JULIA HUDSON BEGS FOR HER SON’S RELEASE: “I don’t care who you are, just let the baby go,” Julia Hudson said to a crowd from the podium of the Pleasant Gift Missionary Baptist Church with the boy’s father, Greg King, at her side. “I know he’s out there,” she pleaded. “Just let him go. Put him on the side of the street. He’ll sit there. Somebody will see him. He’ll probably cry until somebody comes along.”

The FBI has been called in to help find Julian King, actress and singer Jennifer Hudson’s nephew. Julian has been missing since yesterday, when his mother, Jennifer’s sister Julia Hudson, reportedly found her mother and brother shot dead at their home in Chicago. FBI spokesman Ross Rice confirmed the FBI has been asked to help and said that their involvement doesn’t necessarily mean the boy was taken out of state. He said the FBI can get involved in the disappearance of any missing child, whether kidnapped or a runaway, and said the goal is to help police find the child as quickly as possible.

Police believe the murders happened about 11 a.m. and started outside with the gunman firing through the door and striking Hudson’s brother, according to a law-enforcement source. The gunman then entered the house and continued to fire, striking Hudson’s mother when she entered the room. Police have recovered shell casings from the scene. Jennifer Hudson visited the Cook County Medical examiner’s office overnight with other family members to identify the bodies of her mother and brother, according to the office.

Jennifer Hudson’s family members just held a press conference, where Julia Hudson made a plea for her son to be returned. She said “she just wants her baby” and that Julian “likes to read books.” Julia was the one who had to break the news to Jennifer, who started crying and screaming at the news. Reportedly, Jennifer was not at the press conference. Police Police are “looking everywhere” for the boy, including returning to the scene of the murders, police spokesperson Monique Bond said. Community leaders called for a hundred volunteers to meet in front of the Hudson family house at 3 p.m. today to search for the missing boy.

“We want a posse of men and women and religious leaders to help find that child before sundown,” said Ziff Sistrunk, an Englewood community activist. “We need to find this kid.”

The police are still looking for a white Chevrolet Suburban, license plate number X584859, in connection with the crime. They have reportedly located the teal car they included in the original alert yesterday. Police declined to say where that vehicle was located. Julia Hudson’s estranged husband, William Balfour, is under arrest and has been named a person of interest in the double-homicide. His mother says he did not do it.

FBI and police are combing the home for forensic evidence. A makeshift memorial is quickly growing outside of the South Side Chicago home. Balloons, teddy bears, notes, flowers and ribbons are being left by friends, neighbors, and even strangers. The shocking double-homicide has left the community shaken. We will update this post as more details become available.

Jennifer Hudson’s 7 year-old nephew, Julian King, is still missing this morning. An Amber Alert remains in effect for Julian. He is 5′ tall, and weighs 135 lbs. Authorities say he may look more like a teen than a 7 year old because of his size. Julian is believed to have been abducted from the crime scene, where Jennifer Hudson’s mother and brother were killed yesterday.

TMZ is reporting that the Cook County Coroner just told them that both victims had multiple gun wounds. Autopsy reports are expected later today. A statement from the family is also expected today, and we will bring it to you when it becomes available. It is now being reported that Julia Hudson was the person who discovered her murdered mother and brother after coming home from work.

William Balfour, the estranged husband of Jennifer’s sister Julia, is in Chicago police custody. He is the only suspect thus far in the double-homicide yesterday of Jennifer Hudson’s mother and brother. “Flex A Million” is the nickname on William Balfour’s Myspace. He says he doesn’t “tolerate bulls**t.”

As Snark Food posted earlier, Julia Hudson’s Myspace showed recently that her (slain) brother Jason Hudson had to “pick her up because William sold her car.” Neighbors in the Chicago South Side neighborhood reported that there had been a dispute over a car, that Balfour sold the car, and that the discussion became so heated that Balfour threatened to “kill the whole family.” Julia Hudson’s Myspace also lists William as one of her “ten best friends”, and that out of the ten is “the most likely to get arrested.” It also says that William lives with her.

Balfour may not have acted alone. Some neighbors reported seeing 2 people go into the house. Other reports out of Chicago say that the killings were an “act of revenge” because Hudson’s mother had kicked Balfour out of her house.

Police are questioning several people, but Balfour is currently the only person under arrest. He is not revealing anything about little Julian’s whereabouts. Neighbors in the area who know the family well say a few weeks ago a family member tried stealing a car, which triggered a heated argument in which the would-be thief promised revenge. No one was named specifically, but Balfour spent nearly 7 years in prison for attempted murder, vehicular hijacking and possession of a stolen vehicle. Balfour was released from the Illinois River Correctional Center in Canton in May 2006.

Balfour’s mother, Michelle Davis-Balfour, said her son had nothing to do with the killings. “Out of no means did my son do this. This heinous crime to this family is unbelievable. It’s unbearable,” she said. She is begging for anyone who may have Julian to please let him go. Cops don’t seem to agree with Michelle on Balfour’s involvement.

Jennifer Hudson and her sister Julia are currently in seclusion in Chicago. Chicago police are pursuing all leads, and are desperately searching for young Julian King. If you have information regarding the crimes, or have seen Julian King, please contact the Chicago Police Department at 312-745-6052. See Snark Food’s previous reports for more information on the story.

UPDATE: 10/28/08- WILLIAM BALFOUR SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN BEHIND BARS; READ HERE

Authorities in Chicago have confirmed that 27 year-oldWilliam Balfour, above, IS in police custody now, and is suspected in the double-homicide of singer-actress Jennifer Hudson’s mother and brother today. Balfour is also suspected of abducting Hudson’s nephew, Julian King, age 7. An Amber Alert has been issued for the child, who is 5′ tall, 130 pounds, last seen wearing a tan polo shirt and khaki pants. Balfour is refusing to tell authorities where the boy is. The boy, who may have witnessed the murders, has not been found.

JULIAN KING, AGE 7, STILL MISSING

Police have described the murders as resulting from “domestic abuse.” AroundHarlem.com quotes a source in Chicago saying that the murders were committed as an act of revenge. “The Hudson family kicked someone out of a house. He said he’d be back to kill them.” At least one of the victims showed signs of a struggle. Suspect William Balfour’s address that is registered with authorities, is the address of Jennifer’s mother’s home. Neighbors in the area who know the family well say a few weeks ago a family member tried stealing a car, which triggered a heated argument in which the would-be thief promised revenge. No one was named specifically, but Balfour spent nearly 7 years in prison for attempted murder, vehicular hijacking and possession of a stolen vehicle. Balfour was released from the Illinois River Correctional Center in Canton in May 2006.

On Julia’s MySpace page, recently posted a picture of Jason (one of the victims) in a vehicle. The caption below reads, “Jason picking up my ass from work, cause William bitch ass sold my car.”

According to the Illinois Department of Corrections, Balfour is on parole and has spent nearly seven years in prison for attempted murder, vehicular hijacking and possessing a stolen vehicle. He was sentenced to seven years in prison in 1999. He’s 5-foot-5 and weighs 147 pounds. Authorities say he wears his hair in braids now. William Balfour’s Myspace page is here.

William Balfour listed Darnell’s house as his residence within the last year. Balfour’s mother, Michelle, said her son had been married to Hudson’s sister, Julia, for several years, but they were separated. She also said Donerson had ordered him to move out of the family’s home last winter. Paul Ciliano, a former Chicago police officer and CBS News consultant, said the Englewood neighborhood where the crimes were committed is “probably the toughest neighborhood in the city of Chicago.

“This is a notoriously violent area, the most shootings and car hijackings and tough-and-rumble place on the South Side of Chicago.” Ciliano said the first priority of the police right now is locating the missing boy. “That’s their focus. They have the suspect, the number one suspect (and only suspect as far as I know) in custody, so right now all their efforts are going towards finding and locating this child and getting him home safely. He said police are likely questioning Balfour’s acquaintances. “I’m sure they have gotten his cell phone and know everybody he has talked to or texted the last 28 to 48 hours.”

The heartbreaking news comes at a time when Jennifer Hudson has been on top of the world. Newly-engaged and coming off a show-stopping performance at the Democratic National Convention, her single “Spotlight” is on the top of the R&B charts, and her recently released, self-titled debut album has been a top seller. She was featured in this year’s “Sex and the City” movie and “The Secret Life of Bees.” She won an Academy Award for best supporting actress in 2007 for her first film role, in “Dreamgirls”

See Snark Food’s previous detailed post on the murders for more information. Our prayers go out for Jennifer and her family, and that young Julian comes home safely. If you know of anything or anyone that has information on where Julian may be, please contact the Chicago Police Department at 312-745-6052.

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