[UPDATED Oct. 27, 2008 7:20 pm]

According to TMZ.com, a distraught Jennifer Hudson arrived at the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office moments ago to identify the body of her nephew, Julian King, 7.

Around 4 p.m. Eastern Standard time, two black SUVs believed to be carrying Hudson family members pulled out of the basement garage of the Trump Tower in downtown Chicago. An unmarked police squad car left shortly after that, followed by a crowd of about a dozen people who left through the luxury hotel’s lobby and declined comment.

Soon after, the SUVs arrived at the offices of the Cook County medical examiner’s office. The vehicles left the scene about 4:54 p.m. EST. (Source)

Chicago police brought Julian’s body to the medical examiner’s office shortly after noon today and Hudson and other family members arrived about three hours later, said office spokesman Sean Howard.

When the group entered a viewing room at the office Hudson held her head down, as if praying, he said. The family then identified Julian via a video screen mounted on a wall that showed his face. The family chose the video screen option rather than looking directly at the body, Howard said.

The family was “obviously distraught,” but Howard said Hudson “remained strong for her family. It was very clear she was the leader.

“She held hands with her family. It was obviously a very emotional moment.”

When they saw the boy’s face on the screen, Hudson told investigators, “Yes, that is him,” Howard said.

Sources say earlier today police told Hudson and her family that the body of the boy found in the back of a truck on Chicago’s West Side was Julian.

Photo: TMZ.com