Christopher Blevins, 46, from New Jersey, received a 17-year prison sentence on Friday after pleading guilty in October to first-degree aggravated manslaughter in the 2024 strangulation death of his 50-year-old girlfriend, Laura Hughes. Prosecutors reduced the original first-degree murder charge via plea deal; he stuffed her body in a refrigerator and dumped it in Belleplain State Forest, discovered December 22, 2024.
Crime and Investigation
The couple had a history of domestic violence, drugs, and alcohol. Blevins transported the fridge in his green Dodge Ram on July 24, 2024, per license plate photos, then fled to Mexico on August 2—surrendering there August 27 after claiming panic over a “violent incident.” Police ID’d Hughes via tattoos (koi fish, rose), yoga mat, and necklace found with remains.
Victim Impact and Sentencing
Hughes leaves two daughters; their father, Cornel Alston, called his 14-year-old a “secondary victim” in court, fearing Blevins’ eventual release. Blevins apologized, claiming no intent to kill and wishing he’d just left. A GoFundMe aids cremation, a memorial tree, and the girls’ education.
