Parole hearing set for suspect in Hudson deaths

[November 10, 2008]  CHICAGO (AP) -- The convicted felon suspected in the killings of the mother, brother and nephew of singer Jennifer Hudson has a parole hearing Monday and could be released if an administrative officer finds no reason to hold him.

No one has been charged in the shootings, but authorities have called 27-year-old William Balfour a "person of interest."

Balfour is in custody on a parole violation. He is the estranged husband of Julia Hudson, sister of the singer and actress.

The chairman of the Illinois Prisoner Review Board, Jorge Montes (HOR'-hay MON'-tehs), says that if an administrative officer finds cause to continue holding Balfour, the case then would go to a review board for a hearing.

However, Montes says "conceivably" Balfour could be released.

Police spokeswoman Monique Bond said the investigation of the killings is continuing and is independent of the prisoner review board's decisions.

[Associated Press]

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