Police identify body found in SUV as that of missing Hudson family boy

Late Monday afternoon, Chicago police confirmed that the body of a Black male child found early the same day is that of Julian King. The 7 year old is the nephew of award-winning singer/actress Jennifer Hudson.

Late Monday afternoon, Chicago police confirmed that the body of a Black male child found early the same day is that of Julian King. The 7 year old is the nephew of award-winning singer/actress Jennifer Hudson. Though the Medical Examiner’s Office has not confirmed, it is believed that King was shot. The boy had been missing since Friday, after the bodies of his uncle, Jason Hudson, and grandmother, Darnell Donerson, were discovered in the home they all shared at 7019 S. Yale. Donerson is Jennifer’s 57-year-old mother, and Jason, 29, is her brother. At 7:02 a.m. Monday, Chicago police were called about a suspicious vehicle parked in the 1300 block of South Kolin Avenue. Police confirmed the vehicle, a white Chevy Suburban, and its license plates, matched the vehicle listed in the Amber Alert that was issued Friday for King. An African American male child’s body, now identified as being King’s, was found in the back seat of the vehicle. Police also confirmed that Jennifer’s sister, Julia, was the one who discovered the bodies of their mother and brother on Friday. Julia, who is King’s mother, made an emotional plea for his return Saturday, and Jennifer had issued a $100,000 reward for his safe return. Instead, King became the third victim of the Hudson family slayings. Police Supt. Jody Weis said police are looking at surveillance cameras, in the area where the white Suburban SUV was found, for clues. It has not been determined how long King’s body had been in the vehicle or if he was killed in it. Jennifer Hudson made the identification of her nephew’s body, according to a spokesperson for the Medical Examiner’s Office. She was “incredibly strong for her family,” the spokesperson said. Adding that she was “clearly the leader” for the family. He said Hudson encouraged her family to “remain strong.” King was a second grader at Gunsaulus Scholastic Academy, 4420 S. Sacramento. Students and staff at the school are “very sad for the family” and want to respect their privacy, Amy Kotz, principal of Gunsaulus, told the Defender. There are no suspects named in the case, and Julia’s estranged husband, William Balfour remains the only person of interest. Balfour, 27, is now in the custody of the Ill. Dept. of Corrections for parole violation, but Chicago police said he remains a person of interest in the now-triple homicide. Weis said initially that the incident appeared to be domestic related, however, now police are not sure about a motive. According to police, the slayings don’t appear to be random. They say that whomever was involved knew each other. Defender Staff Writer Rhonda Gillespie contributed to this report. ______ Copyright 2008 Chicago Defender. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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