Private Memorial For Jennifer Hudson's Family Set For Monday

Anyone looking to attend Jennifer Hudson's family private memorial service will soon find out that it will be an invitation only service. The service is set for Monday Nov. 3.

Sometimes it's just hard to believe you have people that can be so cold hearted. My Condolences goes out to the Hudson family. May the day come that the person responsible for this is brought to trial. It won't take away the pain from the Hudson family, but it will bring closure.

For the past few days more and more details are coming out. I know the police have to keep what information they do have secret so they don't blow any leads they do have. Just such a tragedy to hear what's being reported out in the news. How can someone wake up in the morning knowing he is responsible for several murders? That is just beyond me.

On Friday, an announcement will be made to address whether a public service will be held, according to the Hudson Funeral Home, which is handling the funeral and memorial arrangements.

Darnell Donerson, 57, and Jason Hudson, 29, were shot and killed Friday morning at their Chicago home. Julian King, the 7-year-old son of Jennifer Hudson's sister, Julia, was found dead Monday morning in Jason Hudson's SUV, which was taken from the home.

Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris, who is a friend of Jennifer Hudson's, will donate a jersey to help pay tribute to one of the victims, the Chicago Tribune reported Thursday.

"I would like to give them a personal jersey," Harris said Wednesday. "A lot of times you try to understand things but you can't fathom that, losing three loved ones within three days. It's very difficult and my prayers are with the family. It's hard but you just have to try not to lose faith in God."

On Wedneday, the Tribune reported that Chicago police believe more than one person may have been involved in the killings. William Balfour, Julia Hudson's estranged husband and the only person to be detained by police thus far in the case, remains in police custody for a parole violation, although he has not been charged in connection with the Hudson family murders.

A private memorial service will be held in Chicago on Monday for Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew. The service is for invited guests only.

FBI says body found is that of Hudson's nephew, 7

A top FBI official said Monday that a body found in an SUV is believed to be that of Jennifer Hudson's missing 7-year-old nephew, the focus of a desperate search since the Oscar winner's mother and brother were found shot to death in their home three days earlier.

While the body has not been positively identified, FBI Deputy Director John S. Pistole said authorities believe it to be that of Julian King, who also lived in the home.

Chicago police said the body of a black male child was found shortly after 7 a.m. in the rear seat of an SUV. An autopsy was planned for Tuesday.

The SUV was found parked on the street in a neighborhood of brownstone homes and apartment buildings, and matched the one sought in an Amber Alert issued after Hudson's mother and brother were found slain Friday, police Cmdr. Wayne Gulliford said.

In Washington, Pistole said at a news conference on child exploitation that authorities found a body "who we believe to be the missing victim in Chicago, the nephew of Jennifer Hudson. We are working with Chicago police to get a positive identification of the victim."

Hudson had offered $100,000 Sunday for information leading to Julian's safe return. He is the son of Jennifer Hudson's sister, Julia Hudson. Telephone and e-mail messages left Monday for Hudson's publicist, who had been releasing statements on behalf of the family, were not answered.

Chicago police have characterized the killings as "domestic related" and have been questioning William Balfour, who is the estranged husband of Julia Hudson and is being held in state custody on a parole violation. Balfour is not the boy's father and has not been charged in the slayings.

Balfour, 27, was taken into custody Friday by Chicago police for questioning in the killings. On Sunday, he was transferred to the Illinois Department of Corrections "based on his active parole violation unrelated to this investigation."

Records from the Corrections Department show Balfour is on parole and spent nearly seven years in prison for attempted murder, vehicular hijacking and possessing a stolen vehicle.

Balfour's mother, Michele Balfour, has said Hudson's mother kicked Balfour out of the family home last winter. She denied her son had anything to do with the killings.

Corrections spokeswoman Januari Smith said Balfour would probably remain in state custody until the Illinois Prisoner Review Board looked at his case. She would not say where Balfour was being held, and it was unclear whether Balfour had an attorney.

Hudson, who won an Academy Award in 2007 for her role in "Dreamgirls," was in Chicago during the weekend. The medical examiner's office confirmed Hudson, 27, identified the bodies of her mother, Darnell Donerson, 57, and 29-year-old brother, Jason Hudson. The deaths were ruled homicides.

Neighbors and well-wishers brought stuffed animals and other items to a makeshift memorial outside Donerson's two-story white clapboard home as news of Monday's discovery spread.

"Everybody knows Jennifer Hudson, but I would be here even if it was little Suzy on the corner," said Tacara Juarez, 26, who doesn't know the family but lives in the neighborhood.

On Sunday, Hudson appealed to the public for help, offering the reward and asking any information be given to Chicago police.

"Jennifer and her family appreciate the enormous amount of love, support and prayers they have received while she and her family try to cope with this tragedy and continue the search for Julian," said a statement from her publicist.

Police searching for Jennifer Hudson nephew find body

They have yet to confirm the child's identity but investigators had been searching for both Julian King and the white Chevrolet Suburban sports utility vehicle in which the body was found. It was stolen from the home of Hudson's mother on Friday when both she and Hudson's brother were shot dead.

Julian King, the son of Hudson's sister, Julia, had not been seen since Friday, when police arrested his step-father, William Balfour, who had become estranged from the boy's mother.

He has denied involvement in the killings or the boy's kidnapping but had reportedly stopped talking to investigators.

The body was discovered 14 miles from the house in Englewood, on Chicago's South Side, where the actress and singer's mother, Darnell Donerson, and brother, Jason Hudson, were killed.

On Sunday, Hudson, who won an Oscar for her role in Dreamgirls, had offered a $100,000 (£65,000) reward for the boy's safe return after her sister made an emotional public plea for her son's life.

Balfour, a baker who has convictions for attempted murder and carjacking, had fallen out with Hudson's family after being asked to move out of the family home last winter.

Hudson, who rose to fame after competing in the television talent show American Idol, has often credited her success with her upbringing in the impoverished Chicago neighbourhood of Englewood.

However, she had encouraged her mother to move away from the crime-ridden area. Miss Donerson refused, saying she did not want her daughter's fame to change her life.

An autopsy showed that Miss Donerson, 59, and Mr Hudson, 29, died from multiple gunshot wounds. The latter's large white four-wheel drive car remains missing.

Neighbours had heard gunshots on Friday morning but were so used to the sound that they ignored them.

Police say they are treating the murders as a "domestic" crime. They now believe the shootings began when a gunman fired through a door and hit Mr Hudson.

The attacker then went into the house and continued to fire, hitting Miss Donerson.

Family friends said Balfour and his wife had recently been arguing over ownership of her car and that Balfour had threatened to take the boy away.

He has denied involvement in the killings or the boy's kidnapping but had reportedly stopped talking to investigators.

Balfour's alibi for the day of the killings has reportedly been contradicted by his girlfriend and that police were able to track his whereabouts on the day through his mobile phone.