A New Jersey man, aged 45, has been taken into custody following the discovery of his girlfriend’s decomposing body inside a refrigerator abandoned in a state park forest last month. Christopher Blevins is currently facing charges of desecration of human remains and hindering apprehension in connection with the death of Laura Hughes, 50, according to court documents.
Hughes was the unidentified woman whose remains were found in Belleplain State Forest on December 22, 2024, as per a recently disclosed probable cause affidavit. New Jersey State Police had previously sought public assistance in identifying her. The couple reportedly had a history of domestic violence, substance abuse, and alcoholism.
State police provided a description of Hughes on a Facebook post, stating that the remains were believed to belong to a Caucasian or Hispanic female, approximately 5’1″ tall. The woman had two distinctive tattoos: a koi fish on the upper right part of her back and a rose on her left ribs, extending from her chest to her hip. A unique yoga mat and necklace were also found at the scene.
According to a Breaking AC report, Blevins fled to Mexico through Texas on August 2, 2024. He surrendered to Mexican law enforcement authorities on August 27, 2024. After his arrest, Blevins allegedly admitted to fleeing due to his involvement in a violent incident in New Jersey, suggesting he might have killed someone during a bar fight.
The affidavit alleges that Blevins transported Hughes’ body in a refrigerator to the forest on July 24, 2024. License plate reader photographs reportedly show him driving his green Dodge Ram pickup truck, carrying a refrigerator-shaped object on two separate days before he left the United States. The truck, reportedly solely operated by Blevins, crossed into Mexico on August 2, 2024.
While no one has been charged with Hughes’ death as of Friday afternoon, Blevins was not the only person arrested in relation to the case. John Tyrrell, a 46-year-old man who discovered Hughes’ body while hiking in the state park, was also arrested and charged with hindering offenses. Tyrrell allegedly refused to allow police to fingerprint him or provide his cellphone code after a court order, according to Breaking AC.
A GoFundMe page for Hughes reveals that she was a mother of two daughters, aged 13 and 18. The page states, “This unimaginable loss has left [the] daughters facing a difficult journey filled with grief and a whole lot of uncertainty. We are raising funds to assist with the cremation expenses and to plant a tree in her memory, providing a lasting tribute to her love. Any remaining funds will be directed toward supporting the girls’ education and school needs, ensuring they have the resources they need during this challenging time.”