Non-payments on a car owned by Julia Hudson, the sister of American Idol alum Jennifer Hudson, resulting in wage garnishments, may be what sparked the Hudson family triple homicide, sources told the Defender.
Non-payments on a car owned by Julia Hudson, the sister of American Idol alum Jennifer Hudson, resulting in wage garnishments, may be what sparked the Hudson family triple homicide, sources told the Defender.
Sources said William Balfour, Hudson’s estranged husband, was supposed to be paying the car note on Hudson’s car, but when she received notice Friday from her employer that her wages were garnished because of the non-payment, she confronted Balfour.
The two engaged in a series of verbal disputes, and Balfour threatened Hudson, according to sources.
On Oct. 24, Julia Hudson found her mother Darnell Donerson, 57, and brother Jason Hudson, 29, shot to death inside the family’s home in the 7000 block of South Yale Avenue.
Missing from the home was 7-year-old Julian King, Julia’s son. Also missing was the brother’s white Chevy Suburban.
An Amber Alert was issued, and Balfour was listed on the alert. Balfour, a convicted felon, was arrested at his girlfriend’s home on the West Side shortly after the alert was issued. King was nowhere to be found.
The boy’s body and the SUV were found three days later in the 1300 block of South Kolin Avenue, about three miles away from Balfour’s girlfriend’s home.
Julian King was found in the back seat of the vehicle, and he had been shot several times. It has not been determined if he was killed inside the home or in the SUV.
Two days prior, the second-grade student’s parent made an emotional plea for his return. On Sunday, Jennifer offered a $100,000 reward for his safe return.
Julian King’s identity was confirmed at the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office hours later by Jennifer Hudson and the boy’s mother.
She was “incredibly strong for her family,” the spokesperson for the medical examiner’s office said, adding that she was “clearly the leader” for the family. He said Hudson encouraged her family to “remain strong.”
Chicago police named the 27-year-old Balfour a ‘person of interest’ in the triple homicide. He is in the custody of the Ill. Dept. of Corrections for violating his parole.
Balfour served prison time for attempted murder and vehicular hijacking.
Sources told the Defender that Balfour maintains his innocence and stopped cooperating with authorities. He has not been charged in the slayings.
Chicago police have not named any suspects in the recent triple murder but added that it clearly appeared to be domestic related.
“This was no stranger-type homicide,” said Chicago police Supt. Jody Weis.
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