Boyfriend charged with murder of NJ woman found dead in fridge

The fellow of a pistillate whose assemblage was recovered successful a refrigerator successful New Jersey’s Belleplain State Forest has been charged successful her murder, authorities said Wednesday.

Runnemede nonmigratory Christopher Blevins, 45, was charged with first-degree murder successful the decease of Laura Hughes, 50, whose assemblage was discovered successful the wood successful Dennis Township connected Dec. 22.

Blevins had already been charged successful aboriginal January with second-degree desecration of quality remains and third-degree hindering apprehension. The murder complaint was levied past Wednesday, prosecutors said.

Police had sought the public’s assistance successful identifying Hughes, whose assemblage bore a unique acceptable of tattoos. A yoga mat and necklace were besides retrieved from the scene.

Blevins had fled to Mexico aft allegedly dumping the fridge containing Hughes’ assemblage successful the wood past July. He surrendered to authorities successful Mexico City successful January and turned himself implicit to constabulary successful California, wherever helium remains pending extradition, the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office said.

At the time, helium told investigators he’d been progressive successful a “violent incident” and feared helium “may person killed idiosyncratic successful a barroom fight,” WCAU reported.

Police suspected Blevins aft a reappraisal of video footage from New Jersey cameras showed thing that resembled a refrigerator successful the backmost of his greenish Dodge Ram conscionable earlier helium fled.

In addition, constabulary recovered blue ratchet straps that had been utilized connected the extracurricular of the fridge successful the location the 2 shared, according to an affidavit obtained by NJ.com. A firearm, positive a calendar marked with “Xs” starring up to July 24, 2024, erstwhile helium allegedly deposited of her body, reportedly sealed the deal.

Authorities praised the collaboration betwixt the New Jersey State Police Major Crime Unit-South, the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office homicide portion and the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office large crimes portion successful solving the homicide of Hughes, a parent of two.

Another man arrested successful December for obstruction in transportation with Hughes’ decease was uninvolved successful the lawsuit itself, constabulary person determined.