It’s been some time since word first got out of the tragic shooting at the home of Jennifer Hudson’s mother, Darnell, which left her and Hudson’s brother Jason dead. The body of Hudson’s nephew Julian was discovered three days later in an SUV, also shot to death. At the time, police suspected the estranged husband of Julian’s mother, Julia. His name is William Balfour and he already had a criminal record - not to mention the fact that he’d had recent disputes with Julia and Jason over a car.

Earlier this week, the police finally arrested Balfour.

Until the arrest in the murder case Monday, police had publicly identified Balfour — the boy’s stepfather and the estranged husband of Jennifer Hudson’s older sister, Julia Hudson — only as a “person of interest.”

Joshua Kutnick, Balfour’s attorney, said his client is insistent about his innocence. Still, added Kutnick, “He’s exhibited to me, at least, the patience to let the process unfold.”

Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis said Tuesday that Balfour has not confessed to the crimes but he is “confident in the evidence,” which both he and Peterson declined to detail.

Peterson did suggest that police are not looking for any other suspects and that they think Balfour acted alone. “At this time it doesn’t appear that anyone else was involved,” he said.

According to reports, the Hudson family is “relieved and happy” at the arrest, which, along with many comments by the police department, suggests that they have no reason to doubt Balfour’s guilt. I’m all for keeping he details of the case as quiet as possible; Hudson is at the level of fame that allows for a certain amount of privacy, and at a time like this, that’s exactly what the family needs. Julia should be able to shop for groceries without seeing her son’s face on the tabloids. And, needless to say, Balfour needs to be brought to justice before he can harm anyone else. It’s very sad that he had to take three lives before this could happen, but at least it’s happening now.

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