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Politics | 12/02/2008 10:15 am

Jennifer Hudson's Brother-in-Law Arrested in Connection to Family's Murder

By The Staff at wowOwow.com
William Balfour © AP Photo/Illinois Department of Corrections

Jennifer Hudson can hopefully find some closure after the tragic murders of her mother, brother and seven-year-old nephew.

According to reports, police have arrested Hudson’s brother-in-law, William Balfour, 27, in connection with their murders. It’s been more than a month since the Oscar-winning actress’s mother, Darnell Hudson Donerson, and her older brother, Jason, were found fatally shot inside Hudson’s childhood Chicago home. Julian King was found three days later, shot dead inside an SUV near the crime scene. The murder weapon? Reportedly the same .45-caliber gun used to kill Hudson’s mother and brother.

The Associated Press reports that Balfour was transferred to a different prison after being served with a murder arrest warrant and is now awaiting formal charges. As of Monday night, he was not formally charged, the AP reports. Balfour was being held in prison on a suspected parole violation. He served seven years for attempted murder and a car-hijacking conviction in 1999.

Balfour, married to Hudson’s sister Julia, was taken into questioning for two straight days after the bodies were found on October 24 and was named a "person of interest" in the investigation. During the interrogation, Balfour reportedly refused to take a lie-detector test and was uncooperative with detectives.

Like any mother, Balfour’s mom defended her son when she told reporters last night that prosecutors have no case.

"If they found gun powder on his hands, you got a case; if they found a gun on him, he had a case; if they found a fingerprint on the truck that he did this, you got a case; but they don’t have nothing," Michelle Davis-Balfour said.

20 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Belinda Joy
Personal suggestion, (although I believe you are not capable of accepting it) you should really remove the word “ass” from your vocabulary when it comes to your posts. You come across as ignorant and lacking in vocabulary to articulate your thoughts without sinking to the lowest common denominator…but that’s just my take on it. You said “I will stand up to, is anyone, uninvitedly, throwing inuendo down and making a smart ass comment in referrence to anothers post (mine)” Excuse me, but all of the posts in response to other’s who choose to do so are uninvited. YOUR MANY comments to others are uninvited. What part of the use of a site of this nature don’t you understand? You should contact the staff of wOw, they’ll be more than happy to explain the art of give and take as it relates to sharing ideas and opinions. You said “We now have a clear understanding of how we interpret the Bible” That is not what I said, you must have misread my post. Here, let me provide it for you…”We now have a clear understanding of how we interpret each other.” The Bible is no where in that sentence. I was referring to you and me on a personal (albeit via the internet) level. As for “We know your type and we put you in check on it.” I understand that slang and I have to tell you honestly Elaine, no one on this site has ever put me in check. Because you see Dear Girl, this is a site that deals with the sharing of ideas and opinions. You and I differ on countless issues, as is the case with others. Doesn’t mean you’re wrong, doesn’t mean I’m right….it just means we differ. And it is always good to know what your understanding is of others who posts, do they agree with you on pivotal points or are they really off base? You and I clearly differ on all issues. The death penalty is a hot topic. It deals directly (if you are a Christian for some….not all) with moral issues. So, for me it is a red hot issue, I will never agree with it. You come across as a very angry and bitter person. I have lost it on this site and railed against other posters. But I learned quickly “what am I doing, this person is nothing more than an avatar and typed words on a screen, why am I allowing them to push my buttons?” Since that revelation when I read posts such as yours or from others who think as you do, I simply smile…..I find it amusing. You don’t want my prayers? Sorry I had already prayed for you right after I hit the ENTER button on my keyboard following my last post. And in my mind prayers are like first impressions, they can’t be taken back. Sorry. Speaking for all the other ladies on the site, we look forward to reading your next scathing zingers about Obama, they are always so deep and insightful. They really show your depth. All the best.
By Belinda Joy on 12/02/2008 6:43 pm
HA BIBI
Im totally ok with differing opinions. It’s your smart ass little small minded snippets,You always manage to throw into your post towards others opinions. And on behalf of several others on this site they agree, You are a smart ass. So your attempt at one upsmanship doesn’t cut it. I don’t apologize for writting my posts and people can agree or disagree and thats fine. I truly don’t care.If your’re comming here for your psycological fix that’s your deal, this is strictly entertainment for me there is nothing here that is so serious that I in anyway make it a mantra. Now you want to say that I crack on Obama, how immature is that. Of course I’m gonna crack on him, He is not all that and a cup of tea to me, so what. There are lots of us who do and will continue to do so when we see the gaffes, just like all the Obamabots do when ever a Sarah Palin thread comes up. Grow up, neither of these individuals define my life. There politicians for Gods sake. The majority here do worse, than a comment here and there about Obama, by calling Sarah some of the worse things immaginable. I’m not here to play ettiquette games to make any of you or anyone else on here happy. If thats what you expected, then you’re gonna be royally disapointed. I’m not angry in the least, this is another problem you have, you seem to think you have everyone on here pegged and slap labels on them, telling them, they are this, that or the other thing. This is exactly why I said to you “Don’t confuse your Bible for the tarot cards, you seem to think you know everyones emotional state and I’m sitting here laughing and at you, as you have missed all of my inuendos. Belinda, I am a very happy person, I have a most wonderful life. I have an incredible husband. I have two fantastic children. I have a job that is too cool, I travel the world. I have more clothes, shoes, jewerly and girly girl things that one can shake a stick at. I have brand new furniture throughout my beautiful home. I drive a brand new SUV that does everything but wash the dishes. I even wear a 22 total carat wedding band on my wedding ring finger and more importantly than anything, I have an awesome relationship with my Heavenly Father, who has blessed me beyond measure. So guess you are wrong when you assume everyone who has a disagreement with you, is angry and bitter. Not in my case Dear. I speak the truth and you can take it or leave it. It is only your snidely remarks to others posting’s regarding their opinions, that I take issue with you on. It has nothing to do with what any individuals personal beliefs are. On the other hand your bitterness comes through loud and clear, otherwise you wouldn’t feel the need in the first place to be snidely. Everyone of your posts to me tonight have had snide remarks you think you are disguising them in your offers of prayers and your have a great nights ect..but you are so transparent. As for prayers, I do not belittle them, because I do realize the power of prayer but your suggestion to offer of prayer towards me, for what are your faults, makes your offer of prayer completely non genuine.
By HA BIBI on 12/02/2008 8:25 pm
Lou Hoover
Back to the issue at hand. Belinda, I do find the difference in response to the black on black crime vs. the black on white crime. I am hoping the main difference was that there is a sexual component with DNA proof and a second victim also with DNA that makes it easier for folks to be so quick to judge the Arkansas crimes. I also have a problem with the death penalty. My problem is more practical than moral. The expense of the appeals and the death row matters cost the state many $. Also from a practical matter, pedophiles convicted with DNA proof should be given the death penalty. Recidivism is a given and they are really lost souls. Very dark thoughts.
By Lou Hoover on 12/02/2008 11:44 pm
Belinda Joy
Hi Lou, The difference is striking isn’t it? Maybe you’re right, maybe your assumption is the reason for this disconnect. In this instance it very well may be. Either way, I just wish we viewed all crimes of this nature (that being murder) on a level playing field. It seems to often, and primarily because we hear so much about Black on Black crime, that we don’t mourn the loss of those who have been killed as much as we do when it is Black on White (which is rare). As for the death penalty issue, you have a valid point. This is such a time bomb issue. This along with abortion, race relations and politics are tenuous topics of discussion. They bring with them such heavy and sometimes partisan views. However as I see it, the death penalty is something I could never support because to put it as simply as I can…..short of the “State” hiring only atheists or non believers in Christ to perform executions, any Christian that would take the life of another human being and then when their time comes to die, argue for their soul “I know I took a life, but I only did so because my government told me so….” As a Christian, how could they believe their soul would truly be saved. We are all sinners and therefore (in my opinion) are not saved by deeds but by the Grace of God and Grace alone. If you are someone that believes this, how could you think your taking of a life, that took a life, would be looked upon by the Lord as acceptable? And there in lies the difference between Elaine and I, and I am sure others on this site and off, on the subject of the death penalty. The economics of it as you point out are something I think a lot of people share. For them and you moral issues aren’t even a component. But for me, even if I knew someone had killed someone I loved, I would want that person to lose their life for that act. The quandary in my mind is I know I wouldn’t do it, so why would I expect someone else to do my dirty work and suffer the eternal consequences of their actions?
By Belinda Joy on 12/03/2008 9:33 am
Belinda Joy
Elaine, This last post of yours is very telling. I don’t think you realize how telling it is? Wow, where do I start? I accessed you as an angry and bitter person based on the online persona you are portraying, no more, no less. It is so interesting that you justify your happiness by offering up a laundry list of superficial and material aspects of your life. Your new car, expensive jewelry, your new furniture, nice home, job that takes you all over the world….how curious Elaine. But even more so this speaks to your priorities in life because it was most notable that you listed last on your laundry list of what brings you joy in life your religious belief. As I said, very telling. What is so odd about your online persona Elaine is the contradiction you display. I think we all do from time to time because our individual days and moods change, and therefore the energy we put out by way of posts will change from day to day. But yours (in my opinion) tends to lean heavily on the negative, biting and sarcastic side. There is never a hint of contrasts. I see you and others of your ilk on this site as “fire starters” Posters who will interject a lit match in a conversation that is taking place of importance. A post that you know will cause a flame, illicit a negative response from others. And then you sit back in glee and read as one poster after another becomes more heated by what they are reading. I personally have for the most part steered clear of these fires that have popped up here and there, but sometimes I have been tempted to jump in and add my log to the flames. It’s so odd to read you attempt to paint yourself as this affluent, accomplished, conservative, “cool” avant garde type of woman that speaks in slang and tosses around what she believes are witty and snippy comments. Yet at the same time (as with the last exchanges with me) you sound uneducated, insecure, off kilter and lacking in social polish and discernment. I can’t tell if you are actually sitting somewhere in a trailer park with a beer in one hand, a welfare check at your side, typing on a donated computer from a distant relative? Attempting to portray yourself in a manner in which you WISH you lived instead of the way you actually live? Again, I say this because of the less than intelligent and articulate manner in which you portray yourself. (BTW, to any of my fellow posters who live in trailer parks, I realize I am generalizing, not all who lives in trailers fit the above indicated stereotype…I’m using it as a stark example for Elaine who prefers people to speak bluntly to her). I have indeed been very snide with you, I’ve done so for all the reasons I have indicated above. I don’t respect you. As I have often said, I believe a person can be Republican or conservative and express their opinions with an air of inclusively. I never sense that from you. You seem just as certain Democrats are on this site that are too far to the left, never allowing for a second that conservatives may indeed have some good points. I slam Sarah Palin because I don’t respect her, do not believe she is deserving of the accolades she receives and is not someone that has proven herself yet politically. You slam Barack Obama often, for many of the same reasons. That I can deal with and will tease you gladly about. I would be a hypocrite to chastise you for that. But your language on this site goes beyond that. You slam anyone and anything even remotely associated to the Democrats or left side, and that speaks volumes to your inability to be open minded and enlightened (again, in my opinion). Lastly, you’re wrong. I wasn’t offering you my prayers because of my faults, as you said. You are indeed in need of patience and a more open mind. Aren’t we all? That’s a broad assumption I know, but I think it’s true. That was genuinely my prayer for you, believe it or not. I am not a holy roller or someone that speaks of my religious beliefs 24-7. My Christianity is something that operates in the back of my mind and heart and guides me through life. I don’t speak of it all day, every day, I don’t need to. So when I say I prayed for you, I meant it. I can dislike you, disagree with you and question your persona, but that does not preclude me from praying for the best for you. I know, hard to believe, but true. Doesn’t mean I am trying to portray myself as a saint, more so an example of my moral compass. So there you have it. I have psychoanalyzed you and you have psychoanalyzed me. This is the last piece of timber I will throw on this fire you and I have been engaging in on this topic. I don’t regret that it got personal and find benefit in these types of exchanges. I have been insulting I am sure, but it wasn’t my attempt. In any of my responses to you that wasn’t my intent. I wish I could tell you I always know the right thing to say, but I can’t….I don’t. I know how I feel about you (or the persona you are portraying online) but how I relay those thoughts aren’t as clear as I would like.
By Belinda Joy on 12/03/2008 6:47 am