Christopher Blevins, 46, received a 17-year prison sentence on March 6, 2026, after pleading guilty in October 2025 to first-degree aggravated manslaughter in the strangulation death of his 50-year-old girlfriend, Laura Hughes. Originally facing first-degree murder charges, the plea deal reduced the count amid a documented history of domestic violence, drug, and alcohol abuse between the couple.
Discovery and Flight
Hughes’ body was found on December 22, 2024, wrapped in a sleeping bag inside a strapped refrigerator hidden under a rug in New Jersey’s Belleplain State Forest, Cape May County. License plate reader photos captured Blevins’ green Dodge Ram hauling the refrigerator-shaped load days earlier, including July 24 when he allegedly transported it to the site. He fled to Mexico on August 2, 2024, was arrested there on August 27 after turning himself in, and claimed panic over a “violent incident.”
Courtroom Impact Statements
Hughes, a mother of two daughters, was identified via tattoos (koi fish on back, rose on ribs), a yoga mat, and necklace at the scene. Her partner Cornel Alston told the court the trauma makes his children, including a 14-year-old calling herself a “secondary victim,” fear encountering Blevins post-release. Blevins apologized through his attorney, saying he didn’t intend the death and wished he had just left.
Family Support Efforts
A GoFundMe seeks cremation costs, a memorial tree, and aid for the daughters’ education amid their grief. Prosecutors commended New Jersey State Police and Cape May County efforts leading to accountability.
