Hudson Murders -- A Motive Emerges

91. Thanks southsidechicago, the out come will be interesting. I believe they don't want William back on the streets, they should have charged him weeks ago, if all they have is gun resdue and GF statement.

Jennifer went back to work, what is Julis doing? Did she move back into the house?

Posted at 9:26PM on Dec 12th 2008 by Monitor

92. Monitor - I agree that the CPD didn't want William out on the street just yet - they surely know that others were involved, so don't want to risk his being killed or intimidated, and would want to keep him where he was findable in case they needed to talk to him further as more information surfaced. But I really thought this would be accomplished by just continuing to hold him for the "parole violation." The public announcement of charges being brought by the States Attorneys Office was a surprise to me since both the "motive" and the "evidence" they have cited are so far-fetched, and totally inconsistent with other information that police have already made public during their investigation.

We've heard nothing here about what Julia is doing, but it doesn't look like anything is going on at the house. I never see any lights on there, the yard is still full of junk (BBQ grill, old table and chairs) that were there all summer), and it doesn't seem that anyone has been there to do any snow removal. The only sign I ever noticed of *anyone* being around there since the murders was the cleanup of the "neighborhood memorial" (pictures, flowers, toys, etc. that had been fastened to the front fence) a day or so after the family funeral service. Nothing since then... the house looks pretty much like any other abandoned home on a city block.

Posted at 12:14AM on Dec 13th 2008 by southsidechicago

93. SouthsideChicago...again you and I are on the same page! However, what I do not understand about the case is how the CPD tries to portray the killer(s) to have been sloppy with leaving the murder weapon just a few feet away from the SUV crime scene.

To me, it doesn't equal or compare to the carefully planned and meticulous actions at the first murder scene. To my knowledge, CPD has not reported finding any finger prints or DNA at either of the scenes (right?) Why would the killer(s) go from being so careful to do such an incompetent act as leaving the murder weapon a few feet from the crime scene. The only explanation I can give for this is if someone wants to frame another person. Otherwise, the killer(s) would have carried out their actions with the same intelligence and brain wit demonstrated in the first scene.

As for the g/f, my theory behind her testimony is that CPD/SAO intimidated her into giving a false statement. I believe they hung the ole "accessory to murder" charge over her head. Commenting that she would be held as an accessory should William be convicted of the murders. I am sure they feed her the story of harboring a murderer, knowing of his actions, and not turning him in...would land her some jail time. So her story goes from at first - "Oh, William admitted to having been involved with the murders" to "and I saw him with the murder weapon". Why not give the entire story/statement during the first round of questionings...why wait almost a month later and tell of see him with the weapon. I just don't get it...or do I?

Could CPD/SAO be so into the spotlight and resolving the case that they would build a case around William's backgroung just to save face and say..."wehave the killer????"

Posted at 4:14PM on Dec 16th 2008 by latturne

94. For latturne - I've wondered about the same thing you did.. a criminal typically tries to avoid capture by getting as far away from the crime scene as fast as possible. It's hard to understand why a person who's committed premeditated multiple homicides would calmly return to a place where he's known to stay, leaving easily-findable evidence scattered around that area. And... police had reported earlier that they DID search the neighborhood around William's girlfriend's home right after he was taken into custody there, and they found no evidence at the time... no weapon, nothing else incriminating, and no trace of the white SUV or Julian. It wasn't until the weekend that the white SUV was seen moving around in the neighborhood, with two men in it. It appears that the gun was dumped on Saturday at the location at which it was found (after William was already in custody, and after police had already searched the area for the first time). Police re-examined the area after finding the SUV Monday and again talking with neighbors in the area, when one reported that she'd seen a similar vehicle with two guys in it drive through the vacant lot Saturday afternoon and throw something out the window. She didn't call police at the time because the thing they tossed out the window appeared to be a pizza box, so of course she just figured it to be thoughtless littering in a vacant lot. Turns out the gun was found there... in a pizza box... the day after the SUV was found. Not a real slick way to dispose of a murder weapon... unless someone WANTS it to be found.

Regarding the girlfriend's story, you could be right. Another thought I had is that she may have been more than willing to make things tough on William after his mother stated on national TV (during the CNN interview with Nancy Grace) that William had TWO girlfriends besides Julia, but still considered himself "together" with Julia and still loved her too. This may have given her reason to be hurt and angry enough to want some revenge.

As I've stated on other threads, I don't know if this is as much a function of the CPD's wanting to "solve" the case as it is political pressure to spare other members of the family some of the stress that could result from focusing on the other avenues of investigation. Jennifer has worked hard to establish herself in the entertainment business. Her auntie and uncle are respected, hard-working business people in the community. But we're not quite sure what was going on with Jason and Julia, and how much their mother may have enabled high-risk behaviors (probably by just trying to keep the peace and raise her grandson in a very challenging environment).

William is an easy target because of his background, and because his family has had their challenges too but doesn't have any obvious social or political resources to grant them any special priveleges. He's also relatively dispensable to the Hudson family, since he is not a blood relative, and is currently considered Julia's "estranged husband" since they had separated. Having him charged, tried, and convicted will spare the need to bring anyone else's "family dirty laundry" in public.

Another political operative to consider is the fact that our newly-elected Cook County State's Attorney, Anita Alvarez, is the first woman to hold that office. She put a huge focus during her campaign on women's issues and domestic violence (which I supported too). The young lady on her staff who has been assigned to this case holds similar views. This is the first "high profile" case they are handling in their administration. Portraying William Balfour as a dirty dog and exploiter of women who cheated on everyone, threatened his estranged wife, lost control in a jealous rage, and killed three of her immediate family members, including an innocent little boy, makes him look like the incarnation of evil. Putting him behind bars for life would be a great feather in their caps too.

But whether this strategy will work or not remains to be seen.

Posted at 9:15PM on Dec 16th 2008 by southsidechicago

95. As always...good points, SouthsideChicago! Any word on what happens next. I'm dying for this case to evolve a little faster on the investigation side. Have they made mention of any ballistic or DNA testing results? What about a full autospy report on Julian (i.e. time of death)?

I agree with your statement about the g/f; however, I had not considered the possibility you listed above. For that fact, there could be several other reasons surrounding her allegations. Perhaps, she was paid by someone (for instance, those involved in the killings). I don't know...there are just way too many alternatives. I wish they would move forward with the trial, but I'm sure that could take a while.

Posted at 4:56PM on Dec 18th 2008 by latturne

96. Ballistics test results were made public by the CPD within a few days after finding the gun... it was indeed the weapon used in the killings of all 3 victims. We've heard nothing further here about DNA testing. I'm not sure what that would prove, if anything, in regards to William Balfour, unless his DNA was actually found on the handle of the gun. It would be normal to find some of his DNA on stuff in the house, since he lived there for several years, and in the SUV, since it had belonged to Jason. Julia's MySpace page had pictures of all of them "having a party in Jason's truck" so we can imagine that they all rode around together in happier days. DNA is helpful in placing a suspect who's a *stranger* at the scene of a crime, or showing the presence of a *victim* who was abducted and put in a stranger's vehicle or home, but it doesn't provide much new information when the suspect is someone already known to the victims who had plenty of legitimate reasons for being in the place long before the crime happened.

I agree that the girlfriend could have been paid off, or otherwise motivated, by those actually involved. As we've said before, William is an easy target anyway because of his background. And, perhaps she will feel vindicated by seeing herself as someone who had a key role in helping to solve this high-profile case, while at the same time punishing someone for her hurt and disappointment. Whatever the case, we can't ignore the "fun factor" that's no doubt a big deal for a young woman from an ordinary neighborhood on the west side of Chicago having the opportunity for her time in the "spotlight" (pun intended) and maybe even getting a chance to stay at the new Trump Hotel in "protective custody" :)
Like Jennifer, she gets to be a "star" now too... if just for a little while.

I doubt that we'll hear much more in the media about this case until William Balfour's first court appearance. I'm sure the trial will take a while too... especially if William's attorney asks for a jury trial. For the sake of fairness, I think this would be a good move.... let the folks sitting in the courtroom hear about the same inconsistencies in the story that we've already identified, and draw some sane conclusions. But we can also imagine that jury selection will not be easy. There are probably lots more folks out there who just "want to help GET the guy who killed Jennifer Hudson's family" than who can really be counted on to be objective, and I'm sure William and his attorney know this. We'll see what happens after that first court hearing.

Posted at 11:27PM on Dec 18th 2008 by southsidechicago

97. Update - not much new information today. The hearing apparently was just the formal indictment.

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2008/12/jennifer-hudson-family-murder-suspect-back-in-court.html

Another news account said the judge will rule on the attorney's request to move William Balfour to Chicago at the next hearing on Jan. 20.

Interesting that this approach "relieves prosecutors of having to detail their evidence at a preliminary hearing." Looks like they need a little more time to get things together? His attorney has repeatedly stated that the case is weak because there is no physical evidence that implicates his client. If the prosecutors are indeed going to try to base their case on the so-called "confession" to the girlfriend, and the "jealous rage" theory as the motive, perhaps they've discovered they may need something more substantial to convict a suspect of triple homicide.

Posted at 5:52PM on Dec 30th 2008 by southsidechicago

98. I concur. I just pray we get more than 30 minutes to half-a-day out of his next court appearance. I don't thoroughly understand the judicial system and the length of time it takes to prosecute someone, but I do know this case seems to have gotten the run around. Just present the evidence already and make us all happy!

Keep me posted Southsideofchicago. I enjoy our discussions. Plus you seem to get more detailed information being in Chicago, than the rest of the nation. I'll check back soon!

Posted at 4:51PM on Jan 8th 2009 by latturne