you do indeed have cancer."

The tests come back that your tumor is benign. Would you

a) consider what the doctor told you as "similar" to what the other doctors were saying and just dismiss it lightly.

b) demand an apology from the false reporting doctor and sue him to boot.

I think you would choose "b". Not only would you never trust another word out of that doctor's mouth, you would never return to that hospital ever again.

I certainly will never trust this writer or this website in the future. I will learn from my mistake.

Barry Artiste

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 07:04 on October 27th, 2008

ojt, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Tina Kells

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 07:05 on October 27th, 2008

ojt, I like this story. It's good stuff.

CJaye

at 07:21 on October 27th, 2008

The tags are the same it is the SUV and it is the child

bobbydarling (not verified)

at 08:36 on October 27th, 2008

You "may" have cancer. You go to be tested at a hospital. Many doctors agree that you show all the signs you "may" have the disease.

The tests come back that your tumor is benign. Would you

a) consider what the doctor told you as "similar" to what the other doctors were saying and just dismiss it lightly.

b) demand an apology from the false reporting doctor and sue him to boot.

I think you would choose "b". Not only would you never trust another word out of that doctor's mouth, you would never return to that hospital ever again.

I certainly will never trust this writer or this website in the future. I will learn from my mistake.

Tina Kells

at 08:49 on October 27th, 2008

Again, point well taken, however, given the other confirmed facts surrounding this sad discovery it may be a bit argumentative to make this sort of comparison.

Speaking at a news conference on an unrelated matter, FBI Deputy Director John Pistole said the body is “believed to be” Hudson’s nephew, Julian King, and the FBI is working with the Chicago Police Department to confirm the identity.

Deputy Chief Cmdr. Wayne Gulliford said police were responding to “a call about a suspicious auto” in the west side of Chicago at approximately 7 a.m. when they found the body inside a parked white Chevy Suburban, which had a license plate matching the description in the child’s Amber Alert.

You are correct, it is still speculation. You are correct, that stating speculation as fact can do harm if the speculation is later proven false. At this point whether or not that speculation was wrong is still unknown.

To reach and say that a speculative headline on one story makes the entire of NowPublic unreliable is an equally serious misstatement of fact. ojt changed this headline as soon as asked to by editorial staff and has been very cooperative in his/her handling of this very emotional story.

Blue Crush

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 07:25 on October 27th, 2008

ojt, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Tina Kells

at 07:28 on October 27th, 2008

Please see more NowPublic.com coverage of this tragic event:

Reports say child's body found in Hudson case

Jennifer Hudson Headlines

Jennifer Hudson, real-time comments and condolences from the web

Karen Hatter

at 07:32 on October 27th, 2008

Cable network news agencies, CNN and MSNBC, are reporting the identifty of the child found in the vehicle is unknown.

It is premature to state it is the missing nephew.

Tina Kells

at 08:41 on October 27th, 2008

Agreed, which is why the story has been updated to more accurately state the facts. However, it has been confirmed that the body found fits the description of missing Julian King, it has been confirmed that the vehicle in which the body was found is the same vehicle that was noted in the Amber Alert about Julian, and it was found within blocks of the area where suspect William Balfour was arrested. Speculation, definitely, but given the other confirmed facts that speculation is (sadly) likely to be accurate.

ojt has edited the story as requested and has been very good about getting this news out to the community quickly.

Tina Kells

at 09:04 on October 27th, 2008

Hudson family to hold noon hour vigil at Chicago's Pleasant Gift Baptist Church

According to law-enforcement sources, Balfour's alibi the day of the killings has been contradicted by his girlfriend.

Balfour and Julia Hudson had been separated for some time, his family members said. A family friend said Balfour recently had threatened to take Julian away.

A family member of the girlfriend's said police have interviewed her. Police also tracked Balfour's whereabouts Friday through his cell phone, sources said.

As pieces began coming together in the police investigation, the Hudson family spent the weekend praying, holding out hope until the minute reports said the boy's body was found in Jason Hudson's car.

Now, the family said, a vigil is planned at the Pleasant Gift Baptist Church at noon.

"All we can do is pray," Alston said. "We're a family of deep faith."

Tina Kells

at 10:09 on October 27th, 2008

Press conference expected soon, body of boy found in Jason Hudson's SUV at medical examiners office

UPDATE: The body found in the Chevy Suburban is on its way to the medical examiner's office and should be there by 12:15. Hudson family members will arrive shortly after that. A press conference is expected after the body is identified.

Tina Kells

at 11:05 on October 27th, 2008

Boy's body, Jason Hudson's SUV, found by man walking dog

The body was found in the back seat of the white Chevrolet Suburban police were looking for in their search for 7-year-old Julian King, three days after the bodies of Jennifer Hudson's mother and brother were found shot to death in the mother's house in Englewood.

Law enforcement sources said that the boy was shot multiple times in the back of the vehicle. Police are testing the clothing of a man in custody for gunshot residue.

Hudson family members were expected at the medical examiner's office this afternoon to identify the body. Police Supt. Jody Weis will hold a press conference at 4 p.m. today.

Police arrived at the Suburban with Illinois license plate X584859 before 8 a.m. in the 1300 block of South Kolin Avenue, after receiving a call of a suspicious vehicle.

It was found by a 75-year-old who lives on the block, John Louden. He said he has lived on the block for 18 years and worried about people selling drugs in the abandoned building behind it. He saw the SUV while walking his dog. After a double-take, he realized the license plate matched the one police were looking for.

Press Conference Scheduled this Afternoon

Hudson family members were expected at the medical examiner's office this afternoon to identify the body. Police Supt. Jody Weis will hold a press conference at 4 p.m. today.

lgal3824

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 12:23 on October 27th, 2008

ojt, I like this story. It's good stuff.

nicole.furlong

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 12:30 on October 27th, 2008

so sad

Rhonda J Mangus

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 12:48 on October 27th, 2008

ojt, I like this story. It's good stuff.

dunkelberg

at 13:34 on October 27th, 2008

UPDATE: Police Supt. Jody Weis says the body found on Chicago's West Side is that of 7-year-old Julian King. The identity of the body also was confirmed this afternoon by the Cook County medical examiner's office, where an autopsy will be done Tuesday.

Actress-singer Jennifer Hudson and three other relatives went to the office and identified the body, authorities said.

Around 3 p.m., two black SUVs believed to be carrying Hudson family members pulled out of the basement garage of the Trump Tower in downtown Chicago. An unmarked police squad car left shortly after that, followed by a crowd of about a dozen people who left through the luxury hotel's lobby and declined comment.

Soon after, the SUVs arrived at the offices of the Cook County medical examiner's office. The vehicles left the scene about 3:54 p.m.

The body was found in the back seat of the white Chevrolet Suburban police were looking for in their search for Julian, three days after Hudson's mother and brother were found shot to death in the mother's house in Englewood.

Law enforcement sources said that the boy was shot multiple times in the back of the vehicle. Police are testing the clothing of a man in custody for gunshot residue.

Police arrived at the Suburban with Illinois license plate X584859 before 8 a.m. in the 1300 block of South Kolin Avenue, after receiving a call of a suspicious vehicle.

It was found by a 75-year-old who lives on the block, John Louden. He said he has lived on the block for 18 years and worried about people selling drugs in the abandoned building behind it. He saw the SUV while walking his dog. After a double-take, he realized the license plate matched the one police were looking for.

"I didn't look in there. I didn't touch it. I knew it was a strange vehicle," Louden said. He said police showed up in about five minutes after his wife called them. They discovered the child inside. The body was removed and the SUV was towed away for evidence processing. "I feel bad about that baby," Louden said.