1 00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:04,600 Speaker 1: Oftentimes there's not a lot of redemption in the stories 2 00:00:04,600 --> 00:00:09,080 Speaker 1: that we tell. Sometimes, though, there are great examples of redemption, 3 00:00:09,840 --> 00:00:13,119 Speaker 1: and the story on Jennifer Hudson is most definitely one 4 00:00:13,160 --> 00:00:16,640 Speaker 1: of those, not just redemption, but resilience. I didn't write 5 00:00:16,640 --> 00:00:19,840 Speaker 1: this episode, but when we were producing it, I was 6 00:00:20,200 --> 00:00:24,160 Speaker 1: blown away by the character of Jennifer Hudson, blown away 7 00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:29,360 Speaker 1: by her faith, blown away by her grit, and legitimately 8 00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:34,760 Speaker 1: inspired by how she overcame the tragedy of a triple homicide. 9 00:00:34,920 --> 00:00:38,000 Speaker 1: It was a truly harrowing event that this woman had 10 00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:41,480 Speaker 1: to endure, and she did it. Of course, she's still 11 00:00:41,520 --> 00:00:44,040 Speaker 1: doing it. She's still enduring it, and she's doing it 12 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:46,960 Speaker 1: all with grace, so much grace that we hardly even 13 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:50,680 Speaker 1: remember that this thing happened to her, because Jennifer Hudson 14 00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:54,520 Speaker 1: is just out there living her life. It's amazing. I 15 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:56,480 Speaker 1: hope you dig this story, and I hope it inspires 16 00:00:56,480 --> 00:00:58,200 Speaker 1: you as much as it inspired me when we put 17 00:00:58,200 --> 00:01:02,560 Speaker 1: it together. This episode contains content that may be disturbing 18 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:05,720 Speaker 1: to some listeners. Please check the show notes for more information. 19 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:20,039 Speaker 1: Disgraceland is a production of Double Elvis. The stories about 20 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:24,679 Speaker 1: Jennifer Hudson are insane. She grew up on gospel music 21 00:01:24,720 --> 00:01:28,920 Speaker 1: in Englewood, the most dangerous for square miles in Chicago, 22 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:31,720 Speaker 1: the same four square miles where three members of her 23 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:35,480 Speaker 1: family were murdered in one weekend. The killer was someone 24 00:01:35,560 --> 00:01:38,800 Speaker 1: Jennifer went to elementary school with, someone who once lived 25 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:41,560 Speaker 1: under the same roof and broke bread with her family. 26 00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:46,160 Speaker 1: But before this triple homicide tragedy, and even long after it, 27 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:51,080 Speaker 1: Jennifer Hudson made great music. Unlike that music I played 28 00:01:51,080 --> 00:01:53,240 Speaker 1: for you at the top of the show. That wasn't 29 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:57,080 Speaker 1: great music. That was a preset loop from my melotron 30 00:01:57,440 --> 00:02:02,440 Speaker 1: called Young, Dumb and Baroque MK one. I played you 31 00:02:02,480 --> 00:02:05,320 Speaker 1: that loop because I can't afford the rights to Womanize 32 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:08,680 Speaker 1: Her by Britney Spears. And why would I play you 33 00:02:08,720 --> 00:02:12,200 Speaker 1: that specific slice of Don't Try to Front Cheese? Could 34 00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:16,080 Speaker 1: I afford it? Because that was the number one song 35 00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:19,320 Speaker 1: in America on October twenty fourth, two thousand and eight, 36 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:22,440 Speaker 1: And that was the day Jennifer Hudson got a call 37 00:02:22,480 --> 00:02:25,080 Speaker 1: that would change the rest of her life and test 38 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:30,840 Speaker 1: her faith like never before. On this episode Gospel Music 39 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:36,840 Speaker 1: Family Traders triple homicide in the undying faith of Jennifer Hudson. 40 00:02:37,639 --> 00:03:09,840 Speaker 1: I'm Jake Brennan, and this is Disgraceland. The gunshots broke 41 00:03:09,880 --> 00:03:14,600 Speaker 1: the silence on South Yale Avenue between eight and nine am. 42 00:03:14,919 --> 00:03:18,280 Speaker 1: First one round, then a pause, and then another round 43 00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:21,520 Speaker 1: a few minutes later. No one called nine to one one. 44 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:24,560 Speaker 1: No one poked their head outdoors to see what happened. 45 00:03:25,120 --> 00:03:29,679 Speaker 1: No one prayed. This was Englewood, the south side of Chicago, 46 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:32,360 Speaker 1: the most dangerous for square miles in all of the 47 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:37,680 Speaker 1: Windy City. Gunshots were part of the package. Gunshots punctuated 48 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:41,000 Speaker 1: space and time, like train whistles or clock tower chimes, 49 00:03:41,640 --> 00:03:47,040 Speaker 1: forgettable background noise and everyday occurrence. At seven zero one 50 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:51,000 Speaker 1: to nine South Yelle Avenue, two bodies bled out in silence, 51 00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:53,920 Speaker 1: one in the doorway of the first floor living room, 52 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:58,400 Speaker 1: another upstairs in bed, still tucked under the sheets, dreams 53 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:04,600 Speaker 1: training from his consciousness, inching towards an eternal slumber. The 54 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:08,560 Speaker 1: Hudson household went quiet. No music sprang from the radio, 55 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:12,480 Speaker 1: no notes floated from happy lungs, and no child hollering 56 00:04:12,560 --> 00:04:16,360 Speaker 1: from the seat of a tricycle. October twenty fourth, two 57 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:20,920 Speaker 1: thousand and eight, Jennifer Hudson was not home the day 58 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:24,040 Speaker 1: her mother and brother were murdered, the very same day 59 00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:27,279 Speaker 1: that her nephew was kidnapped, but she would be home 60 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:31,839 Speaker 1: again soon. Here, standing on the streets of Englewood, praying, 61 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:39,159 Speaker 1: pleading for her nephew Julian to return home safely, the 62 00:04:39,240 --> 00:04:42,800 Speaker 1: words leapt from her lips like a prayer. Julia Kate 63 00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:46,320 Speaker 1: Hudson stood at the kitchen stove, a spatula in one 64 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:48,839 Speaker 1: hand and the other over her heart as she sang, 65 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:53,560 Speaker 1: brushing against the fabric of a matronly flannel nightgown. No 66 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:56,520 Speaker 1: bodies on the floor, no cartridges strewn across the carpet, 67 00:04:57,000 --> 00:05:00,320 Speaker 1: just the heavenly melodies brimming from Julia's chest, and her 68 00:05:00,400 --> 00:05:04,840 Speaker 1: odd little granddaughter Jennifer, listening along. This is how life 69 00:05:04,880 --> 00:05:08,680 Speaker 1: in the Hudson household was supposed to be. Julia sang 70 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:11,840 Speaker 1: hymns the right way from memory and from the bottom 71 00:05:11,880 --> 00:05:15,719 Speaker 1: of her lungs. She was a born gospel singer inside 72 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:19,440 Speaker 1: and outside of the church choir. Her vocals shine brighter 73 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:22,680 Speaker 1: than a stained glass window on a Sunday morning. At 74 00:05:22,680 --> 00:05:27,599 Speaker 1: every service she commanded riespct, just like the gospel greats 75 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:32,200 Speaker 1: who had come before her Aretha Sam Marvin. She belt 76 00:05:32,240 --> 00:05:34,320 Speaker 1: it out more than one hundred solos in her family's 77 00:05:34,400 --> 00:05:37,160 Speaker 1: church over the course of her life, not for glory, 78 00:05:37,520 --> 00:05:41,600 Speaker 1: but for God. For God's glory. Julia had no interest 79 00:05:41,680 --> 00:05:45,000 Speaker 1: in being the next to Aretha. Her satisfaction stemmed from 80 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:49,440 Speaker 1: singing for the Lord, plain and simple. Little Jennifer took notes. 81 00:05:49,839 --> 00:05:53,320 Speaker 1: Julia's raw talent instilled a strong faith in her young granddaughter. 82 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:56,920 Speaker 1: There was a saying in the Hudson household a positive 83 00:05:56,960 --> 00:06:00,560 Speaker 1: refrain for all happy circumstances, look at what God can do, 84 00:06:01,400 --> 00:06:03,599 Speaker 1: and if God could make you sing like this while 85 00:06:04,040 --> 00:06:07,479 Speaker 1: sign Jennifer up. She joined the church choir at just 86 00:06:07,520 --> 00:06:10,960 Speaker 1: seven years old and followed her grandmother's musical traditions. Another 87 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 1: quote unquote old fashioned girl, as she liked to say, 88 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:17,440 Speaker 1: Jennifer didn't touch modern worship music. She went by the 89 00:06:17,440 --> 00:06:20,720 Speaker 1: books literally and sang straight from the hymnals that lined 90 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:23,680 Speaker 1: the pews of her church, just like Julia did. But 91 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:27,680 Speaker 1: Jennifer also sensed that maybe God had other plans for her, 92 00:06:28,200 --> 00:06:30,640 Speaker 1: That he wanted her to sing for other people, not 93 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:33,200 Speaker 1: just the people crowded together in one building on a Sunday, 94 00:06:33,680 --> 00:06:36,760 Speaker 1: and maybe not just gospel songs. Maybe she should sing 95 00:06:36,839 --> 00:06:39,239 Speaker 1: some of the secular music. She overheard the neighbors playing 96 00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:45,000 Speaker 1: Destiny's Child Mariah Carey Patti LaBelle that music never played 97 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:48,479 Speaker 1: in the Hudson household, though at seven zero one nine 98 00:06:48,520 --> 00:06:52,000 Speaker 1: South Yale Avenue, it was all gospel, all God, all 99 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:56,080 Speaker 1: the time. For some preteens and teenagers, such as strict 100 00:06:56,160 --> 00:06:59,760 Speaker 1: musical regimen could potentially create a restless little atheists, eager 101 00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:03,040 Speaker 1: to bell against the lifetime of Bible verses and intersperse 102 00:07:03,080 --> 00:07:06,840 Speaker 1: a cuss word into the endless chance of Amen and hallelujah. 103 00:07:07,560 --> 00:07:11,080 Speaker 1: But for Jennifer, in her siblings Jason and Julia, yes, 104 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:14,200 Speaker 1: her sister was named Julia too, gospel music kept them 105 00:07:14,280 --> 00:07:17,520 Speaker 1: spiritually fed in full. He had a feast on these 106 00:07:17,560 --> 00:07:19,760 Speaker 1: things if you wanted to feel good living in Englewood, 107 00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:25,920 Speaker 1: a neighborhood where the statistics were on nobody's side. Located 108 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:29,320 Speaker 1: in Chicago's South Side, Englewood's poverty rate is double that 109 00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:32,760 Speaker 1: of Greater Chicago. The median household income is half of 110 00:07:32,760 --> 00:07:36,160 Speaker 1: that in Chicago. Twenty eight percent of Englewood residents over 111 00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:40,400 Speaker 1: age sixteen are unemployed. Incidents of violent crime are three 112 00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:43,840 Speaker 1: times as frequent in comparison to Greater Chicago. The crime 113 00:07:43,880 --> 00:07:46,960 Speaker 1: rate in Anglewood is two hundred and seventy six percent 114 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:51,160 Speaker 1: higher than the national average. It's not surprising that that 115 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:54,280 Speaker 1: the Hudson family clung to their faith and to each other. 116 00:07:55,160 --> 00:07:59,440 Speaker 1: In fact, religion regulated everything in the Hudson household. Bible 117 00:07:59,520 --> 00:08:02,120 Speaker 1: study was on Monday nights, followed by rehearsals for the 118 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:05,560 Speaker 1: adult and youth choirs on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. That 119 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:09,200 Speaker 1: meant double duty for Jennifer, who sang in bold. Saturdays 120 00:08:09,200 --> 00:08:12,040 Speaker 1: were devoted to folding and stapling the Sunday church bulletins, 121 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:17,400 Speaker 1: and Sunday itself was a day long celebration. First came 122 00:08:17,440 --> 00:08:20,640 Speaker 1: the morning service, and then the Hudson Families Weekly launched 123 00:08:20,680 --> 00:08:24,360 Speaker 1: out a small splurge at either KFC or McDonald's food 124 00:08:24,400 --> 00:08:27,840 Speaker 1: only no drinks. Drinks made the meal too expensive. Then 125 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:30,640 Speaker 1: back to church for the evening service and Sunday dinner 126 00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:34,080 Speaker 1: at home. Those Hudson Sunday dinners covered every inch of 127 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:37,920 Speaker 1: the table like a Christmas Day spread. Pork chops, collar greens, 128 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:42,200 Speaker 1: mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, fried chicken biscuits. Jennifer's family 129 00:08:42,320 --> 00:08:44,880 Speaker 1: was not rich by any means, but they did have 130 00:08:45,040 --> 00:08:48,480 Speaker 1: everything they needed, food for the soul and music for 131 00:08:48,559 --> 00:08:52,360 Speaker 1: the soul as well. But not everyone was fortunate enough 132 00:08:52,360 --> 00:08:55,560 Speaker 1: to return to a home glowing with familiar love, the 133 00:08:55,640 --> 00:08:58,840 Speaker 1: same light that the Hudson's baston didn't permeate the pall 134 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:05,400 Speaker 1: surrounding William, a classmate of Jennifer and Julius. When William 135 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:08,760 Speaker 1: returned home from school every day, he waded into darkness, 136 00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:12,560 Speaker 1: knee deep in the violence passed from generation to generation 137 00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:16,600 Speaker 1: in his family. William's grandma did time for manslaughter and 138 00:09:16,640 --> 00:09:19,880 Speaker 1: his dad did time for murder, and William received any 139 00:09:19,960 --> 00:09:22,679 Speaker 1: leftover aggression in the form of physical abuse from his 140 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:26,920 Speaker 1: own parents. Crime and jail time were his only hand 141 00:09:26,920 --> 00:09:30,240 Speaker 1: me downs. William was born into a culture of cruelty, 142 00:09:30,320 --> 00:09:33,520 Speaker 1: and so cruelty is what William Balfour had to offer 143 00:09:33,559 --> 00:09:37,599 Speaker 1: the world. As a struggling teenager, he shuffled between the 144 00:09:37,679 --> 00:09:40,280 Speaker 1: foster homes, not because he had been taken away from 145 00:09:40,280 --> 00:09:43,160 Speaker 1: his family by Child Protective Services, although that should have 146 00:09:43,200 --> 00:09:45,520 Speaker 1: been the case, but because his mother said she couldn't 147 00:09:45,559 --> 00:09:49,480 Speaker 1: quote unquote handle him anymore. She surrendered her parental rights 148 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:52,960 Speaker 1: on her own volition. William didn't fare much better with 149 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:56,920 Speaker 1: his various new families. His family's tradition of trauma loomed 150 00:09:56,960 --> 00:10:00,520 Speaker 1: behind him like a shadow. In the eighth grade, when 151 00:10:00,520 --> 00:10:03,000 Speaker 1: most kids were taunting each other and trying on their 152 00:10:03,040 --> 00:10:06,120 Speaker 1: middle school graduation gowns, William was zipping up a pint 153 00:10:06,200 --> 00:10:10,160 Speaker 1: sized orange jumpsuit. At only fourteen years old, he racked 154 00:10:10,240 --> 00:10:13,160 Speaker 1: up his first criminal church, and not for dumb teenager 155 00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:17,360 Speaker 1: stuff like shoplifting from a CBS, but for heroin possession, 156 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:24,400 Speaker 1: the big leagues, real adult crime. Next stop Juvy. The 157 00:10:24,480 --> 00:10:28,080 Speaker 1: news spread through the halls of Jennifer's school fast. William's 158 00:10:28,160 --> 00:10:31,040 Speaker 1: arrest was the talk of the teens, gossiping between classes 159 00:10:31,040 --> 00:10:34,679 Speaker 1: at their lockers. Such a loner, so reserved, of course, 160 00:10:34,679 --> 00:10:38,160 Speaker 1: he was scheming. It's always the quiet ones. Jennifer knew 161 00:10:38,200 --> 00:10:41,079 Speaker 1: exactly what they meant. She saw how he carried himself 162 00:10:41,120 --> 00:10:43,360 Speaker 1: and kept to himself, and he never gave her any 163 00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:46,600 Speaker 1: trouble personally, but she didn't trust him. Her gut told 164 00:10:46,640 --> 00:10:48,480 Speaker 1: her not to get near that boy, and if fate 165 00:10:48,559 --> 00:10:50,240 Speaker 1: brought her near him, it told her to get out 166 00:10:50,240 --> 00:10:53,599 Speaker 1: of the way. But William was off to a correctional 167 00:10:53,640 --> 00:10:57,840 Speaker 1: facility steering clear of him would be easy. Now easy 168 00:10:58,280 --> 00:11:26,440 Speaker 1: until the day he moved into her home. Jennifer Hudson 169 00:11:26,600 --> 00:11:29,160 Speaker 1: tried not to make a scene. She didn't want her 170 00:11:29,240 --> 00:11:32,440 Speaker 1: plea to be obvious. She stood steady on the bright 171 00:11:32,480 --> 00:11:35,760 Speaker 1: blue American Idol stage next to future Idol winner of 172 00:11:35,840 --> 00:11:40,240 Speaker 1: Fantasia Burrino. They clasped tweaty palms and dug their manicured 173 00:11:40,280 --> 00:11:43,880 Speaker 1: nails into each other's hands. Jennifer didn't close her eyes 174 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:46,520 Speaker 1: like people did in the movies. She looked right at 175 00:11:46,559 --> 00:11:50,240 Speaker 1: the camera, and she prayed. She prayed for her destiny 176 00:11:50,280 --> 00:11:55,400 Speaker 1: to come together. Two thousand and four Elimination Night. Please God, 177 00:11:55,920 --> 00:11:59,360 Speaker 1: I'm going tonight, Jennifer prayed, I want to go home. 178 00:12:00,960 --> 00:12:04,760 Speaker 1: Ryan Seacrest granted her wish almost immediately. He announced the 179 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:09,320 Speaker 1: elimination without any phony reality TV suspense. That person is 180 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:15,800 Speaker 1: Jennifer Hudson. Jennifer smiled and took Fantasia into her arms. 181 00:12:16,320 --> 00:12:19,160 Speaker 1: No tears fell from her eyes, no jitters made her 182 00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:23,720 Speaker 1: wobble off stage. This was right. It seemed wrong. Sure, 183 00:12:23,840 --> 00:12:28,000 Speaker 1: Jennifer had absolutely dominated the Barry Manelo theme the night prior, 184 00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:31,120 Speaker 1: but leaving was the right move for her. There was 185 00:12:31,160 --> 00:12:35,120 Speaker 1: no shame in placing seventh. American Idol was just another 186 00:12:35,160 --> 00:12:37,880 Speaker 1: talent competition, after all, and Jennifer cut her teeth on 187 00:12:37,960 --> 00:12:41,240 Speaker 1: talent competitions growing up. She had her share of those 188 00:12:41,280 --> 00:12:44,560 Speaker 1: tacky crowns for her teen years. She didn't need another one, 189 00:12:44,720 --> 00:12:46,960 Speaker 1: even if it meant losing nextra few weeks on air 190 00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:50,720 Speaker 1: in Front of America. When she packed her bags to 191 00:12:50,760 --> 00:12:55,120 Speaker 1: return to Chicago, Jennifer was content. Chicago, on the other hand, 192 00:12:55,760 --> 00:13:00,839 Speaker 1: was devastated. When it came to American Eye voting. The 193 00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:05,080 Speaker 1: efforts of Jennifer's hometown usually went unmatched. Once Chicago had 194 00:13:05,080 --> 00:13:08,240 Speaker 1: a local woman performing on such a big platform, Churches 195 00:13:08,240 --> 00:13:12,959 Speaker 1: across the region followed American Idol religiously. Tuesday nights meant 196 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:16,280 Speaker 1: congregating at churches across the city who watched Jennifer compete. 197 00:13:16,880 --> 00:13:19,400 Speaker 1: When the curtain fell on the last contestant every week, 198 00:13:19,679 --> 00:13:22,880 Speaker 1: the flock dispersed from the pews, rushing home to dial 199 00:13:22,880 --> 00:13:24,960 Speaker 1: in their votes for their very own Jenny from the 200 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:29,160 Speaker 1: block just weeks prior. Jennifer received the highest amount of 201 00:13:29,200 --> 00:13:33,959 Speaker 1: votes that round. But God does indeed work in mysterious ways. 202 00:13:34,800 --> 00:13:38,280 Speaker 1: On the night of Jennifer's final Idol performance, a tornado 203 00:13:38,480 --> 00:13:41,960 Speaker 1: stormed through Chicago, uprooting the power lines and phone lines 204 00:13:41,960 --> 00:13:45,080 Speaker 1: as a tour through town. No phone service meant no 205 00:13:45,240 --> 00:13:48,160 Speaker 1: phone calls, and no phone calls meant no votes for Jennifer. 206 00:13:48,600 --> 00:13:51,720 Speaker 1: Far too few votes at least. The loss was a 207 00:13:51,720 --> 00:13:55,319 Speaker 1: blow for Chicago, but not for Jennifer's pride. As she 208 00:13:55,400 --> 00:13:58,280 Speaker 1: told MTV, I feel like that storm was a sign 209 00:13:58,320 --> 00:14:00,480 Speaker 1: from God that it was time to remove me. But 210 00:14:00,520 --> 00:14:02,560 Speaker 1: when he gets something to say, I ain't got nothing 211 00:14:02,600 --> 00:14:05,640 Speaker 1: to say about it. It gave a whole new meaning 212 00:14:05,679 --> 00:14:08,600 Speaker 1: to the Hudson's look at what God can do catchphrase. 213 00:14:09,640 --> 00:14:13,040 Speaker 1: But Reality TV contestant or not, the public still had 214 00:14:13,080 --> 00:14:15,920 Speaker 1: a lot to say about Jennifer Hudson. She wouldn't be 215 00:14:15,960 --> 00:14:18,920 Speaker 1: another Top twelve contestant who faded into a backdrop of 216 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:21,520 Speaker 1: has been Idol contenders famous for a few weeks, had 217 00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:25,720 Speaker 1: forgotten the next Her elimination had the opposite effect. The 218 00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:29,880 Speaker 1: shocks surrounding America's decision kept all eyes on her, including 219 00:14:29,920 --> 00:14:34,080 Speaker 1: the eyes a director and screenwriter Bill Condon. He could 220 00:14:34,160 --> 00:14:36,640 Speaker 1: see that Jennifer was more than just a singer, too. 221 00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:40,200 Speaker 1: Although her mountainous vocal chops were central to her term. 222 00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:43,680 Speaker 1: Those kind of vocal cords called for a special kind 223 00:14:43,720 --> 00:14:46,440 Speaker 1: of role, a role like e Fie White in his 224 00:14:46,560 --> 00:14:50,440 Speaker 1: next picture, dream Girls, the motown music flick inspired by 225 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:54,200 Speaker 1: the story of the Supremes. Jennifer beat out Fantasia for 226 00:14:54,240 --> 00:14:56,600 Speaker 1: the role, along with seven hundred and eighty two other 227 00:14:56,640 --> 00:14:58,720 Speaker 1: women who tried to do their best to recapture the 228 00:14:58,760 --> 00:15:03,560 Speaker 1: magic of motown. She didn't beat Beyonce, she didn't have to. 229 00:15:04,400 --> 00:15:07,320 Speaker 1: Beyonce was going to play her group mate Deina Jones, 230 00:15:07,360 --> 00:15:10,160 Speaker 1: inspired by Diana Ross. She was going to be co 231 00:15:10,280 --> 00:15:14,320 Speaker 1: stars with Beyonce, Miss Destiny's Child herself. That was a 232 00:15:14,320 --> 00:15:16,640 Speaker 1: big enough feed for Jennifer, but on top of that, 233 00:15:16,960 --> 00:15:19,640 Speaker 1: Jamie Fox would also be by her side as her 234 00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:25,080 Speaker 1: love interest, Liplocks included. When filming wrapped, Jennifer's hype was 235 00:15:25,160 --> 00:15:27,360 Speaker 1: so huge as she lined up a record deal with 236 00:15:27,400 --> 00:15:32,080 Speaker 1: Arista Records before Dreaming Girls even dropped. Aris defounder Clive 237 00:15:32,200 --> 00:15:34,840 Speaker 1: Davis literally bought out her existing deal to make sure 238 00:15:34,880 --> 00:15:37,760 Speaker 1: her debut album was released under his label. And that 239 00:15:37,880 --> 00:15:41,320 Speaker 1: was before she took home an Oscar. That's right, Jennifer 240 00:15:41,400 --> 00:15:44,000 Speaker 1: Hudson won an Oscar for her first role in a 241 00:15:44,040 --> 00:15:47,720 Speaker 1: movie ever, an accomplishment most Hollywood hopefuls would kill for. 242 00:15:48,280 --> 00:15:54,080 Speaker 1: Jennifer did it naturally. God's plan was on point. Jennifer 243 00:15:54,160 --> 00:15:57,040 Speaker 1: knew it. Chicago knew it too. Even though her time 244 00:15:57,120 --> 00:16:00,440 Speaker 1: was divided between countries and coasts as she endured rigorous 245 00:16:00,480 --> 00:16:04,000 Speaker 1: schedule of international film festivals, press tours, and recording sessions 246 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:08,640 Speaker 1: for her debut album. But no matter where her newfound 247 00:16:08,640 --> 00:16:12,359 Speaker 1: fame took her. Whenever she could, she spent time in Englewood, 248 00:16:12,520 --> 00:16:15,320 Speaker 1: where her mother, brother, sister, and nephew still shared her 249 00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:18,680 Speaker 1: home together. When Jennifer was in town, they ate the 250 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:21,400 Speaker 1: same meals as she did as a child, recited the 251 00:16:21,440 --> 00:16:25,080 Speaker 1: same prayers with the same conviction. But one day, when 252 00:16:25,120 --> 00:16:27,760 Speaker 1: Jennifer returned home, there was a new face at the 253 00:16:27,760 --> 00:16:33,280 Speaker 1: family dinner table, William Balfour. Jennifer hadn't seen him in 254 00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:37,040 Speaker 1: at least a decade. He was older, now, more muscular. 255 00:16:37,440 --> 00:16:40,160 Speaker 1: People called him flex because he was so cut. He 256 00:16:40,280 --> 00:16:43,920 Speaker 1: was also more set in his ways. Jennifer's feelings towards 257 00:16:43,960 --> 00:16:48,480 Speaker 1: him hadn't changed, and William hadn't changed much either. After 258 00:16:48,560 --> 00:16:51,200 Speaker 1: his time in Judy, William rejected his life as a 259 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:55,200 Speaker 1: foster kid, the constant motion, the fake families fucked that 260 00:16:55,720 --> 00:16:59,000 Speaker 1: he was over and he thought instead he opted for 261 00:16:59,040 --> 00:17:02,360 Speaker 1: a life on the street. From there, William took up 262 00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:06,000 Speaker 1: with the Gangster Disciples, one of the largest gangs in Chicago. 263 00:17:06,800 --> 00:17:10,000 Speaker 1: Only three years after his arrest for heroin possession, he 264 00:17:10,080 --> 00:17:14,240 Speaker 1: upgraded his criminal record to include vehicular hijacking and attempted murder. 265 00:17:14,840 --> 00:17:18,040 Speaker 1: At seventeen years old, William not only stole a car, 266 00:17:18,280 --> 00:17:20,720 Speaker 1: but he tried to toss the car's owner to his death. 267 00:17:20,760 --> 00:17:24,520 Speaker 1: While the owner desperately clung to the roof, William swerved 268 00:17:24,560 --> 00:17:29,359 Speaker 1: and sped his way right into another seven years behind bars, 269 00:17:30,600 --> 00:17:33,360 Speaker 1: and in a cruel twist of fate, when William emerged 270 00:17:33,359 --> 00:17:36,520 Speaker 1: from prison in two thousand and six, he walked straight 271 00:17:36,520 --> 00:17:41,520 Speaker 1: into the heart of Jennifer's sister, Julia. Julia was smitten. 272 00:17:41,880 --> 00:17:45,800 Speaker 1: Jennifer was confused, to say the least, and appalled. She 273 00:17:45,920 --> 00:17:48,440 Speaker 1: tried to bargain with her sister. What does she want? 274 00:17:48,720 --> 00:17:51,280 Speaker 1: A house of her own, a new car, a lavish vacation. 275 00:17:51,800 --> 00:17:55,080 Speaker 1: Jennifer had money now, a list movie money. She would 276 00:17:55,080 --> 00:17:59,520 Speaker 1: buy Julia anything she wanted, anything if she didn't marry William. 277 00:18:00,080 --> 00:18:04,359 Speaker 1: But Julia was unmoved by the material bribes. William was good, 278 00:18:04,440 --> 00:18:07,560 Speaker 1: she insisted, and a good stepfather to Julia's seven year 279 00:18:07,560 --> 00:18:11,639 Speaker 1: old Julian. He even wrote proud parent on his MySpace bio. 280 00:18:12,680 --> 00:18:16,320 Speaker 1: Her heart insisted upon a wedding, insisted upon William, and 281 00:18:16,320 --> 00:18:17,920 Speaker 1: the couple read the room, and then got the hell 282 00:18:17,960 --> 00:18:20,840 Speaker 1: out of that room, eloping and late two thousand and six. 283 00:18:21,920 --> 00:18:24,520 Speaker 1: William was always welcome at the Hudson's table. Of course, 284 00:18:24,720 --> 00:18:28,600 Speaker 1: embracing an outsider with acceptance intolerance was a Christian way. 285 00:18:29,359 --> 00:18:32,560 Speaker 1: But once William moved into the Hudson household, the Hudsons 286 00:18:32,560 --> 00:18:35,200 Speaker 1: had a front row seat to his relationship with Julia. 287 00:18:35,760 --> 00:18:39,040 Speaker 1: The more they saw, the more their opinion of William's shrank. 288 00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:43,520 Speaker 1: William did not love Julia. He thought he did. He 289 00:18:43,640 --> 00:18:46,840 Speaker 1: signed marriage papers proclaiming that he did. But what William 290 00:18:46,880 --> 00:18:50,960 Speaker 1: felt towards Julia was something far more sinister. His feelings 291 00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:55,320 Speaker 1: bordered on ownership. Jealousy coursed through him like second nature. 292 00:18:55,880 --> 00:18:58,119 Speaker 1: If Julia was going to love anybody was going to 293 00:18:58,119 --> 00:19:01,400 Speaker 1: be him, end of discussion. He had his happy family now, 294 00:19:01,400 --> 00:19:03,320 Speaker 1: and he wasn't about to lose it over anything or 295 00:19:03,320 --> 00:19:08,680 Speaker 1: anybody In William's mind, Julia owed him her affection, all 296 00:19:08,720 --> 00:19:11,840 Speaker 1: of them. Hugging other people set him off. Kisses made 297 00:19:11,840 --> 00:19:15,320 Speaker 1: his blood curl. Didn't matter who Julia was embracing, her mother, 298 00:19:15,440 --> 00:19:17,720 Speaker 1: her sister, even her seven year old son that William 299 00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:20,240 Speaker 1: was supposed to be a proud parent of. His heart 300 00:19:20,280 --> 00:19:22,840 Speaker 1: grew green and his cheeks flushed red at the sight 301 00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:26,320 Speaker 1: of any affection given to anyone else. If Julia was 302 00:19:26,359 --> 00:19:29,919 Speaker 1: loving someone else and she wasn't loving William, and William 303 00:19:29,960 --> 00:19:35,760 Speaker 1: couldn't accept that kind of traitorous behavior. Mind you, this 304 00:19:35,800 --> 00:19:38,600 Speaker 1: is how William felt when Julia shared affection with her 305 00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:41,959 Speaker 1: own family people. She literally could not cheat on him with. 306 00:19:42,480 --> 00:19:45,200 Speaker 1: Imagine if she hugged a friend, a coworker, another man, 307 00:19:45,520 --> 00:19:49,120 Speaker 1: what would that push him to do. Julia didn't wait 308 00:19:49,160 --> 00:19:52,399 Speaker 1: to find out she couldn't afford to. She disregarded their 309 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:55,080 Speaker 1: vows and tossed William and his wicked tantrums out on 310 00:19:55,119 --> 00:19:58,879 Speaker 1: the street. He successfully shot down their whirlwind romance in 311 00:19:58,960 --> 00:20:04,119 Speaker 1: cold blood, and their marriage was dead. It should have 312 00:20:04,119 --> 00:20:06,800 Speaker 1: been a moment of relief for the Hudsons, should have been, 313 00:20:07,400 --> 00:20:11,280 Speaker 1: but William was a possessive man. Worse, he was a 314 00:20:11,400 --> 00:20:15,680 Speaker 1: determined one William moved out, it claimed to move on 315 00:20:15,720 --> 00:20:18,320 Speaker 1: to another woman, but he never strayed far from South 316 00:20:18,400 --> 00:20:21,000 Speaker 1: Yell Avenue to check up on what his wife was doing, 317 00:20:21,440 --> 00:20:23,959 Speaker 1: who she was doing. If he couldn't catch a good 318 00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:27,000 Speaker 1: glimpse from Julia's bedroom window on the first floor, he'd 319 00:20:27,000 --> 00:20:31,679 Speaker 1: ask around town, was Julia you know? Seeing anybody? His 320 00:20:31,760 --> 00:20:36,639 Speaker 1: subtles He ended there. He had plans, dark plans. He 321 00:20:36,720 --> 00:20:40,200 Speaker 1: was going to kill the whole Hudson family. If Julius 322 00:20:40,280 --> 00:20:43,639 Speaker 1: so much has stepped outside with another man, he'd shoot 323 00:20:43,720 --> 00:20:46,199 Speaker 1: them all one by one, and he'd take care of 324 00:20:46,280 --> 00:20:48,760 Speaker 1: Julia last, so she'd have to watch him pull the 325 00:20:48,800 --> 00:20:53,280 Speaker 1: trigger over and over again, repainting the walls, one blood 326 00:20:53,400 --> 00:20:56,879 Speaker 1: silk shot at a time. He told Julia this to 327 00:20:56,960 --> 00:20:59,920 Speaker 1: her face. He told the neighbors to their faces his 328 00:21:00,080 --> 00:21:04,200 Speaker 1: intentions for the worst kept secret in Englewood. William's threats 329 00:21:04,280 --> 00:21:06,960 Speaker 1: drew closer when someone invaded the Hudson's home in two 330 00:21:06,960 --> 00:21:09,480 Speaker 1: thousand and eight, and the burglar left with no money, 331 00:21:09,480 --> 00:21:12,119 Speaker 1: no jewels or electronics, just a house key in a 332 00:21:12,160 --> 00:21:16,560 Speaker 1: forty five belonging to Jennifer's brother Jason. This had nothing 333 00:21:16,560 --> 00:21:19,040 Speaker 1: to do with making a quick buck off a break in. 334 00:21:21,600 --> 00:21:25,359 Speaker 1: Jennifer couldn't contain her concern anymore. This was even bigger 335 00:21:25,359 --> 00:21:28,640 Speaker 1: than Julia. Now, this man planned a gun down all 336 00:21:28,720 --> 00:21:31,600 Speaker 1: of them. Jennifer begged her mother to move. She offered 337 00:21:31,640 --> 00:21:34,440 Speaker 1: her mother, Darnell, a new house right here in Chicago. 338 00:21:34,760 --> 00:21:37,400 Speaker 1: She didn't have to go far. She couldn't stay here. 339 00:21:37,560 --> 00:21:41,120 Speaker 1: It was a death wish. Otherwise, her mother, like all 340 00:21:41,200 --> 00:21:45,040 Speaker 1: brave parents, appeared unbothered. She said William could touch her 341 00:21:45,080 --> 00:21:49,399 Speaker 1: family over her dead body. That's a real quote, So 342 00:21:49,560 --> 00:21:54,480 Speaker 1: William did. William peaked into Julia's bedroom window for the 343 00:21:54,520 --> 00:21:57,200 Speaker 1: final time on October twenty fourth, two thousand and eight. 344 00:21:57,840 --> 00:22:00,560 Speaker 1: He spotted Julia before his eyes moved to a bundle 345 00:22:00,560 --> 00:22:04,120 Speaker 1: of birthday balloons occupying the corner of her room. Hearts 346 00:22:04,160 --> 00:22:07,840 Speaker 1: on shiny milar, lots of them. William didn't need any 347 00:22:07,840 --> 00:22:10,320 Speaker 1: additional proof that a new man was in the picture. 348 00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:14,359 Speaker 1: He rapped on the window, shouted at Julia, asked her 349 00:22:14,400 --> 00:22:16,720 Speaker 1: what the fuck she was up to seeing another man. 350 00:22:17,240 --> 00:22:19,280 Speaker 1: He harassed her as she walked out the front door 351 00:22:19,280 --> 00:22:21,320 Speaker 1: on her way to her shift as a school bus driver. 352 00:22:21,960 --> 00:22:25,240 Speaker 1: William's rage energized him. He spouted off for as long 353 00:22:25,240 --> 00:22:28,920 Speaker 1: as Julia would humor him. When she ran out of steam, 354 00:22:29,400 --> 00:22:32,320 Speaker 1: she left him for a second time, abandoned him once 355 00:22:32,320 --> 00:22:36,080 Speaker 1: again in the front yard. But William hadn't said his peace, 356 00:22:36,600 --> 00:22:39,840 Speaker 1: not all of it. In his mind, Julia had just 357 00:22:39,880 --> 00:22:43,320 Speaker 1: started some shit and he was going to finish it. 358 00:22:47,080 --> 00:22:54,960 Speaker 1: We'll be right back after this word word word. Julia 359 00:22:55,080 --> 00:22:58,439 Speaker 1: Hudson noticed the bullet hole in the door first. She 360 00:22:58,600 --> 00:23:01,280 Speaker 1: knew what was waiting for behind the door before she 361 00:23:01,400 --> 00:23:06,639 Speaker 1: opened it. She burst through anyways, her mother, Darnell Donnerson, 362 00:23:06,960 --> 00:23:10,320 Speaker 1: face down on the carpet, bullets buried in her back, 363 00:23:10,840 --> 00:23:14,320 Speaker 1: her white nightgown stained, her body gone cold in a 364 00:23:14,320 --> 00:23:17,880 Speaker 1: pool of her own blood. Once Julia opened her mouth 365 00:23:17,920 --> 00:23:21,400 Speaker 1: to screen, she couldn't stop, couldn't control the howls coming 366 00:23:21,400 --> 00:23:25,440 Speaker 1: from the depths of her lungs, shooting up from her stomach. Upstairs, 367 00:23:25,440 --> 00:23:28,679 Speaker 1: in his bedroom, her brother Jason succumbed to the same faith, 368 00:23:29,280 --> 00:23:33,240 Speaker 1: shot dead in bed, murdered while he was sleeping when 369 00:23:33,240 --> 00:23:37,879 Speaker 1: he didn't stand a chance of defending himself. But somehow 370 00:23:38,160 --> 00:23:42,280 Speaker 1: the worst discovery was yet to come. In between mourning moans, 371 00:23:42,520 --> 00:23:46,440 Speaker 1: Julia realized she was the only person at home. Her 372 00:23:46,440 --> 00:23:48,640 Speaker 1: son Julian had been here when she left for work 373 00:23:48,680 --> 00:23:51,520 Speaker 1: that morning. She was sure of it. She remembered him 374 00:23:51,520 --> 00:23:54,399 Speaker 1: tumbling around on his green tricycle, but she couldn't hear 375 00:23:54,440 --> 00:23:57,760 Speaker 1: his frantic little feet pedaling away, nor his giggle or 376 00:23:57,840 --> 00:24:01,720 Speaker 1: hurried footsteps down the stairs. The silence of the house 377 00:24:01,760 --> 00:24:05,479 Speaker 1: shook her. Julian wasn't home. Maybe he was still alive. 378 00:24:06,119 --> 00:24:10,080 Speaker 1: Please let him be still alive. Jason's white suburban had 379 00:24:10,119 --> 00:24:14,840 Speaker 1: vanished from the curb. Too vehicular. Hijacking that certainly sounded familiar. 380 00:24:15,119 --> 00:24:17,679 Speaker 1: It could be a kidnapping. That was better than murder, 381 00:24:17,720 --> 00:24:22,439 Speaker 1: at least barely. Julia dialed nine to one one in 382 00:24:22,480 --> 00:24:25,840 Speaker 1: a day. She spoke and panicked fragments, claiming she didn't 383 00:24:25,880 --> 00:24:29,160 Speaker 1: know what happened, But deep down inside her, she knew 384 00:24:29,200 --> 00:24:32,400 Speaker 1: exactly what happened. She knew who had been there, who 385 00:24:32,480 --> 00:24:35,720 Speaker 1: had fulfilled his promise. She used to wear his ring 386 00:24:35,800 --> 00:24:42,879 Speaker 1: on her finger. Julia's tearful next call was to her sister, 387 00:24:43,080 --> 00:24:46,399 Speaker 1: Jennifer Hudson, who was sunning herself one thousand miles away 388 00:24:46,400 --> 00:24:50,919 Speaker 1: in Florida. Jennifer's then husband, David O'tanga, was holed up 389 00:24:50,920 --> 00:24:54,800 Speaker 1: in the Sunshine State for rigorous pro wrestling training. Jennifer 390 00:24:54,840 --> 00:24:57,440 Speaker 1: tagged along on a whim to escape the October chill 391 00:24:57,480 --> 00:25:02,359 Speaker 1: of Chicago. It was a whim that saved her life. 392 00:25:02,440 --> 00:25:05,680 Speaker 1: Jennifer's blood turned to ice when Julius struggled to get 393 00:25:05,680 --> 00:25:09,840 Speaker 1: the words out over the phone. Mama was dead, Jason dead, 394 00:25:10,080 --> 00:25:14,400 Speaker 1: and Julian missing. Jennifer knew she had been home that day. 395 00:25:14,760 --> 00:25:17,280 Speaker 1: She would be a third body on the ground soaking 396 00:25:17,320 --> 00:25:22,320 Speaker 1: in a crimson puddle. While Jennifer raced out of Florida 397 00:25:22,320 --> 00:25:25,440 Speaker 1: on the next available flight, police raced to the main suspect, 398 00:25:25,680 --> 00:25:30,560 Speaker 1: William Balfour. Police found William across town on Chicago's West 399 00:25:30,640 --> 00:25:33,560 Speaker 1: Side and his new girlfriend's pat They arrested him on 400 00:25:33,600 --> 00:25:36,840 Speaker 1: the spot and carted him downtown for more information, locked 401 00:25:36,880 --> 00:25:40,280 Speaker 1: him in an interrogation room. William had been thoughts and 402 00:25:40,359 --> 00:25:44,119 Speaker 1: household earlier that morning. After all cops questioned him up 403 00:25:44,160 --> 00:25:47,200 Speaker 1: and down, and William recited a story with ease. Sure 404 00:25:47,280 --> 00:25:49,359 Speaker 1: he had argued with Julia earlier in that day, but 405 00:25:49,520 --> 00:25:51,919 Speaker 1: came home after caught the bus in the train to 406 00:25:51,920 --> 00:25:54,800 Speaker 1: get across town. He'd been here with his new boo 407 00:25:54,880 --> 00:25:57,880 Speaker 1: ever since and the little boy Julian. He hadn't seen 408 00:25:57,960 --> 00:26:00,800 Speaker 1: him since that morning either. Riding his trace around the earth, 409 00:26:01,359 --> 00:26:04,960 Speaker 1: Williams said that he hoped the kid was okay. There 410 00:26:04,960 --> 00:26:07,960 Speaker 1: were no fewer than three lives in this statement. According 411 00:26:07,960 --> 00:26:11,159 Speaker 1: to public transportation data, William hadn't used his pass for 412 00:26:11,240 --> 00:26:13,240 Speaker 1: the bus that day, and there was no footage of 413 00:26:13,320 --> 00:26:16,280 Speaker 1: him on the train platform that afternoon either. Data from 414 00:26:16,320 --> 00:26:18,919 Speaker 1: William's phone provider even demonstrated that William was in the 415 00:26:18,960 --> 00:26:21,639 Speaker 1: area of the Hudson household well passed his morning argument 416 00:26:21,640 --> 00:26:24,679 Speaker 1: with Julia. In fact, he was in that area right 417 00:26:24,720 --> 00:26:27,760 Speaker 1: around the time those gunshots rang out on Southeyale Avenue. 418 00:26:28,160 --> 00:26:30,600 Speaker 1: Not a good look for William, but he wouldn't budge 419 00:26:30,600 --> 00:26:36,120 Speaker 1: on his alibi. When William stuck to his story hours 420 00:26:36,119 --> 00:26:39,840 Speaker 1: without Julian ticked away, his absence widened the hole in 421 00:26:39,880 --> 00:26:43,359 Speaker 1: the hearts of the Hudson family. Amber alerts ran across 422 00:26:43,400 --> 00:26:46,359 Speaker 1: the bottom of every TV screen in Chicago, and the 423 00:26:46,400 --> 00:26:50,080 Speaker 1: nearby New Cavalry Light Pentecostal Church replaced their lawn signs 424 00:26:50,160 --> 00:26:53,199 Speaker 1: usual words of wisdom with help find Julian King in 425 00:26:53,240 --> 00:26:57,240 Speaker 1: a phone number. Within twenty four hours, the FBI joined 426 00:26:57,240 --> 00:26:59,440 Speaker 1: the Chicago police in the search for the little boy 427 00:26:59,520 --> 00:27:03,520 Speaker 1: nicknamed Juice Box, and there was still hope Julian was 428 00:27:03,560 --> 00:27:06,600 Speaker 1: out there somewhere, maybe in the back of that white suburban, 429 00:27:06,880 --> 00:27:12,760 Speaker 1: maybe breathing. Jennifer and Julia held hands and held out hope. 430 00:27:12,960 --> 00:27:16,159 Speaker 1: But their spirits had been weakened, brittle, and broken in 431 00:27:16,240 --> 00:27:20,000 Speaker 1: a matter of hours, and they needed strength and security. 432 00:27:20,680 --> 00:27:22,960 Speaker 1: So they went to the place where they felt safest. 433 00:27:23,480 --> 00:27:28,240 Speaker 1: They went to church. News anchors set their cameras in 434 00:27:28,280 --> 00:27:31,440 Speaker 1: the pews a Pleasant Gift Missionary Baptist church on October 435 00:27:31,520 --> 00:27:34,400 Speaker 1: twenty fifth, one day after the murders of Jennifer Hudson's 436 00:27:34,440 --> 00:27:38,600 Speaker 1: mother and brother, Julia, Jennifer Hudson's sisters stood behind the 437 00:27:38,640 --> 00:27:42,000 Speaker 1: podium to share her plea with the press. She implored 438 00:27:42,080 --> 00:27:45,400 Speaker 1: viewers for her son Julian's life, as tears trickled down 439 00:27:45,400 --> 00:27:48,320 Speaker 1: her cheeks. I don't care who you are, just let 440 00:27:48,359 --> 00:27:51,119 Speaker 1: my baby go. I just want my son back. He 441 00:27:51,200 --> 00:27:57,399 Speaker 1: doesn't deserve this. The broadcast ended, The search for Julian 442 00:27:57,480 --> 00:28:01,520 Speaker 1: went on another twenty four hours crawled by, and that's 443 00:28:01,560 --> 00:28:04,080 Speaker 1: when Jennifer up the stakes and announced one hundred thousand 444 00:28:04,119 --> 00:28:07,960 Speaker 1: dollars reward for her nephew's safe return. Now there was 445 00:28:08,000 --> 00:28:15,840 Speaker 1: nothing left to do but pray. Their hands trembled another 446 00:28:15,960 --> 00:28:19,159 Speaker 1: Our Father, one more Hail Mary. Just for good measure, 447 00:28:20,040 --> 00:28:24,440 Speaker 1: they let the recitations soothe them, distract them, steady them. 448 00:28:24,680 --> 00:28:28,040 Speaker 1: In the background, someone read Song nineteen on repeat, his 449 00:28:28,200 --> 00:28:31,639 Speaker 1: eyes never wavering from the Bible in his hand. The 450 00:28:31,680 --> 00:28:34,639 Speaker 1: heavens declare the glory of God. The skies proclaimed the 451 00:28:34,640 --> 00:28:37,800 Speaker 1: work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech. 452 00:28:38,200 --> 00:28:43,560 Speaker 1: Night after night they revealed knowledge. White memorial crosses stood 453 00:28:43,680 --> 00:28:46,240 Speaker 1: tall in front of the Hudson home, each covered in 454 00:28:46,280 --> 00:28:50,360 Speaker 1: morning messages and endless God, bless yous photos of Jennifer 455 00:28:50,400 --> 00:28:53,640 Speaker 1: Hudson's brother and mother littered the yard. A pile of 456 00:28:53,680 --> 00:28:57,120 Speaker 1: soft animals on the lawn grew into a mountain. The 457 00:28:57,200 --> 00:28:59,680 Speaker 1: family and friends encircling the Hudson at home had been 458 00:28:59,680 --> 00:29:04,480 Speaker 1: there for days. Their memorial for the husbands was alive, living, breathing, praying. 459 00:29:05,160 --> 00:29:08,480 Speaker 1: But right now, at this very moment, they needed strength 460 00:29:08,480 --> 00:29:12,200 Speaker 1: fen the Lord more than ever before. Police found a 461 00:29:12,200 --> 00:29:15,000 Speaker 1: white suburban that matched the description of the Amber alert, 462 00:29:15,520 --> 00:29:18,760 Speaker 1: and that was the good news. The bad news was 463 00:29:18,800 --> 00:29:22,640 Speaker 1: that they found a little boy inside, dead under a 464 00:29:22,640 --> 00:29:27,520 Speaker 1: shower curtain two bullets in his brain, shot execution style. 465 00:29:29,960 --> 00:29:33,280 Speaker 1: Once police made the gruesome discovery inside the van, they 466 00:29:33,360 --> 00:29:36,520 Speaker 1: scoured the surrounding area and located a gun nestled in 467 00:29:36,560 --> 00:29:40,400 Speaker 1: a grassy vacant lot. Forensics confirmed it was a match 468 00:29:40,480 --> 00:29:44,560 Speaker 1: for all three murders. While the crowd at South Yale 469 00:29:44,600 --> 00:29:49,240 Speaker 1: Avenue clasped their hands in prayer, Jennifer and Julia drove 470 00:29:49,280 --> 00:29:51,840 Speaker 1: to Cook County Medical Center for the second time that 471 00:29:51,920 --> 00:29:56,240 Speaker 1: week to identify the body. Jennifer confirmed it it was 472 00:29:56,280 --> 00:29:58,640 Speaker 1: the third body she had to id in less than 473 00:29:58,640 --> 00:30:01,760 Speaker 1: a week. Her family, this tragedy was now a triple 474 00:30:01,800 --> 00:30:07,120 Speaker 1: homicide triple. The heartbreak her mother's words echoed in Jennifer 475 00:30:07,160 --> 00:30:33,280 Speaker 1: Hudson's ears over my dead body. Jennifer Hudson saw the 476 00:30:33,320 --> 00:30:35,680 Speaker 1: police tape on the street before she could even park 477 00:30:35,720 --> 00:30:40,360 Speaker 1: her car. Her stomach instantly twisted into a knot. She knew, 478 00:30:40,480 --> 00:30:43,400 Speaker 1: damn well, the crowd lining the sidewalk was too big 479 00:30:43,480 --> 00:30:45,560 Speaker 1: for there to be any good news waiting from the 480 00:30:45,600 --> 00:30:48,680 Speaker 1: other side of that yellow tape. She bolted from the 481 00:30:48,760 --> 00:30:51,320 Speaker 1: driver's seat without bothering to lock the car behind her. 482 00:30:52,160 --> 00:30:54,960 Speaker 1: Jennifer elbowed strangers and neighbors out of the way, forced 483 00:30:54,960 --> 00:30:57,960 Speaker 1: herself to the front of the bystanders. She froze when 484 00:30:57,960 --> 00:31:01,360 Speaker 1: she reached the edge of the crime scene. Her daughter, 485 00:31:01,440 --> 00:31:04,920 Speaker 1: Patty rested underneath a bloody white sheet. The sheet did 486 00:31:04,920 --> 00:31:07,960 Speaker 1: not rise and fall with her breath. It lay still, 487 00:31:08,280 --> 00:31:10,640 Speaker 1: and so did Patty, just like she would for the 488 00:31:10,680 --> 00:31:13,760 Speaker 1: rest of eternity. She was the victim of a few 489 00:31:13,760 --> 00:31:18,479 Speaker 1: stray bullets. Authorities told Jennifer, another accidental casually caught between 490 00:31:18,520 --> 00:31:23,400 Speaker 1: beef and gangs. Jennifer wailed, not the despairing kind, the 491 00:31:23,440 --> 00:31:27,680 Speaker 1: irate kind, the blood boiling kind. Did no one see anything? 492 00:31:27,960 --> 00:31:31,080 Speaker 1: Did no one have anything to confess to? She locked 493 00:31:31,080 --> 00:31:33,480 Speaker 1: eyes with every person in the crowd as she lashed out. 494 00:31:33,800 --> 00:31:36,320 Speaker 1: Were they just going to stand bys? Or daughter? Bled out? 495 00:31:36,480 --> 00:31:42,000 Speaker 1: Were they just going to stand there? Stupefied? Cut spike 496 00:31:42,080 --> 00:31:45,520 Speaker 1: Lee's voice rang out from the director's chair from where 497 00:31:45,600 --> 00:31:49,120 Speaker 1: spike Lee was sitting. Jennifer's acting chops hadn't been eroded 498 00:31:49,120 --> 00:31:52,440 Speaker 1: by grief at all. Maybe the heartache had actually emboldened her. 499 00:31:52,960 --> 00:31:55,720 Speaker 1: The camera crew captured a gripping scene in a single take, 500 00:31:56,120 --> 00:31:59,120 Speaker 1: one and done. Jennifer earned the Academy Award in her 501 00:31:59,120 --> 00:32:05,360 Speaker 1: first role for reason. At first, Jennifer Hudson couldn't believe 502 00:32:05,400 --> 00:32:07,719 Speaker 1: it when Spike Lee approached her for a role in 503 00:32:07,720 --> 00:32:11,120 Speaker 1: his twenty fifteen movie sh Iraq, and for a role 504 00:32:11,200 --> 00:32:14,640 Speaker 1: that hit so close to home too. She played Irene, 505 00:32:15,000 --> 00:32:17,239 Speaker 1: a local mother who we meet as she mourns the 506 00:32:17,280 --> 00:32:20,240 Speaker 1: sudden death of her eleven year old daughter, lost to 507 00:32:20,280 --> 00:32:24,720 Speaker 1: the gang violence plaguing Chicago. Irene wasn't real, but her 508 00:32:24,800 --> 00:32:28,880 Speaker 1: story basically was. Jennifer's fate in Englewood hadn't played out 509 00:32:28,920 --> 00:32:32,080 Speaker 1: all that differently. It pained Jennifer to step into those 510 00:32:32,080 --> 00:32:35,040 Speaker 1: shoes again, to feel her blood go cold in an instant, 511 00:32:35,160 --> 00:32:38,120 Speaker 1: to see a child senselessly murdered, even if it was 512 00:32:38,200 --> 00:32:41,440 Speaker 1: just pretend this time. But if telling Irene's story it 513 00:32:41,560 --> 00:32:44,120 Speaker 1: meant another person might be saved from a similar fate, 514 00:32:44,400 --> 00:32:49,640 Speaker 1: it was worth the re immersion. Jennifer Hudson didn't want revenge. 515 00:32:49,920 --> 00:32:52,800 Speaker 1: She didn't crave a cruel fate for William Balfour. She 516 00:32:52,960 --> 00:32:56,480 Speaker 1: just wanted justice for her fallen family members, for the 517 00:32:56,600 --> 00:33:00,720 Speaker 1: senseless bloodshed. She already had secured some of that justice 518 00:33:00,720 --> 00:33:03,680 Speaker 1: when William Balfour was tried just a few years earlier 519 00:33:03,720 --> 00:33:07,440 Speaker 1: in twenty twelve. By the time William appeared in court, 520 00:33:07,640 --> 00:33:10,720 Speaker 1: four years had passed since he murdered half the Hudson family. 521 00:33:11,440 --> 00:33:14,640 Speaker 1: Jennifer hadn't forgotten a thing. She remembered the way William 522 00:33:14,640 --> 00:33:17,640 Speaker 1: had made her uneasy since elementary school, all the times 523 00:33:17,640 --> 00:33:20,640 Speaker 1: he threw a tantrum over hugs amongst family members, and 524 00:33:20,720 --> 00:33:23,480 Speaker 1: perhaps worst of all, she remembered how he had boasted 525 00:33:23,480 --> 00:33:27,320 Speaker 1: about killing half the Hudson family to Julia, to the neighborhood, 526 00:33:27,480 --> 00:33:32,480 Speaker 1: and to anyone who would listen. Jennifer requested to testify 527 00:33:32,600 --> 00:33:35,400 Speaker 1: first at William's trial to ensure that this information was 528 00:33:35,440 --> 00:33:39,560 Speaker 1: front and center. She needed the jury to understand William's character, 529 00:33:39,960 --> 00:33:44,280 Speaker 1: his lack of character. Actually, in eighteen hours, the jury 530 00:33:44,320 --> 00:33:48,960 Speaker 1: found William guilty of triple homicide, home invasion, aggravated kidnapping, 531 00:33:49,160 --> 00:33:53,440 Speaker 1: residential burglary, and possession of a stolen vehicle. He'd spend 532 00:33:53,480 --> 00:33:57,200 Speaker 1: three lifetimes in prison for his crimes, plus another one 533 00:33:57,320 --> 00:34:01,160 Speaker 1: hundred and twenty years. As the judge slammed the gavel, 534 00:34:01,360 --> 00:34:04,719 Speaker 1: he left William with the following assessment, you have the 535 00:34:04,800 --> 00:34:07,800 Speaker 1: heart of an Arctic knight in your soul. Is as 536 00:34:07,880 --> 00:34:13,600 Speaker 1: barren as deep space. When William went back to his 537 00:34:13,640 --> 00:34:16,960 Speaker 1: prison cell, Jennifer Hudson went back to her family's graves 538 00:34:17,000 --> 00:34:19,959 Speaker 1: for the first time since she buried them. She could 539 00:34:19,960 --> 00:34:22,080 Speaker 1: finally look them in the eye, so to speak, and 540 00:34:22,200 --> 00:34:25,720 Speaker 1: tell them William would wither too old age behind bars. 541 00:34:26,280 --> 00:34:29,759 Speaker 1: Her mother, Jason, and Julian. She wanted them all to 542 00:34:29,800 --> 00:34:31,959 Speaker 1: know how she dug up everything she could remember about 543 00:34:31,960 --> 00:34:34,920 Speaker 1: William's history with her family for that trial. But she 544 00:34:35,000 --> 00:34:38,000 Speaker 1: remembered some other things about William too, The way he 545 00:34:38,080 --> 00:34:41,759 Speaker 1: was raised, the violence that stained his family history at 546 00:34:41,840 --> 00:34:44,759 Speaker 1: least three generations deep, passed on to him through a 547 00:34:44,840 --> 00:34:48,560 Speaker 1: cruel childhood. How lucky she was to have never experienced 548 00:34:48,560 --> 00:34:52,080 Speaker 1: such brutality, to have a faith in family that surrounded her, 549 00:34:52,239 --> 00:34:55,160 Speaker 1: that gave her voice, a purpose, that filled her life 550 00:34:55,200 --> 00:34:58,279 Speaker 1: with warmth, or her heart could never bice over, not 551 00:34:58,360 --> 00:35:03,480 Speaker 1: even after a murder, not even after three murders. Jennifer 552 00:35:03,560 --> 00:35:07,200 Speaker 1: Hudson publicly forgave William Balfour. He never had a chance, 553 00:35:07,239 --> 00:35:09,640 Speaker 1: she said, never had a chance to live anything but 554 00:35:09,719 --> 00:35:12,439 Speaker 1: a life of violence. So we saw too that three 555 00:35:12,480 --> 00:35:14,439 Speaker 1: other people would never have the chance to live long, 556 00:35:14,520 --> 00:35:18,680 Speaker 1: happy lives themselves. So many people never had a chance. 557 00:35:20,840 --> 00:35:23,879 Speaker 1: Jennifer Hudson walked back on the set. It was time 558 00:35:23,920 --> 00:35:27,000 Speaker 1: to film the aftermath of her one take crime scene. 559 00:35:27,120 --> 00:35:29,799 Speaker 1: She knelt down with a bucket of soapy water. She 560 00:35:29,960 --> 00:35:32,560 Speaker 1: dumped some SuDS onto the ground where her fictional daughter 561 00:35:32,680 --> 00:35:36,520 Speaker 1: was slain. Pain pricked her fingertips as she started scrubbing 562 00:35:36,560 --> 00:35:42,440 Speaker 1: at the bloodstained pavement. Old wounds reopened, the water deepenedto 563 00:35:42,520 --> 00:35:45,680 Speaker 1: a morbid, shaded red. The stain was starting to come 564 00:35:45,719 --> 00:35:49,319 Speaker 1: off the pavement. Her work here was nearly done. So 565 00:35:49,400 --> 00:35:51,240 Speaker 1: many people never had a chance. 566 00:35:51,560 --> 00:35:52,280 Speaker 2: She remembered. 567 00:35:52,920 --> 00:35:54,960 Speaker 1: She needed to make it through this scene so someone 568 00:35:54,960 --> 00:35:57,520 Speaker 1: else could have a chance. Look at what she could do, 569 00:35:58,120 --> 00:36:01,959 Speaker 1: Look at what God can help her do. Jennifer leaned 570 00:36:02,080 --> 00:36:05,719 Speaker 1: back on her knees. She closed her eyes, took a 571 00:36:05,760 --> 00:36:07,800 Speaker 1: deep breath, and she prayed. 572 00:36:09,680 --> 00:36:29,960 Speaker 2: I'm Jake Brennan and this is Disgraceland. 573 00:36:32,840 --> 00:36:35,640 Speaker 1: Disgraceland was created by Yours Truly and is produced in 574 00:36:35,680 --> 00:36:39,080 Speaker 1: partnership with Double Elvis. Credits for this episode can be 575 00:36:39,120 --> 00:36:42,719 Speaker 1: found on the show notes page at disgracelampod dot com. 576 00:36:42,800 --> 00:36:45,919 Speaker 1: If you're listening as a Disgraceland All Access member, thank 577 00:36:45,960 --> 00:36:48,560 Speaker 1: you for supporting the show. We really appreciate it, and 578 00:36:48,680 --> 00:36:50,920 Speaker 1: if not, you can become a member right now by 579 00:36:51,000 --> 00:36:55,680 Speaker 1: going to disgracelamppod dot com slash Membership. Members can listen 580 00:36:55,680 --> 00:36:59,480 Speaker 1: to every episode of Disgraceland ad free, Plus you'll get 581 00:36:59,480 --> 00:37:04,320 Speaker 1: one brand new exclusive episode every month, weekly unscripted bonus episodes, 582 00:37:04,400 --> 00:37:08,280 Speaker 1: special audio collections, and early access to merchandise and events. 583 00:37:08,840 --> 00:37:13,239 Speaker 1: Visit disgracelampod dot com slash membership for details, rate and 584 00:37:13,280 --> 00:37:15,840 Speaker 1: review the show, and follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, 585 00:37:15,880 --> 00:37:19,839 Speaker 1: and Facebook at disgracelampod and on YouTube at YouTube dot 586 00:37:19,840 --> 00:37:29,040 Speaker 1: com slash at disgracelampod. Rock a roll up, hen All right, discos, 587 00:37:29,080 --> 00:37:31,120 Speaker 1: What did you think of this Jennifer Hudson episode? Give 588 00:37:31,200 --> 00:37:33,319 Speaker 1: us a call and let us know six one seven 589 00:37:33,400 --> 00:37:36,760 Speaker 1: nine oh six six six three eight, voicemail and text 590 00:37:36,840 --> 00:37:39,560 Speaker 1: at disgrace lampod on the socials Coming up next to 591 00:37:39,560 --> 00:37:43,560 Speaker 1: Disgraceland our new episode on Sonic Youth, Don't Go Anywhere