Hudson in-Law Charged With Killing 3 Relatives

Jennifer Hudson's brother-in-law was charged with murder Tuesday in the shooting deaths of three of the actress's family members, including the 7-year-old son of his estranged wife.

William Balfour had been in custody since Oct. 24, when the bodies of Hudson's mother, Darnell Hudson Donerson, and brother, Jason Hudson, were discovered in their South Side home. The body of Julian King, Balfour's stepson and Hudson's nephew, was found in a sport utility vehicle three days later.

Until Balfour's arrest in the murder case Monday, police had publicly identified him only as a "person of interest" in the investigation. Balfour, 27, who previously was held on a parole violation, is charged with three counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony home invasion.

Balfour's attorney said his client is insistent about his innocence.

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"It is scary as hell, he's charged with terrible crimes that he adamantly contends he's not guilty of," attorney Joshua Kutnick said before the announcement of the charges, which he said he expected.

Still, added Kutnick, "He's exhibited to me, at least, the patience to let the process unfold."

Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis said at a news conference Tuesday that although Balfour has not confessed to the crimes, he is "confident in the evidence." Investigators have not said what evidence they have linking Balfour to the killings, but said Tuesday that they are not looking for other suspects and believe Balfour acted alone.

"There is physical evidence," Deputy Superintendent Steve Peterson said, but he stopped short of saying whether that evidence linked Balfour to the crimes.

Weis praised the community for the way it "stepped up to the plate and helped police solve this case," but would not provide any details.

Police have said from the beginning that the slayings were domestic related, but they have not elaborated. They would not say, for example, if they believed the boy was part of any dispute between Balfour and his estranged wife, Hudson's older sister, Julia Hudson.