The harrowing 911 call that was placed by Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson’s sister when she discovered her mother’s dead body has been released by the judge overseeing the trial of the man accused of the brutal murder of the actress’ mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew.
On October 24, 2008 Julia Hudson had just discovered their mother’s body on the floor of her home when she ran outside in a panic and called 911. The call was released on Monday by the judge overseeing the trial of 30-year-old William Balfour, who is accused of the triple murder, at the request of the media.
“Somebody’s killed my mother! Somebody’s killed my mother! Please!” Julia Hudson can be heard screaming at her family’s home on Chicago’s South Side.
“Please help me! Please … please send an ambulance, yes! Please!” Hudson screams when the dispatcher asks if an ambulance is needed.
William Balfour, the ex-husband of Julia Hudson, is accused of the murder of Darnell Donerson, 57, her brother, Jason Hudson, 29, and 7-year-old Julian King. Prosecutors have said that Balfour killed the three in a jealous rage, believing that his ex-wife was dating another man.
Judge Charles Burns said there’s no evidence Balfour’s due process rights would be harmed by releasing the tapes to the media. Balfour has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder charges in the killings.
On the anguished call Julia Hudson’s grief and desperation can be heard as she answers the dispatcher’s questions about whether her mother had fallen.
“No! I just got home from work and there’s a bullet … there’s a bullet hole in our front door,” she breathlessly says. “I don’t know, she’s on the floor, I see blood coming from her head … I didn’t touch her, I just ran out of the house.”
The audio was played in a Chicago court last week when Julia Hudson testified about that horrifying discovery. At the moment when she made the call she still didn’t realize that their brother Jason was also dead inside the house. Later in the call, she senses that he and her 7-year old son may also be in danger.
“Where’s my brother at? What happened?” she says. “I don’t know where Julian is or nothing!”
It isn’t until police ask Hudson her name, which then made it clear that these tragic deaths would become not just another sad episode in one of Chicago’s most violent neighborhoods, but a high-profile case garnering national attention.