A tragic and disturbing story has emerged from New Jersey, where a 45-year-old man, Christopher Blevins, has been arrested after his girlfriend’s body was found last month in a chilling and shocking discovery. The body of 50-year-old Laura Hughes, who had been missing, was found inside a refrigerator abandoned in Belleplain State Forest on December 22, 2024.
Authorities have charged Blevins with desecration of human remains and hindering apprehension. According to reports, Blevins and Hughes had a troubled relationship marked by domestic violence, as well as struggles with drugs and alcohol.
When police first found the remains, they issued a public appeal for help in identifying the victim. They described her as a woman approximately 5’1” tall with two notable tattoos: a koi fish on her upper right shoulder blade and a rose stretching from her chest to her hip on the left side. Alongside the remains, police also found a distinctive yoga mat and necklace, which they shared images of to help identify her.
The investigation revealed that Blevins allegedly transported the refrigerator containing Hughes’ body into the forest on July 24, 2024. Surveillance photos from license plate readers reportedly show him driving his green Dodge Ram pickup truck, which was used to move what authorities described as a “refrigerator-shaped object” on two separate occasions before he fled.
In early August, Blevins left the country, driving his truck south through Texas and crossing into Mexico. He later turned himself in to Mexican authorities on August 27, 2024, after nearly a month on the run. During his confession, Blevins reportedly said he panicked after being involved in what he called a “violent incident” in New Jersey. He even mentioned being part of a bar fight and suggested he might have killed someone, though the details remain unclear.
Blevins wasn’t the only person arrested in connection with the case. John Tyrrell, a 46-year-old man who was hiking in Belleplain State Forest and discovered Hughes’ body, also ended up facing legal trouble. Tyrrell was charged with hindering the investigation after he refused to provide police with access to his cellphone, even after a court ordered him to do so. Police believe his phone might hold evidence linked to the case.
Laura Hughes leaves behind two daughters, aged 13 and 18, who are now facing unimaginable loss and uncertainty. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help cover the expenses for her cremation and to plant a tree in her memory. The remaining funds will be used to support her daughters’ education and other needs during this difficult time. The page describes Hughes as a loving mother whose sudden and tragic death has left a void in her family’s life.
This heartbreaking story highlights the devastating consequences of violence and leaves a community mourning the loss of a mother, while her family and law enforcement search for justice.