Jennifer Hudson offers $100,000 reward for safe return of missing nephew

Jennifer Hudson and her family offered a $100,000 reward Sunday for the safe return of her missing nephew, as investigators looked for forensic evidence near the home where her mother and brother were found shot to death.

Mourners dressed in their Sunday best milled outside the childhood home of the singer and Oscar-winning actress, along with investigators seeking clues to the whereabouts of seven-year-old Julian King, the son of Jennifer Hudson's sister, Julia.
In a statement Sunday evening from publicist Lisa Kasteler, Jennifer Hudson appealed to the public for its help, offering the reward and asking that any information be given to Chicago police.

"Jennifer and her family appreciate the enormous amount of love, support and prayers they have received while she and her family try to cope with this tragedy and continue the search for Julian," the statement said.
Chicago police ramped up search efforts for Julian around the Englewood neighbourhood where Hudson grew up, and transferred custody of a "person of interest" in the killings to state authorities.

"Detectives are working 24 hours on this case," said Chicago police spokeswoman Monique Bond. "There's a lot of forensic evidence. We have to work the evidence and try and solve this case.
"Most importantly, we want to find the child." Continue reading

Update: Tekenya Wooten Found

The Durham Police Department has been actively trying to locate Tekenya Wooten since she was last reported missing from the group home where she resides. It is clear that she left on her own accord. The investigation of this runaway is continuing with any and all leads being fully followed. We have enlisted the help of our community partners in an effort to locate Ms. Wooten, to include the Bus System and Mall/Shopping Centers security. Available information and photograph has been forwarded to all media outlets in the area. Although this case does not meet the criteria for an Amber Alert (http://www.amberalert.gov/guidelines.htm), the Durham Police Department is very concerned about her welfare.

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Source: Whataboutourdaughters.com

Amber Alert: Julian King

Suspect in picture above.
Julian King, 7 years old picture above

Victim - Julian King is a 7 year old black male with black eyes and brown hair, He is 4'11" and 130 lbs, He was last seen wearing a brown polo shirt with stripes and khaki pants.

Suspect - William Balfour is a 27 year old black male with black, braided hair and brown eyes, He is 5'8" and 150 lbs, Vehicle - white 1994 Chevrolet Suburban with Illinois plates X584859, It has a left front headlight hanging out that is scratched all along its left side, They could also be travelling in a teal/green 4-door Chrysler Concord with temporary tags 332K823. Anyone with information is urged to dial 911 immediately Authorities search for Hudson's nephew.

Missing: Tekenya Wooten, Age 12 and Pregnant

Article from Womanist Musings

To qualify for an amber alert the following conditions must be met:
1) Risk of serious bodily injury or death
2) sufficient physical description
3) 17 or younger
4) Reasonable belief that an abduction occurred.

Tekenya Wooten has been classified as a runaway; and therefore she will not be listed as an amber alert. Even if she personally did not meet the criteria, concern for her unborn child alone should have raised the threat level. I suspect that her exclusion has more to do with race and class than any factors specific to her status as a missing person.
Just three days before she went missing Cole Puffinburger was abducted from his home and the media, perhaps drawn to the drug connection ran continual coverage and updates. The Puffinburger name has become known internationally and yet Tekenya has barely been covered by print news, never mind appearing on any of the large news networks.
Missing black children are continually ignored by police departments and the media. When a child is in a group home with no adult to speak for them the chances that they will become noticed reduce considerably. Being a resident of a group home means that Wooten was a ward of the state and clearly big brother has decided that it would be easier if she simply disappeared into the forgotten mass of humanity. Since the state has custody and the state represents the people we all have a responsibility to speak on Tekenya's behalf. A missing 12 year old pregnant child is an emergency.
Durham PD -Cheif Jose Lopez, Sr. of the Durham Police Department 919- 560-4322 jose.lopez@durhamnc.gov
Durham City Manager- Thomas Bonfield (919)560-4222 tom.bonfield@durhamnc.gov
Mayor of Durham (919) 560-4333 ext. 269 Bill.Bell@durhamnc.gov
Durham Child Protective Services (919) 560-8424 ( This is run by Durham COUNTY)
Spread the word however you can. This child needs to be found. Blog about it, write e-mails, make phone calls, talk to friends. We are all that Tekenya has and we owe her more than what we have done.
H/T Delilah Delilah and What About Our Daughters (awesome work Gina)

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