American Idol judges Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul are sending their condolences to onetime contestant Jennifer Hudson after the singer’s mother, brother and nephew were all found dead.

“This is a horrific tragedy and my thoughts and prayers go out to Jennifer and her entire family,” Abdul said Monday evening after news broke that police had identified the body of Hudson’s missing 7-year-old nephew, Julian King.

The boy was found in the back of an SUV three days after Hudson’s mother and brother were fatally shot in the mother’s Chicago home.

“The time I had to get to know Jennifer and forge a wonderful friendship with her while she was on Idol was very special to me, and I personally can’t imagine a greater loss for any family.”

Hudson, 27, got her start on American Idol before going on to win an Oscar for her role in Dreamgirls.

Cowell also sent a heartfelt message to Hudson, tells Extra, “I was horrified when I heard the news. This is an appalling tragedy. My thoughts right now are with Jennifer, and her family.”

Source:www.People.com

Police have identified the body of a young boy discovered in an SUV in Chicago as Jennifer Hudson’s missing nephew Julian King, police Supt. Jody Weis said Monday.

The body was discovered “in the rear seat” of a white Chevrolet Suburban on Chicago’s West Side Monday morning, according to the Chicago Police Department. He suffered multiple gunshot wounds, according to reports.

Immediately following the news of the body’s discovery, Hudson’s family members organized a church vigil. Several family members visited the medical examiner’s office Monday afternoon.

King, 7, went missing Friday after an unidentified assailant fatally shot Hudson’s mother Darnell and brother Jason. Over the weekend, Hudson offered %26#36;100,000 for the safe return of her nephew.

The Chicago Police Department issued the following statement before noon Monday: “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 Tribune reports that bullet casings were found in the boy’s room on Friday.

Boy’s Stepfather Being Held

King’s stepfather, William Balfour, is being held on a parole violation after he stopped cooperating with police but has not been charged with a crime. He was taken into custody at a girlfriend’s home hours after the bodies of Hudson’s mother and brother were found.

Sources tell the Associated Press that the girlfriend contradicted his alibi. Police were able to track his whereabouts Friday through cell phone records, sources said.

Police Supt. Weis told reports he was “pretty optimistic” about finding the person responsible for the crimes. “%26#91;We’ve”%26#93; got two crime scenes. Oftentimes there’s lots of evidence left at a crimes scene so I’m very confident that our forensic technicians will go through both areas with a fine-toothed comb, and I suspect there will be some evidence that will link us to the killer.”

Asked about Balfour, Weis said, “We are following any lead that we can get right now. He’s a person of interest, but that’s not to say that there’s not other individuals that may turn up. Right now we are just following the facts we have and we are following the evidence we have.”

Police have not recovered a weapon connected to King’s death.

Also Monday, Fox Studios issued a statement regarding the tragic weekend. “Everyone at Fox Searchlight and Twentieth Century Fox wishes to extend our deepest condolences to Jennifer and her family. Our thoughts are with them in this time of profound sadness.”

Reporting by PAUL CHI

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The body of a young black boy, who is “believed to be” the missing nephew of Jennifer Hudson, was discovered Monday in a white SUV.

During a news conference on an unrelated matter, FBI Deputy Director John Pistole said the body is “believed to be” the singer’s 7-year-old nephew, Julian King, according to CNN.

The white SUV was found abandoned on Chicago’s West Side, CNN reports. The boy was shot multiple times in the back of the vehicle, according to new reports.

Police have not officially identified the body, but the Chicago Tribune reports that Hudson’s family members - assuming the worst - organized a noon church vigil.

Several Hudson family members were also expected at the medical examiner’s office Monday afternoon to identify the body. Police Supt. Jody Weis plans to hold a press conference at 4 p.m.

Julian King, 7, went missing Friday after an unidentified assailant fatally shot Hudson’s mother Darnell and brother Jason. Hudson offered %26#36;100,000 for the safe return of her nephew.

Source:www.People.com

Two days after her mother and brother were fatally shot at home in Chicago, Jennifer Hudson and her family have offered a $100,000 reward for the safe return of her missing 7-year-old nephew Julian, gone since Friday.

“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 Hudson’s rep Lisa Kasteler. It also offered a reward and asked the public to give any available information to the Chicago police. “We ask that all inquiries be directed to the Chicago Police Department, Area 1 Detective Division at 312/747-8380.”

As investigators continued looking for forensic evidence at the south side home of Darnell Donerson, 57, and Jason Hudson, 29, the FBI confirmed to PEOPLE that they are also assisting with the investigation.

“I can confirm that we have been asked to provide assistance to the Chicago police department to assist in the search for 7-year-old Julian King,” said Ross Rice, special agent and spokesman for the Chicago office of FBI.

When asked whether they had any promising leads, Ross declined to comment. “The key word there is assisting. It is still a Chicago police investigation, both the murder and the kidnapping, and any announcements would be best to come from them.”

After her sister Julia’s impassioned plea for the return of her son at a press conference on Saturday, Hudson took to her MySpace Celebrity page to thank fans for the outpouring of support on Sunday.

“Thank you all for your prayers and your calls,” she wrote on the Web site. “Please keep praying for our family and that we get Julian King back home safely. If anyone has any information about his whereabouts please contact the authorities immediately. Here is a picture of Julian and what he was last seen wearing. Once again thank you all for being there for us through this tough time.”

• Reporting by NINA BURLEIGH

Source:www.People.com

One day after Jennifer Hudson’s mother and brother were found shot to death in their Chicago home - and her nephew Julian King was kidnapped - the Oscar winner’s sister Julia made an impassioned plea for her son’s return.

“I don’t care who you are, just let the baby go,” Julia Hudson said in a press conference held at the Pleasant Gift Missionary Baptist Church on Saturday. “I just want my son. He don’t deserve this.”

An Amber Alert was issued for the boy, Julian King, 7, on Friday and named Julia Hudson’s estranged husband, William Balfour, 27, as a suspect in the slayings. Balfour is in police custody for questioning, but no charges have been filed.

“It hurts,” Julia Hudson said of her mother and brother’s deaths. “We’re in a state of shock. I don’t know what else to do but pray.”

With the boy’s father, Greg King, by her side, Julia Hudson asked the public to keep an eye out for him, mentioning that he responds to nicknames like “Juice Box” and “Dr. King.” “He’s out there. Just let him go,” she said. Addressing her son, she added: “I love you. Mama’s looking for you.” The FBI have reportedly been called in to investigate King’s disappearance.

Julia added that sister Jennifer, 27, the Oscar-winning star of Dreamgirls and an American Idol alum, had flown in to be by her side as soon as she heard the tragic news. She said that upon hearing the news, Jennifer, “was screaming” and “flew in right away.”

Julian had been at his grandmother’s house on Friday and the two were, Julia said, “extremely close.”

“I worked, so he was always with her, day in and day out,” she said. “She did everything for him. She got him ready for school. She got him ready for bed.”

“My greatest fear has already happened,” Julia Hudson added. “My greatest hope is for him to come back.”

Source:www.People.com

Jennifer Hudson’s mother and brother were the two victims of a fatal shooting in Chicago, the actress’s publicist says.

“We can confirm that there is an ongoing investigation concerning the deaths of Jennifer Hudson’s mother, Darnell Donerson, and her brother, Jason Hudson,” rep Lisa Kasteler tells PEOPLE. “No further comment will be made and the family has asked that their privacy be respected at this difficult time.”

The victims’ bodies were found by officers Friday in a South Side home listed in the name of Hudson’s mother, and police say the shooting appeared to be related to a domestic disturbance.

Hudson’s 7-year-old nephew, Julian King, is missing. An Amber Alert has been issued for him.

A man authorities were searching for in connection with the shootings, identified as William Balfour, 27, has been taken into custody and is being questioned by authorities, the Associated Press reports. No charges have been filed.

According to the AP, police spokeswoman Monique Bond says police are talking to “a number of people in custody” but she declined to further elaborate.

Hudson, 27, the Oscar-winning actress from Dreamgirls and an American Idol alum, recently got engaged to boyfriend David Otunga. She stars in the current film The Secret Life of Bees.

• Additional reporting by JULIE JORDAN

Source:www.People.com

While family and friends mourn the tragic death of Jennifer Hudson’s mother and brother, who were shot and killed Friday, support for the singer continues to pour in. Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, who shares the same Chicago hometown as the singer, issued a statement Saturday.

“Michelle and I were absolutely heartbroken to learn about this unimaginable tragedy and we want Jennifer to know that she is in our thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time,” the Illinois senator said. “We also pray for the swift and safe return of her young nephew.”

“That was the biggest honor, I feel like, in my career - one of the greatest moments,” Hudson told PEOPLE earlier this month. “I had to separate myself emotionally so I didn’t get too emotional while I was singing because I can’t sing and cry at the same time…. I was lucky to be a part of it.”

“She has done so much for the campaign. Everyone here was just so shocked and saddened,” Obama’s campaign said about Hudson in a statement issued to PEOPLE.

Meanwhile, American Idol judge Randy Jackson also shared his condolences for Hudson and expressed his disbelief of what authorities are calling a double homicide.

“My heart and soul goes out to her and the rest of her family,” Jackson tells PEOPLE. “Such a huge tragedy - I can’t even believe that it’s possible. Paula Abdul and I were just talking about it yesterday and it’s just so sad.”

Jackson also says he has reached out to the singer since news of the tragedy broke. “I left a couple of messages for her and I’m just trying to give to her whatever I can. My God. The world is an ugly place right now.”

• Reporting by RENNIE DYBALL, SANDRA SOBIERAJ WESTFALL and CYNTHIA WANG

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In front of the white two-story home barred with yellow police line tape, where Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson’s mother and brother were fatally shot Friday, neighbors and fans stood in shock. Amidst the downpour and lightning on Chicago’s south side, bystanders continued to stare and watch police and forensic service officials work to find more information relating to the deaths of mother Darnell Donerson and brother Jason Hudson.

As neighborhood residents stood in the rain on the dimly lit street among boarded up buildings, everyone was quiet - staring in the direction of Hudson’s childhood home later that evening. The police tape kept bystanders away from the house, forcing people to gather at the end of the street in front of Hudson’s high school Yale, just a half block from the house.

One bystander stood with her hood over her head, praying and making the sign of the cross as she witnessed the scene of the murders.

Another bystander was in shock. “It was such a nice family,” she said. “I was shocked that somebody could ever do something like that to such a sweet lady. %26#91;Donerson%26#93; was quiet, but very nice,” she said. “She kept to herself and stayed in her house a lot.”

But the neighbor did say that she was friendly with everyone in the neighborhood. “She hosted a block party for our whole neighborhood a few months back,” the neighbor said. “She provided food and she planned the whole event, she was so nice. She would do anything for anyone.”

Although reports claim that the gunshots were fired early in the morning, around 8 a.m., neighbors say no one knew anything was going on until about 2:45 p.m., when police were called to the scene.

As for missing 7-year-old Julian King, the son of Hudson’s sister Julia, neighbors say he is a happy, bubbly child. “Julian is a sweet boy and is always laughing,” said a source. “He’s a very generous child.”

An Amber Alert has been issued for King, who police said might have been in the company of William Balfour, Julia’s estranged husband, when he reportedly fled in either a Chevy Suburban or a Chrysler Concord, CBS News reports. The four-door teal green Chrysler was found overnight.

Balfour, 27, was arrested and put into custody on Friday but has not been charged in the deaths.

According to reports, Jennifer Hudson returned to Chicago on Friday night after learning the news of her mother and brother’s deaths.

Source:www.People.com

Upon learning of the tragic deaths on Friday of Jennifer Hudson’s mother and brother, fellow season 3 American Idol contestant Jon Peter Lewis tells PEOPLE, “I am so bereft of words, just how shocking this is … how senseless and heartbreaking. My prayers are with Jennifer.”

Lewis and Hudson became friends during the 2004 competition when both advanced to the top 12. They later traveled the country on the American Idol summer tour.

“She was living her dream. For her to have gone on (from Idol) to be in so many wonderful movies and to have gotten an Oscar and to have a strong record out, and she recently got engaged - she had the whole world before her. Before yesterday everything was fine,” says Lewis, who has kept in touch with Hudson via email and texting.

And, he adds, she should remember that her friends are there for her.

“There’s a road in front of her that she’s got to take and that will be difficult. The only thing I could and would say to her is that the turbulent times are here and I’m with her,” says Lewis. “As long as she knows we love her and we’re with her. I’m thinking about her and that’s all you can do.”

Source:www.People.com

One of two bodies found Friday in a Chicago home is believed to be a relative of Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson, police say.

The victims - a man and a woman - were found in a home listed in the name of Hudson’s mother, and police say they appeared to have been involved in a shooting related to a domestic disturbance, the Associated Press reports.

Officials have not confirmed local media reports that one of the victims is Hudson’s mother, Darnell Donerson.

Hudson, 27, recently got engaged to boyfriend David Otunga. The actress stars in the current film, The Secret Life of Bees.

Source:www.People.com