Jennifer Hudson's nephew Julian King was found dead by the police in an SUV on Chicago's West Side on Monday morning, October 27 with multiple gunshots on his body.
- Oct 28, 2008
AceShowbiz - The dead body of Jennifer Hudson's young nephew, 7-year-old Julian King, was found by the police in an SUV on Chicago's West Side on Monday morning, October 27. Chicago Police Department Superintendent Jody Weis confirmed the harrowing news at a press conference held later in the evening, saying, "Tragically, search efforts ended shortly after 7 A.M. At this time, we can confirm that the body located inside the vehicle was the body of 7-year-old Julian King."
Julian was pronounced missing Friday, October 24 soon after Hudson's mother Darnell Hudson Donerson, 57, and older brother Jason Hudson, 29, were found dead inside the family's residence, 7019 South Yale Avenue, at 2:44 P.M. An Amber Alert, a child abduction alert bulletin outed by the authorities after a child is abducted, had been issued for Julian. A 1994 white Chevrolet Suburban with Illinois license plate X584859 was also proclaimed to be connected to the case.
On Sunday, October 26, Hudson and her family offered a $100,000 reward for the safe return of Julian. The boy's mother, Julia Hudson, made a plea for public's help to find her son, who's often called "Juice Box" or "Dr. King." In a press conference, taking place at Pleasant Gift Missionary Baptist Church, she said, "All I ask, I don't care who you are, just let my baby go. I just want my son back. He doesn't deserve this."
After a series of investigation involving the F.B.I., police discovered a young black male's body "in the rear seat" of a white Chevrolet Suburban on Chicago's West Side Monday morning. "At approximately 7:06 A.M. a 1994 White Chevrolet Suburban bearing Illinois license plate X584859 and identified in the Amber Alert was located at 1313 S. Kolin. A body was discovered inside the Suburban, in the rear seat of the vehicle," the Chicago Police Department confirmed.
The body reportedly suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was claimed to have been shot once in the head. Soon following the news of the body's discovery, Hudson's family members organized a church vigil. The singer-actress and several of her family members visited the medical examiner's office Monday afternoon to identify the body and identification came from the former "American Idol" contestant who said, "Yes, that is him."
An autopsy on Julian's body has been scheduled for Tuesday, October 28 by the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office. Regarding the latest finding, Weis confirmed in a statement that "Chicago police and detectives will continue to work around the clock to ensure that justice is served."
Meanwhile, Julian's stepfather, William Balfour, has been held on a parole violation since Friday. He has denied involvement in the crime but has since reportedly stopped responding to authorities' questions. No charges have been filed though.
