CHICAGO -- Jennifer Hudson's estranged brother-in-law has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of three family members.

Cook County state's attorney's office spokeswoman Tandra Simonton said prosecutors handed down formal charges against William Balfour on Tuesday in the deaths of Hudson's mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew.

Balfour had been in custody on a parole violation since the bodies of Hudson's mother, Darnell Hudson Donerson, and brother, Jason Hudson, were discovered in their home Oct. 24.

Seven-year-old Julian King's body was found in a sport utility vehicle three days later.

All three had been shot to death.

Balfour, who is the child's stepfather and the estranged husband of Hudson's sister, has served seven years in prison for attempted murder and vehicular hijacking.

A week after the shooting deaths, records came to light that showed he apparently had continuing problems with drugs and anger management.

Balfour was arrested on a drug charge in June and could have been sent to jail for violating his parole. But officials declined to do so, the records showed.

The tragedy came as Jennifer Hudson, who grew up in Chicago, continues to reach new heights in her career. The recently engaged singer won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2007 for her role in "Dreamgirls."

She was also featured in the "Sex and the City" movie and stars in the current film "The Secret Life of Bees," also featuring Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys and Dakota Fanning.

Her recently released, self-titled debut album has also been a top seller.