Monday October 27, 2008
American Idol judges Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul are expressing their well wishes to season three contestant Jennifer Hudson, whose mother, brother and nephew were violently killed by an unidentified assailant last week in Chicago.
"What has happened is absolutely horrendous," Cowell tells Usmagazine.com in a statement. "My thoughts go out to Jennifer and all her family. This is absolutely horrible."
Abdul tells Entertainment Tonight the domestic-related murders are a "horrific tragedy and my thoughts and prayers go out to Jennifer and her entire family.
"The time I had to get to know Jennifer and forge a wonderful friendship with her while she was on [American] Idol was very special to me, and I personally can't imagine a greater loss for any family."
Police are questioning William Balfour -- the estranged husband of Jennifer's sister -- as a person of interest in the Hudson family deaths.
Meanwhile, neighbors and well-wishers dropped off teddy bears and flowers outside the Hudson family's Chicago home on Monday.
According to the Chicago Tribune, no one planned the vigil ahead of time; all the neighbors said they gathered in a common grief.
The Hudson family deaths reflect the violence that is too often a part of the neighborhood.
"Everybody is touched by this," Kevin Smith - who brought his 5-year-old son, Kevin - told the Tribune. "You just wish there was more that you could do. You can't do nothing but come by here and pay your respects."
See Us' photo tribute to stars gone too soon.
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