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Julian King
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CHICAGO – The gut-wrenching task of identifying the body of 7-year-old Julian King fell to his aunt, award-winning singer/actress Jennifer Hudson.Late Monday afternoon, Chicago police confirmed that the body of an African-American male child found early the same day was that of King. It was a bitter pill for those who had hoped for a different outcome to the Amber alert that was put out Friday after King went missing.
On Friday, the bodies of King’s uncle, Jason Hudson, and grandmother, Darnell Donerson, were discovered in the home they all shared at 7019 S. Yale. Donerson is Jennifer Hudson’s 57-year-old mother, and Jason, 29, is her brother.
Hudson – who gained stardom after appearing on “American Idol,” and then won an Academy Award for her role in the movie “Dreamgirls” – has stayed out of the public eye since the tragedy unfolded.
A spokesperson for the Medical Examiner’s Office said Hudson made the identification of her nephew’s body.
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.”
Though the Medical Examiner’s Office has not confirmed, it is believed that King was shot.
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 that the white Chevy Suburban and its license plates matched the vehicle and plates listed in the Amber Alert.
King’s body was found in the back seat of the vehicle.
Police also confirmed that Jennifer Hudson’s sister, Julia, 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 Hudson 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.
It has not been determined how long King’s body had been in the vehicle or if he was killed in it.
King was a second grader at Gunsaulus Scholastic Academy. 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 Chicago 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 Illinois Dept. of Corrections for parole violation, but Chicago police said he remains a person of interest in the now-triple homicide.
Weis initially said 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 and those involved knew each other.
(Kathy Chaney reports for the Chicago Defender. Defender staff writer Rhonda Gillespie also contributed to this report.)
