Jennifer Hudson offers £65,000 reward for missing nephew

After murder of her mother and brother, singer makes appeal to find Jason King

Jennifer Hudson has thanked fans for their prayers

American Idol star Jennifer Hudson has offered $100,000 for the safe return of 7-year-old nephew Julian King.

The little boy went missing on Friday, the day her mother Darnell, 57, and brother Jason, 29, were murdered at their Chicago home.

At 9am, shots were heard in the vicinity of the house and the bodies were discovered by Jennifer's sister Julia – Jason's mother – when she arrived back from work.

The house in the suburb of Englewood has been cordoned off and people from all over Chicago are stopping by to drop off cards, stuffed animals and flowers, reports myfoxchicago.com.

'We are handling a double-homicide,' Chicago police spokesman Officer John
Mirabelli confirms. 'Those [two] victims sustained fatal gunshot
wounds.'

The FBI are trying to find Jason, who his mum describes as 'smart, sensitive and easy-going.

'Thank you for all your prayers and your calls,' Jennifer writes on her MySpace blog. 'If anyone has information about his whereabouts, please contact the authorities immediately.'

Jason's stepfather, William Balfour - who sent nearly 7 years in prison on charges including attempted murder - is being questioned by police.

Jennifer, 27, starred in Sex And The City: The Movie as Carrie's Bradshaw's personal assistant and won an Oscar for her role in Dreamgirls.

Her latest film, The Secret Life of Bees, is currently on release and new song Spotlight is No 1 in the Billboard R&B charts.