Family Clash May Have Spurred Hudson Killings

Jen's clan had kicked out sister's estranged husband
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 28, 2008 11:17 AM CDT
Family Clash May Have Spurred Hudson Killings
Residents participate in a candlelight vigil for Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson and her family outside Hudson's mother and brother's home on the Southside of Chicago, Monday, Oct. 27, 2008.    (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

The estranged husband of Julia Hudson, Jennifer’s sister, is the top suspect in the murder of their three relatives—and police say disputes between the couple may have motivated the crimes, the Chicago Tribune reports. The Hudsons’ mother had thrown William Balfour, 27, out of her house in the past; he had threatened Julia and the family. He and Julia had had a spat over late payments on his car the day of the killings, the Tribune reports, which caused her wages to be garnished.

Police believe Balfour shot through the door of the Hudson family home, hitting Jennifer’s brother Jason. When her mother came into the living room, screaming, he shot her. Jennifer’s nephew, Julian King, went missing, but was found dead in an SUV yesterday. A girlfriend of Balfour's has provided police with details of the shooting, sources tell the Trib, and contradicted his alibi for the time of the slayings.
(More Jennifer Hudson stories.)

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