Boyfriend Charged with Murder Weeks After N.J. Woman's Body Found Stuffed in Fridge and Left in Forest

A New Jersey man whose girlfriend’s body was found in an abandoned refrigerator in a forest has been charged with murder in connection with her death.

Christopher Blevins, 45, of Gloucester City, is charged with first-degree murder in connection to the death of Laura Hughes, 50, of Runnemede, the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office announced in a statement.

As PEOPLE previously reported, Hughes’ remains were found in a refrigerator in the Belleplain State Forest in Cape May County on Dec. 22, 2024, authorities said.

State troopers found the refrigerator wrapped in a sleeping bag, covered in carpet and secured with blue ratchet straps, according to the affidavit, The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

New Jersey State Police had asked for the public’s help in identifying the victim by sharing a picture of her tattoos.

On Jan. 3, charged Blevins with second-degree desecration of human remains and third-degree hindering apprehension in Cape May County.

Blevins was apprehended ten days later in San Diego, Calif., and remanded to a local correctional facility, pending extradition back to New Jersey.

On Jan. 29, he was charged with first-degree murder in Camden County, the prosecutor’s office said.

Hughes was believed to have been in a relationship with Blevins, authorities said.

Authorities said they believe Blevins transported the refrigerator to the forest in July before fleeing to Mexico, according to an affidavit of probable cause obtained by NJ.com, The Philadelphia Inquirer and CBS News.

Blevins’ green pickup truck was seen with a refrigerator-shaped object in the back in late July, police said, according to CBS News, the Inquirer and WPVI-TV.

He remained in hiding for weeks in Mexico, according to the Inquirer, before telling Mexico City authorities on Aug. 27 that he left the U.S. after he “panicked” following a violent incident in Runnemede, potentially killing someone in a bar fight, the affidavit alleges.

While searching the couple’s home, authorities discovered blue ratchet straps and a calendar with the days until July 24 marked with an “X,” the Inquirer reports. 

Authorities allege that the couple had a history of domestic violence, the Inquirer and CBS News report.

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A GoFundMe started on behalf of Hughes’ family noted that Cornel Alston, the father of her two daughters, ages 18 and 13, was told on Dec. 30 that her remains had been found. 

Some of the funds will be “directed towards supporting the girls’ education and school needs, ensuring they have the resources they need during this challenging time,” it says.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.