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Jennifer Hudson's mother, Darnell Donerson, brother Jason Hudson and nephew Julian King were shot


Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson's 7-year-old nephew -- one of three Hudson relatives found slain in Chicago since Friday -- died of multiple gunshot wounds, the Cook County medical examiner's office said Tuesday.

But the office, which performed an autopsy on Julian King's body Tuesday, didn't answer questions about when the child died and where his wounds were.

Julian was found shot to death in an abandoned Chevrolet Suburban on Chicago's West Side on Monday. Police had begun a massive search for him on Friday, the day Hudson's mother, Darnell Donerson, and brother, Jason Hudson, were found shot to death in their South Side Chicago home.

Julian was the son of Jennifer Hudson's sister, Julia Hudson, who police said found Donerson's body and called police.

William Balfour, 27, who is Julian's stepfather and Julia Hudson's estranged husband, was detained Friday for questioning in connection with the slayings, a police representative said. Julian was not with Balfour when he was detained.

Balfour was later transferred to prison on a parole violation, the police representative said. According to the Department of Corrections, he spent nearly seven years in prison for attempted murder, vehicular hijacking and possessing a stolen vehicle.

No charges had been filed against anyone in connection with the slayings.

The Illinois Department of Corrections said it could not comment on the specifics of Balfour's parole or how he violated it. But Balfour's parole history report shows the department issued a warrant for him Saturday on allegations he violated his parole by possessing a weapon and failing to attend anger management counseling and a substance abuse program, according to The Associated Press.

Parole records also show that Balfour had missed a meeting with his parole agent on Friday, and that the agent subsequently reached him by phone around the time the first bodies were found, the AP reported.

Balfour told the agent he was "baby-sitting on the West Side of Chicago," and that the agent thought he heard a child in the background, the records show, according to the AP.

Balfour will be held until a prisoner review board takes up his case, a department representative said. That process could take several weeks.

On Tuesday, William Balfour's mother, Michele Davis-Balfour, said her son had nothing to do with the slayings.

"I'm sorry this happened to this girl's family, but they're not going to put it on my own son," she said. "He hasn't been framed, but he's been wrongly accused."

She said that after her son got out of prison, he was trying to improve his life by working at a sandwich shop. She also said he obtained his GED in prison by studying horticulture. "How many minorities are in the penitentiary and study horticulture?" she said. Watch Davis-Balfour's emotional appeal »

Later Tuesday, Davis-Balfour told CNN's Nancy Grace that Balfour's brother told her Balfour was with "one of his girlfriends" around the time of the killings

Authorities have said the Chevrolet Suburban in which Julian was found was Jason Hudson's. During the search for the boy, postings on Julia Hudson's MySpace page showed a picture of Jason Hudson and the white SUV.

Julia Hudson posted a message on the page after her son's body was found.

"His li'l soul is at ease, I take comfort in knowing that Julian is with my mother and my brother and most of all the Lord, and now he's my angel, he's protecting me," she wrote.

"Now because I chose to do what was natural to me and love someone, it cost me my beautiful family, my wonderful beautiful loving supporting mother, Darnell, my true blue baby brother, Jason, I love u big baby ... and last but never not least, my only son, Julian," she added.

Meanwhile, mourners continue to offer their support for the Hudson family.

On Monday night, a group of women huddled together in the cold singing "Spotlight," Hudson's latest hit song. "No I don't like living under your spotlight," they sang, "just because you think I might find somebody worthy." Mourners left stuffed animals, cards balloons and crosses.

"The hurt that she's feeling, this community is feeling for her," a woman said into a microphone about Julia Hudson.

"I'm really concerned for the mother and how she's feeling. I just want her to know she is in my prayers," neighbor Stephanie Patton said.

"I don't understand how someone could be so cruel," said the Rev. Krista Alston, a cousin in the Hudson family. "I mean, God gives life and God takes life, and it's just so devastating to our family."

Jennifer Hudson made her second trip in three days to the Cook County medical examiner's office. She first identified her mother and brother, and on Monday, had the grim task of helping her relatives identify Julian by viewing images the medical examiner projected on a video screen.

Police are confident they will soon catch the killer, Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis said. "I suspect that we'll have some evidence that will link us to the killer," he said. Watch police say they've ID'd the body »

Police are collecting evidence from the SUV and reviewing surveillance tapes from all over the city as the investigation continues, Weis told reporters.

"There's a lot of work to be done. We'll be sure we go through this thoroughly," Weis said.

Asked about possible motives, Weis replied, "We don't know what the motive really was at this time. But, clearly, you have people who do know each other, so it wasn't a case of a stranger-type homicide."

Over the weekend, Jennifer Hudson offered a $100,000 reward for the safe return of her nephew.

"Please keep praying for our family and that we get Julian King back home safely," Hudson said in a posting on her MySpace page Sunday. "If anyone has any information about his whereabouts, please contact the authorities immediately."

Jennifer Hudson also posted two pictures of her nephew in the brown-and-orange-striped polo shirt he was wearing when he was last seen. Watch the latest on the Hudson case »

Police said the bodies of Hudson's mother and brother were found about 3 p.m. Friday, when Julia Hudson arrived and found the body of a woman on the living room floor. Hudson backed out of the house and called police, authorities said. Authorities found Jason Hudson shot to death in a bedroom.

The Cook County medical examiner's office said Saturday that Donerson and Jason Hudson suffered multiple gunshot wounds and ruled the deaths homicides.

Neighbors reported hearing gunshots earlier Friday, Deputy Police Chief Joseph Patterson said. Authorities found no signs of forced entry to the home and were not sure whether other items were missing. Watch the scene outside the house »

You've got two people who were killed inside a home. That alone will produce a great deal of evidence," Weis, the police superintendent, said of forensic evidence at the crime scene.

Hudson won a best supporting actress Oscar for her portrayal of Effie in the film version of the Broadway musical "Dreamgirls." She competed on the third season of "American Idol" in 2004, making it to the top seven contestants before being eliminated from the contest.