Sad news reaches us that ex-American Idol alumni Jennifer Hudson’s mother and brother were found dead on Friday in her mother’s Englewood home. Her mother, Darnell Donerson was 57 and brother Jason was 29.

From the reports I’m reading, the murders are being cited as part of a domestic disturbance, and both mother and brother were shot. In a disturbing twist, Hudson’s 7 year old nephew was in the house at the time and is now missing.

Jennifer has made a public appeal for the safe return of her nephew – full name Julian King – and has posted some pictures of the boy on her MySpace blog.

We can only offer our condolences at this time, and hope that someone comes through with some information about where young Julian is.

I think this news has hit a nerve with me particularly as I saw Jennifer’s Spotlight music video a few days ago, and it struck me how well she’d done since American Idol. After winning an Oscar for her role in Dreamgirls, a part in the Sex and The City movie and now a burgeoning music career. This news must be just devastating for her, and as I said, we offer our condolences and hope her nephew is returned safely.