Pat Dollard | Young Americans

Body Of Hudson’s Nephew Found On West Side
7-Year-Old Had Been Missing From Home Where Jennifer Hudson’s Mother, Brother Were Found Murdered

CHICAGO (CBS) ― Chicago police today confirmed that the body of a young boy found inside a white sport-utility vehicle on the city’s West Side is the nephew of Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson. The child had been shot in the the head, authorities said.

The discovery is the latest in a series of tragedies to befall Hudson and her family over the past four days. Members of the family were at the medical examiner’s office this afternoon. There were unconfirmed reports that Jennifer Hudson was in Chicago.

Hudson’s nephew, Julian King, 7, had been missing from the South Side home where the bodies of Hudson’s mother and brother were found murdered on Friday. An Amber Alert for Julian was canceled late Monday morning.

The SUV was found at 1313 S. Kolin Ave. in the Lawndale neighborhood, police said. The body of an African-American boy who looked to be about 7 was found in the back seat, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Police discovered the SUV just after 7 a.m. Monday morning. Responding to a report of a suspicious vehicle, police looked inside the vehicle and found a body.

Afterward, police put the SUV on a flatbed tow truck and towed it from the scene. They confirmed the license plate matched the one they had issued for an Amber Alert. It was a white 1994 Chevrolet Suburban SUV with Illinois license plate X584859.

Area residents reported they saw the SUV parked at 13th and Kolin, but did not realize it could be associated with the missing boy. Julian King was a student at Gunsaulus Elementary Scholastic Academy at 4420 S. Sacramento.

“This is an unspeakable tragedy,” said Chicago Public Schools spokesman, Michael Vaughn said. He said counselors were in school today to help students and staff cope with what happened.

About 3 p.m. Friday, the bodies of Hudson’s mother, Darnell Donerson, 57, and her brother, Jason Hudson, were discovered inside their home. Jason Hudson was the owner of the SUV.

The shooting is believed to be domestic-related. Neighbors said they heard gunshots between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. Friday morning, authorities said.

A family member found the bodies. The mother was found on the living room floor; the brother was found in a bedroom. The crime didn’t appear to be a robbery, police said, and the door to the home was not locked when the family member arrived.

People in the Lawndale neighborhood said they knew of the high-profile murder case, but never checked out the mysterious SUV.

“It just goes to show you, we don’t pay attention to our own community,” said Lawndale resident Rasheem Jackson. “For it to happen on the South Side and end on the West Side is just a terrible ordeal, and I just think about the child.”

William Balfour, the estranged husband of Jennifer Hudson’s sister, Julia, has been in police custody since Friday. He was transferred Sunday to the Illinois Department of Corrections “based on his active parole violation unrelated to this investigation.”

The Oscar-winning actress had offered a $100,000 reward for Julian’s safe return.