Laura Hughes.Photo:GoFundMe
GoFundMe
A New Jersey man has been charged after a woman’s body was found last month in a refrigerator left in a forest, according to multiple outlets.
“The victim has been identified as Laura Hughes, 50, of Runnemede, NJ. Christopher R. Blevins, 45, of Gloucester City, NJ, has been charged with disturbing and desecrating human remains and hindering apprehension in connection with the investigation,” a spokesperson for the New Jersey State Police told PEOPLE on Saturday, Jan. 11. “The investigation remains active, and no additional information is available at this time.”
Hughes, 50, was in a relationship with Blevins, multiple outlets have claimed. According to reports, no one had been charged with causing her death.
New Jersey State Police vehicle.New Jersey State Police/Facebook
New Jersey State Police/Facebook
Per theInquirer,NJ.comandCBS News, Blevins fled to Mexico in August. He crossed the border through Brownsville, Texas, and “remained in hiding” for multiple weeks, according to theInquirer, before telling Mexico City authorities on Aug. 27 that he left the U.S. after he “panicked” following a violent incident in Runnemede, potentially killing someone in a bar fight.
While searching the pair’s shared home, authorities later discovered blue ratchet straps and a calendar with the days until July 24 marked with an “x," per theInquirer. TheInquirerand CBS News state that the couple had a history of domestic violence.
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Blevins’ reported charges come after a 46-year-old man was charged with fourth-degree obstruction and failure to be fingerprinted after telling police he took property from the refrigerator in the forest before returning the next day to find the woman’s remains, per NJ.com. He was released late last month.
Belleplain State Forest, New Jersey.Google Maps
Google Maps
AGoFundMehas since been launched on behalf of Hughes' family in an effort to “honor Laura’s memory and find a small sense of peace amid this tragedy.” It noted that Cornel Alston, the father of her two children, was informed on Dec. 30 that the remains discovered were of Hughes. Her daughters are 18 and 13 years old.
“This unimaginable loss has left Cornel’s 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,” the fundraiser reads. “Any remaining funds will be directed towards supporting the girls education and school needs, ensuring they have the resources they need during this challenging time.”
The campaign has since raised nearly $2,000 of a $10,000 goal as of Saturday.
source: people.com
