Police search for boyfriend who fled to Mexico after mother of two is discovered in abandoned refrigerator

A mother was found stuffed into a fridge and dumped in a New Jersey forest, five months after her boyfriend fled to Mexico.

Laura Hughes, 50, was found on December 22 in Belleplain State Forest in Cape May in southern New Jersey, but her remains were not identified until Thursday.

Hughes’ body was wrapped in a sleeping bag, tied with blue ratchet straps, and covered with carpet, along with a green yoga mat.

She left behind two daughters, Jase, 18, and Iridessa, 13, who lived with their father elsewhere in in the state.

Hughes’ boyfriend, Christopher Blevins, 45, allegedly dumped her body in the park on July 24, then fled across the southern border at Brownsville, Texas, on August 2.

Blevins was recorded crossing into Mexico in the same green Dodge Ram as he was allegedly seen hauling a ‘refrigerator-shaped object’ on two days in late July.

‘It was established that the green pickup was solely operated by Blevins,’ court documents alleged.

Blevins later surrendered to police in Mexico City on August 27 and was interviewed about why he was in Mexico – though it was not clear why.

Laura Hughes, 50, was found on December 22 in Belleplain State Forest in Cape May, New Jersey, allegedly dumped there by her boyfriend Christopher Blevins, 45 (pictured together)

Hughes (right) left behind two daughters, Jase, 18, and Iridessa, 13

He allegedly told police he ‘panicked’ and fled after a ‘violent incident’ in Runnemede, New Jersey, where he lived. 

He then said he may have ‘killed someone in a bar fight’.

Blevins was released and Hughes was not found for another four months, with his connection to her death unknown to police.

But he quickly became a suspect after a passerby stumbled upon the fridge in the forest and looked inside.

A search of his apartment found blue straps, a gun, and other evidence tying him to the dumping of Hughes’ body. 

He was charged with disturbing and desecrating human remains and hindering apprehension, but so far he appears to be still on the run with police still searching for him. 

Hughes’ cause of death is also still being investigated by homicide detectives, and no murder charges have been announced.

Local man John Tyrrell found her body and led police to it, but was arrested and charged with obstruction after he refused to hand over his phone.

Hughes’ body was wrapped in a sleeping bag, tied with blue ratchet straps, and covered with carpet, along with a yoga mat

Hughes’ cause of death is still being investigated by homicide detectives, and no murder charges have been laid

Hughes and her ex-husband Cornel Alston with their eldest child about 217 years ago

New Jersey State Police shared images of Hughes’ two tattoos and a mock-up graphic of them on a woman’s back as they tried to identify the body.

The tattoos were a koi fish tattoo on the upper right portion of her back (shoulder blade area) and a rose tattoo on her left ribs, extending from her chest to her hip.

Police also posted photos of her necklace – a metal disc with a star indented into it – and the yoga mat with a distinctive green pattern.

Three days later, on New Year’s Day, her ex-husband Cornel Alston shared news of her death on Facebook, after a friend recognized the tattoos and necklace and told police.

‘As many of y’all brought in the New Year with good vibes and celebrations, I had to inform my children this woman missing is their mother and change their life (sic) forever,’ he wrote.

‘The senseless act rob (sic) my children of their mother.’

Hughes hadn’t seen her children much as she was living in Danville, Virginia, and Alston was in White Plains, New York.

Then in early 2023 he moved to New Jersey and Hughes saw a chance to be closer to her children.

New Jersey State Police shared images of Hughes’ two tattoos and a mock-up graphic of them on a woman’s back as they tried to identify the body

 

Police also posted photos of her necklace – a metal disc with a star indented into it – and the yoga mat with a distinctive green pattern

Hughes and Blevins lived with Alston for about nine months until the couple moved to Runnymede in October 2023.

‘She wanted to be near her kids. But things were difficult with her boyfriend. She was unhappy and planning to leave him,’ Alston told the Daily Voice. 

‘It was like she was his mom – he struggled with drugs and alcohol.’

Court documents stated the couple had a history of domestic violence, and drug and alcohol abuse.

Alston said he last heard from Hughes in July when she left him a voicemail, and claimed he saw her in August at a child support hearing in Camden.

This was despite police alleging Hughes was dead before the end of July, her body moved on July 24, and Blevins in Mexico by August 2.