Man Pleads Not Guilty to Hudson Family Murders

A man named William Balfour has pleaded not guilty to the murders of singer Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother, and nephew on Tuesday at Cook County Criminal Court in Chicago. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges of first-degree murder and home invasion. He is currently being held without bail and is scheduled to appear in court again on January 27th.

Police Find Gun Used in Hudson Family Murders

On Friday, police confirmed that they found a .45-caliber gun that was used in the killings of singer Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother, and nephew. The gun was found on Wednesday in a vacant lot where the the body of Julian King, Hudson's nephew, was found dead in the back of a SUV days earlier due to gun shot wounds. Jennifer Hudson's mother and brother, named Darnell Donerson and Jason Hudson, were found dead in the family's home last Friday.

Singer Jennifer Hudson’s Nephew Found Dead

The singer’s Jennifer Hudson’s 7 year old nephew named Julian King was found dead in the back of a SUV on Monday. The SUV was found about 10 miles from the house where the other homicide victims were found. This ends a search for the child that began after Hudson’s mother and brother were found shot to death in their Chicago home on Friday. The boy has been found to have been shot to death. The medical examiner’s office has an autopsy planned for Tuesday. The motive for the recent killings is still unsure and the person who did it most likely was not a stranger to the family.

Police consider the case domestic-related and the main suspect is a man named William Balfour who is the stepfather of the child. He was taken into custody for questioning on Friday for the homicides and on Sunday he was transferred to the Illinois Department of Corrections for his parole violations. He had previously spent nearly seven years in prison for attempted murder, vehicular hijacking, and possessing a stolen vehicle.

Jennifer Hudson Asks for Help Finding Nephew

Jennifer Hudson is asking for help from the public in finding her 7 year old nephew who has been missing since her mother and brother were shot to death in their home. An Amber Alert has remained in effect Sunday for the boy, named Julian King, who disappeared on Friday. Police don’t have a motive for the killings and abduction but they consider it domestic-related.

A man named William Balfour, the estranged husband of Jennifer Hudson’s sister, named Julia Hudson, has been in police custody and is a suspect in the shooting. Julia Hudson is also the mother of the missing child. Balfour has been transferred to the Illinois Department of Corrections based on his active parole violations unrelated to the homicides and abduction. He will remain in state custody until the Illinois Prisoner Review Board looks at his case.

Singer Jennifer Hudson’s Mother and Brother Found Dead

The singer Jennifer Hudson’s mother and brother were found dead due to gun shot wounds on Friday at a South Side Chicago home. The deaths are assumed to be the result of domestic abuse. A family member entered the home around 3 p.m. Friday afternoon and found the woman shot on the living room floor. The family member left to notify police. When police officers arrived they found a man shot in the bedroom. There were no signs of forced entry into the home.

A 7 year old boy named Julian King that was the grandson of the woman was also abducted from the home by a man considered armed and dangerous and who is also the suspect in the killings. The man is currently on parole and in the past spent almost seven years in prison for attempted murder, vehicular hijacking, and possession of a stolen vehicle.

Rev. Jesse Jackson Released from Hospital

The Reverend Jesse Jackson was released from a Chicago hospital on Friday morning after being admitted for two days with stomach problems. At the hospital, he was treated for viral gastroenteritis and severe dehydration. He entered the hospital on Wednesday after returning from registration events and experiencing stomach pains and dehydration.

Rev. Jesse Jackson Hospitalized

The Reverend Jesse Jackson has entered a Chicago hospital after having severe stomach pains. Doctors told him that he has viral gastroenteritis but they are conducting more tests. He says that he was campaigning and doing voter registration in Georgia earlier this week when he began feeling sick after becoming dehydrated. He then entered a Chicago hospital on Wednesday. He isn’t sure when he will be released. Viral gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the stomach and intestines and usually isn’t serious for most people.

Comedian Bernie Mac Hospitalized With Pneumonia

The comedian Bernie Mac is currently in a hospital in Chicago with pneumonia. He is reportedly responding well to the treatment and should be released from the hospital soon. The pneumonia isn't related to the inflammatory lung disease that he has that has been in remission since 2005.

Kanye West’s Mother Dies

Rapper Kanye West’s mother, Donda West, died at the age of 58 this past Saturday night in Los Angeles. The cause of death is said to be a cosmetic surgery complication.

This past May, Donda released a book called “Raising Kanye: Life Lessons from the Mother of a Hip-Hop Star.” She was the chief executive of West Brands LLC, the parent company of Kanye’s Business enterprises and she was the chairwoman of the Kanye West Foundation, which is an educational nonprofit organization that works to decrease school dropout rates and improve literacy. She was also a former chairperson of the English department at Chicago State University.

Actor Shia LaBeouf Arrested

The actor Shia LaBeouf, who starred in the movie Transformers, was arrested and charged with misdemeanor criminal trespassing after he was drunk and refused to leave a Chicago Walgreens store. After he wouldn’t leave, the security guard detained him and called the police at around 2:30 a.m. After he was arrested, the police say he was very nice and polite. He posted bond before 7 a.m. LaBeouf is scheduled to go to court on November 28^th.