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UK NEWS

JENNIFER HUDSON'S $100,000 REWARD TO FIND MISSING NEPHEW

Monday October 27 2008 byJo Willey

THE sister of Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson pleaded for her missing son to be returned after her mother and brother were found shot dead at the family home.

Julia Hudson begged for the safe return of Julian King, seven, who disappeared on Friday, the day his grandmother Darnell Donerson, 57, and uncle Jason Hudson, 29, were found dead in the house in Chicago.

Speaking from the steps of a baptist church, Julia, 31, said: “I don’t care who you are, just let the baby go. I just want my son. He doesn’t deserve this. My greatest fear has already happened.

“My greatest hope is for him to come back. It hurts. We’re in a state of shock. I don’t know what else to do but pray.”

Jennifer, 27, who won an Oscar for her role in Dreamgirls, last night made a direct appeal for the public to help find her nephew.

“Thank you all for your prayers and your calls,” she said on her MySpace page on the social networking site. “Please keep praying for our family and that we get Julian King back home safely.

MISSING: Julian King, 7


“If anyone has any information about his whereabouts please contact the authorities immediately.”

She flew back to Chicago from Florida, where she was promoting her new film, The Secret Life Of Bees, to be at her sister’s side.

In the early hours of Saturday the actress, who found fame on TV talent show American Idol, identified her mother and brother’s bodies. “That was horrible,” a friend who accompanied her said. “But she is being very strong.”

Julia’s estranged husband, William Balfour, 27, was arrested at his pregnant girlfriend’s house several hours after the bodies were found but there was no sign of the boy. Last night he remained in custody but had not been charged.

Balfour, a baker, married Julia two years ago but Darnell asked him to leave the family home last winter.

His mother Michele Balfour denied her son was involved and said he had supported the boy since marrying Julia.

She said: “Why would he do this? That was his son. He helped raise him.” Julian had been at his grandmother’s house on Friday while his mother worked as a school bus driver.

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

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With Julian’s father, Greg King, by her side, Julia spoke directly to the boy, saying: “I love you. Mama’s looking for you.”

Presidential hopeful Barack Obama, who invited Jennifer to sing the national anthem at the Democratic Convention in August, offered his support. He said he and his wife Michelle were “heart­broken” by the tragedy.


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