William Balfour arrested, suspect in Hudson family double murders

By April MacIntyre Oct 26, 2008, 0:22 GMT

William Balfour has been arrested as a suspect in the murder of two members of Oscar winning actress Jennifer Hudson\'s family. EPA/WARREN TODA

William Balfour has been arrested as a suspect in the murders of two members of Oscar winning actress Jennifer Hudson's family.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has joined local law enforcement Saturday to step up the search for 7-year-old nephew of Hudson, still missing a day after the bodies of her mother and brother were found in her childhood home in Chicago, Illinois.

The Chicago Tribune and The Chicago Sun-Times reported that William Balfour, a suspect in the deaths, was arrested Friday but has not been charged as yet.

Balfour remained in custody, but the nephew, Julian King, has not been seen since the bodies of the mother, Darnell Donerson, 57, and the brother, Jason Hudson, 29, were allegedly discovered by Balfour's wife Julia on Friday.

An F.B.I. spokesman, Ross Rice, confirmed to the Associated Press that the agency was brought in to help find the boy.

Mrs. Donerson was found shot on the living room floor. Officers later found Mr. Hudson shot in the bedroom, the police said.

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office said their deaths were ruled homicides.

Balfour was married to Jennifer Hudson’s sister, Julia Hudson, for several years, but that they were currently separated.

Jennifer Hudson’s personal publicist has issued a statement to the press requesting privacy as the investigation continues.