GUILTY IL - Darnell Donerson, Jason Hudson & Julian King, 7, slain, Chicago, 24 Oct 2008

[KR2tonenow]

From NG tonight:
Exerpts for those who did not watch-

"Who was driving the van around, that car was not there before this morning".
No suspects as of yet. Screams domestic violence.

Mode of attack, shot through the door. Maybe not domestic, Balfour lived there until mother kicked him out 6 mos ago.

Why is William Balfour out on parole? Married Julia Hudson in 2006. Known the Hudson family since they were kids.

Dept of connections was able to get him from violation of parole. They do not have the goods on him. Julia entered the home and found bodies. Unclear whether Balfour did it.

Why did Jennifer Hudson have to identify bodies, 6 others identified bodies through video conferencing. As well as Julia identified bodies.

Julia in press conference, "all I know what to do is pray".

Julian King suffered at least one gunshot to the head.

Caller: Is the Suburban found, was that the car reported stolen and have tests come back on gunshot residue?

Jason Hudson's stolen car. Gun residue still to be investigated.

Mike Brooks said comparison at both crime scenes will be made.

Caller: some conspired to get money because of Jennifer's Fame?

Was this some type of gang invasion? No weapon and no motive.
BS on the gang revenge, per NG.

What was he picked up on, he wouldn't talk to police: who knows if it was a drug problem? Never seen this type of revenge.

2 Friends of Jennifer's on NG now:
Deanna Degarmo talks about Jennifer's love for her family.
Stephanie Patton neighbor of Hudson's
Stephanie did not hear anything. Her kids played with Julian. Jason had BBQ's.
Lots of kids played together. Neighbors are devasted. This could have happened to anybody.

Deanna the fame didn't change Jennifer. She was still wonderful be around.
Jennifer was very close to her mother, and talked about her all the time.

Wonderful things recently engaged. Lost her entire family in one day.

end

 

[CaliKid]

Lost her entire family in one day.

That has to be one of the saddest statements I've ever heard.

 

[NSC]

That has to be one of the saddest statements I've ever heard.

I agree....saddest thing ever...now two sisters and two sisters only. I could not imagine the anguish and grief the hudson sisters feel. My only outlook is that Jennifer takes Julia out of Chi and they become advocates of domestic violence and violence against children. I am aching for them --- mainly because William Balfour is the same type of Chicago that fathered my sisters child -- another Chicago -- and now he is probably cell mates with my nieces sperm donor...sons of deserce to rot in hell.

 

[Straitfan]

Wow, what a sad, sad tragedy I don't really have a comment though wish LE would not get beat up for every thing that happens.. Viewing the myspace pages etc... I wouldn't even start to speculate on who may have done this.. One report stated lil Julian was the 11th child at his school already this year to die, can't imagine living in an environment where is was kind of the "norm". God Bless the Hudson family.

 

[chicagofa13]

Kids being killed in Chicago is unfortunately very common. They are usually killed by other kids or young adults. Thugs, gang members, victims of random drivebys. It is very sad.

The older man who called the vehicle in this AM said the cops came within 5 minutes of his call, so there is a lot of conflicting info about when the Suburban showed up and who called. They did have helicopters searching and were doing or planning a grid search. Who knows why it took as long as it did. This city is crime ridden. Cops spread thin.

For all the posters who said people don't want to get involved, I agree to a certain extent. I would be scared too, but there are safe ways to alert the cops. You don't have to call in with your name, address and phone. You can get them a message anonymously a few different ways. I'm glad this guy had the guts to call.

I posted the other day about the shots through the door and I thought it was strange. Maybe he went by the house to talk, goes up to the door and knocks, her brother won't let him in or won't come out, so he just starts shooting. Possibly it was a premeditated event. At this point we don't even know if he's the shooter.

Just can't stop picturing that cute little guy with the big eyes, so innocent. Didn't deserve all this.

 

[Joyce]

just updated Julian's mother Julia just updated her About me on Myspace(snipped}



"LETS SEE IM 29 YEARS OLD I HAVE ONE CHILD AND I'M ALWAYS BORED, I LOVE TO HAVE FUN EVEN START A LITTLE S*** HERE AND THEIR i HAVE TWO YOUNGER SIBLINGS MY SISTER IS JENNIFER HUDSON YES THE JENNIFER HUDSON AND MY BROTHER IS JASON,I GUESS IT'S TIME TO UPDATE THIS WHEN I STARTED MY MYSPACE ALL OF THE ABOVE WAS TRUE , NOW BECAUSE I CHOSE TO DO WHAT WAS NATURAL TO ME AND LOVE SOMEONE , IT COST ME MY BEAUTIFUL FAMILY MY WONDERFUL BEAUTIFUL LOVING SUPPORTING MOTHER DARNELL, MY TRUE BLUE BABY BROTHER JASON , I LOVE U BIG BABY ... AND LAST BUT NEVER NOT LEAST MY ONLY SON JULIAN , MY INNOCENT BABY ONE THAT WAS SHELTERED FROM ALL THE EVIL OIN THE WORLD BECAUSE WE LOVED HIM SO MUCH... BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR LOVING SUPPORT, I KNOW SOME OF YAL HAVE YOUR OPINIONS AND YOU ARE ENTITLED TO THAT , LIKE WHY IS SHE LOGGING ON TO MYSPACE AT A TIME LIKE THIS , LET ME TELL YOU WHY I WAS HOPING THAT , THAT WAS A WAY TO MAYBE HELP ME GET MY SON, MY BABY THE ONE I CARRIED UNDER MY HEART FOR 8 1/2 MONTHS THE SON IT TOOK ME 21 HOURS OF LABOR TO BRING HERE THE SON I GREW TO KNOW AND LOVE FOR JUST A FEW MONTHS OVER 7 YEARS THATS WHY ... AND NOW FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ACTUALLY CARED THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT , THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS , THANK YOU FOR POSTING HIS PICTURE ON YOUR PAGES AS YOUR DEFAULT PICTURE THANK YOU... BUT HIS LIL SOUL IS AT EASE, I TAKE COMFORT IN KNOWING THAT JULIAN IS WITH MY MOTHER AND MY BROTHER AND MOST OF ALL THE LORD AND NOW HE'S MY ANGEL HE'S PROTECTING ME.."


http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=95546805

 

[SeriouslySearching]

It was interesting to me that the bodies were identified via Closed Circuit.

I believe this is the norm now instead of taking them inside the morgue.

 

[chicagofa13]

just updated Julian's mother Julia just updated her About me on Myspace(snipped}



"LETS SEE IM 29 YEARS OLD I HAVE ONE CHILD AND I'M ALWAYS BORED, I LOVE TO HAVE FUN EVEN START A LITTLE S*** HERE AND THEIR i HAVE TWO YOUNGER SIBLINGS MY SISTER IS JENNIFER HUDSON YES THE JENNIFER HUDSON AND MY BROTHER IS JASON,I GUESS IT'S TIME TO UPDATE THIS WHEN I STARTED MY MYSPACE ALL OF THE ABOVE WAS TRUE , NOW BECAUSE I CHOSE TO DO WHAT WAS NATURAL TO ME AND LOVE SOMEONE , IT COST ME MY BEAUTIFUL FAMILY MY WONDERFUL BEAUTIFUL LOVING SUPPORTING MOTHER DARNELL, MY TRUE BLUE BABY BROTHER JASON , I LOVE U BIG BABY ... AND LAST BUT NEVER NOT LEAST MY ONLY SON JULIAN , MY INNOCENT BABY ONE THAT WAS SHELTERED FROM ALL THE EVIL OIN THE WORLD BECAUSE WE LOVED HIM SO MUCH... BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR LOVING SUPPORT, I KNOW SOME OF YAL HAVE YOUR OPINIONS AND YOU ARE ENTITLED TO THAT , LIKE WHY IS SHE LOGGING ON TO MYSPACE AT A TIME LIKE THIS , LET ME TELL YOU WHY I WAS HOPING THAT , THAT WAS A WAY TO MAYBE HELP ME GET MY SON, MY BABY THE ONE I CARRIED UNDER MY HEART FOR 8 1/2 MONTHS THE SON IT TOOK ME 21 HOURS OF LABOR TO BRING HERE THE SON I GREW TO KNOW AND LOVE FOR JUST A FEW MONTHS OVER 7 YEARS THATS WHY ... AND NOW FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ACTUALLY CARED THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT , THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS , THANK YOU FOR POSTING HIS PICTURE ON YOUR PAGES AS YOUR DEFAULT PICTURE THANK YOU... BUT HIS LIL SOUL IS AT EASE, I TAKE COMFORT IN KNOWING THAT JULIAN IS WITH MY MOTHER AND MY BROTHER AND MOST OF ALL THE LORD AND NOW HE'S MY ANGEL HE'S PROTECTING ME.."


http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=95546805

Thanks Joyce. I had looked at it earlier and it was the same as before. I will admit some of the things on there before were not my style, but I'm also someone who doesn't even have a myspace or facebook! No, I'm not old, just not into it. So I'm never really sure what to expect on someone's myspace page. A lot of times it seems like a place to be someone else, brag a bit, live a different life. But as I said, I'm no expert for sure. As for the logging on, I had a feeling she (or family) was on there hoping to make a connection to Julian.

This statement really gets me:

NOW BECAUSE I CHOSE TO DO WHAT WAS NATURAL TO ME AND LOVE SOMEONE , IT COST ME MY BEAUTIFUL FAMILY MY WONDERFUL BEAUTIFUL LOVING SUPPORTING MOTHER DARNELL, MY TRUE BLUE BABY BROTHER JASON , I LOVE U BIG BABY ... AND LAST BUT NEVER NOT LEAST MY ONLY SON JULIAN , MY INNOCENT BABY ONE THAT WAS SHELTERED FROM ALL THE EVIL OIN THE WORLD BECAUSE WE LOVED HIM SO MUCH...

That message says it all. Prayers for Julia, Jen and their extended family.

 

[Elphaba]

I KNOW SOME OF YAL HAVE YOUR OPINIONS AND YOU ARE ENTITLED TO THAT , LIKE WHY IS SHE LOGGING ON TO MYSPACE AT A TIME LIKE THIS

It is heartbreaking that this mother had to write such a thing... as if it isn't bad enough that she is dealing with a majority of her world being taken away from her. On top of the fact that unlike the average person, her losses are playing out on the national news media level. Her family was murdered... she has not been named a suspect nor has shown signs that she was involved in their murders... so at the very least people should have some darn respect for her situation. She went on her myspace... so what... it doesn't make her less of a grieving mother/sister/daughter.

 

[tippytoes]

It is heartbreaking that this mother had to write such a thing... as if it isn't bad enough that she is dealing with a majority of her world being taken away from her. On top of the fact that unlike the average person, her losses are playing out on the national news media level. Her family was murdered... she has not been named a suspect nor has shown signs that she was involved in their murders... so at the very least people should have some darn respect for her situation. She went on her myspace... so what... it doesn't make her less of a grieving mother/sister/daughter.

No, of course she isn't a suspect and I really don't think anyone here, or elsewhere, treated her as such. Unfortunately, she shares the glare of celebrity and its a cross-sword. In one instance, it gave her coverage in a Chicago media, where, admittedly, people allow hours after a gunshot because it's not too uncommon and the glare of being a celebrity-relative.

Without her famous sister, I highly doubt this case would have received the the needed attention and unfortunately, with that, comes the harsh spotlight.

I feel awful for Julia. She lost her ENTIRE family, but because of her connection to a well known personality and the all-too-available facts about her life, anyone is liable to speculate about her choice in spouse/stepfather.

I really don't think anyone is questioning her logging into Myspace. Clearly, she was trying to find her boy and what a tragedy of epic proportions. No one blames Julia. She is a primary victim.

 

[Elphaba]

I was just making a general statement that encompassed the fact that she is a victim and that she should be given that respect... that there is no other reason for anyone to react meanly towards her. Sorry if it sounded too harsh...

(...and what I said wasn't aimed at people on WS... it was aimed at the general fact that obviously something somewhere (not on WS) has been said to the point that the poor woman felt that she had to defend herself on her own MySpace. That saddens me...)

 

[tippytoes]

I was just making a general statement that encompassed the fact that she is a victim and that she should be given that respect... that there is no other reason for anyone to react meanly towards her. Sorry if it sounded too harsh...

No, no.....110% agree....Julia is undoubtlably a victim. No harshness in your statement. It's true, to a degree of so few crimes--she has lost her mom, brother, and her own son.

I see your protectiveness and I couldn't agree more. Sorry if I was unclear. What a tragedy, on so many levels.

 

[Elphaba]

No, no.....110% agree....Julia is undoubtlably a victim. No harshness in your statement. It's true, to a degree of so few crimes--she has lost her mom, brother, and her own son.

I see your protectiveness and I couldn't agree more. Sorry if I was unclear. What a tragedy, on so many levels.

Tis okay... we all tend to get passionate when it comes to cases... thanks for understanding my sometimes overbearing way of trying to make a general statement. I'm horrible about doing that... I need to learn how to be a better conveyer with my words, without going overboard.

 

[tippytoes]

Elphaba, no one here could feel anything but empathy for Julia and Jennifer. Your posts on all threads are so pro-victim and I look for them wherever I read. Thank you!! It's not a "horrible" trait to regret and no one goes overboard being protective of victims of crime.

It's early, I guess, in the scheme of things.....I do feel anger (very possibly misplaced) about exposing this type of step father to Julian. I don't know the upside to this POI, but his record is dismal and I don't see him as much of a role model...aside from the fact that he may very well have wiped out an entire family. STILL, you are right that now isn't a great time to jump on the mom and what she may or may do with Myspace. God knows how much she is suffering. It seems trivial in the grand scheme.

 

[SuziQ]

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2008/10/family-disputes-eyed-as-motive-in-hudson-killings.html

(snips)
Officers questioned Balfour on Friday night, but he stopped talking when police suggested he take a polygraph. Balfour has not been charged in the slayings.

Police have not ruled out the possibility that more than one person was involved.

Police believe that Balfour went to the Hudson family home Friday and shot through the front door, striking Hudson's brother, Jason. Hudson's mother, Darnell Donerson, came into the living room, screaming, and Balfour shot her as well, sources said.

Much of the account of what police believe happened that day came from an interview with a girlfriend of Balfour's, sources said.
The sources also said Balfour's girlfriend contradicted his alibi and told police that he was involved in the slayings.

 

[SuziQ]

Very interesting and detailed article at the below link. I thought the comment about the dog was interesting. Even untrained dogs pick up on death.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/1244017,jennfier-hudson-case-body-child-found-102708.article

(snip)
After an intensive weekend search, police were called around 7 a.m. Monday after a couple’s dog kept barking near the Suburban at 1313 S. Kolin Ave.
The couple who reported the car, John and Lynette Louden said they were watching news on television Monday morning and Lynette wrote down the license plate of the SUV. The couple first noticed the white Suburban on Saturday morning.
John Louden was taking their chihuahua, Lil’ Man, out for a walk when the dog started barking unusually at the vehicle. “He has a very keen nose,’’ John Louden said.
He compared the license plate number to the one he had scribbed down from the news.
"When he came back in, he said, ‘It’s a match.’ I said, ‘Oh, God. I hope that child is not in there,'" Lynette Louden said.
“I came back in the house and told my wife to call 911,’’ John Louden said. Lynette Louden said police arrived in “two minutes.’’

 

[SuziQ]

Police Chief Jody Weis says the investigation into the murders of Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother and nephew is proceeding swiftly, aided by the evidence from two murder scenes. Anne Kavanagh brings us up-to-date. (video at the below link)

http://www.myfoxchicago.com/myfox/p...n=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1

 

[SuziQ]

The woman who noticed the SUV from the Julian King amber alert and called police Monday morning spoke exclusively to Fox Chicago News reporter Tera Williams. She says it was her dog who made her and her husband realize that something was terribly wrong. (Video at the below link)

http://www.myfoxchicago.com/myfox/p...n=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1

 

[gooniequeen]

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2008/10/family-disputes-eyed-as-motive-in-hudson-killings.html

(snips)
Officers questioned Balfour on Friday night, but he stopped talking when police suggested he take a polygraph. Balfour has not been charged in the slayings.

Police have not ruled out the possibility that more than one person was involved.

Police believe that Balfour went to the Hudson family home Friday and shot through the front door, striking Hudson's brother, Jason. Hudson's mother, Darnell Donerson, came into the living room, screaming, and Balfour shot her as well, sources said.

Much of the account of what police believe happened that day came from an interview with a girlfriend of Balfour's, sources said.
The sources also said Balfour's girlfriend contradicted his alibi and told police that he was involved in the slayings.[/quote]

Well THANK GOD finally a woman who isn't going to stand by her man.

 

[SuziQ]

Access Hollywood video about how close Jennifer and her mother were:

http://www.myfoxchicago.com/myfox/p...n=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1