Charges in Hudson family murder case

CHICAGO (NBC) - William Balfour, 27, was already in custody on a suspected parole violation when he was served with the arrest warrant for the murders of Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew. Later Tuesday Balfour is expected to be formally charged with three counts of murder in the Hudson case, one that has already gotten nationwide publicity.

Were it not for his famous sister-in-law, the arrest of Balfour may not have stood out in America's "murder capital." Yet, the triple homicide Balfour is accused of committing has rattled places far from Hudson's former south-side neighborhood.

A Chicago native, Hudson became a fan-favorite on "American Idol" and went on to win an Oscar for the movie "Dreamgirls," but it all came to a screeching halt when just as Hudson's most recent film "The Secret Life of Bees" was being released in theaters, she got the news.

Her mother and brother had been shot to death back in her family home. The body of her nephew was found three days later in an abandoned SUV. Their memorial in Chicago drew hundreds and served to highlight the city's grim murder statistics.

Although police took Balfour into custody immediately, he was not charged. Police were quick to announce they had found the semiautomatic handgun used in the shootings, but they would not say what other evidence they had. Balfour's mother said whatever they have is all circumstantial.

"No gun powder, no blood on his shoes, so where is your evidence?" said Michele Balfour.

His attorney agreed.

"Any evidence pointing to Mr. Balfour is not even thin; it is very, very weak," said Attorney Josh Kutnick.

Bbalfour had been estranged from Hudson's older sister for some time and already served seven years for attempted murder and vehicular hijacking. As for Hudson, she has rarely been seen in public since losing so many from her family.