Body Found In Fridge In NJ Forest ID’d, Arrest Made, Report Says

DENNIS TWP., NJ — A Gloucester City man was charged in connection with a woman's body being found in a refrigerator in Belleplain State Forest this past December, according to a report and records.

Online court records show that Christopher Blevins, 45, was charged with desecrating human remains and hindering apprehension. Authorities believe that the fridge with the body inside of it was taken to the forest around July 24, 2024, though it was only discovered on Dec. 22.

Blevins fled to Mexico on Aug. 2 and surrendered himself to Mexican authorities on Aug. 27, according to NJ Advance Media, citing an affidavit of probable cause. He told them he had been involved in a "violent incident" in Runnemede and "panicked," and that he may have killed someone in a bar fight, according to the report.

The woman was identified as Laura Hughes, who had been in a relationship with Blevins, according to the report.

Blue ratchet straps on the outside of the fridge were also found in the home Blevins and Hughes shared, the report said. Police also found a firearm and a calendar marked with "Xs" on each date leading up to July 24, 2024, according to the report.

Blevins had been seen twice driving a pickup truck with a fridge in its bed in Long Beach Township and Sea Isle City, per the report.

Another man from North Cape May was previously charged with hindering apprehension after he found the body inside of the fridge but refused to give police access to his phone for the investigation, NJ Advance Media also reported.

Authorities have not released the cause and manner of Hughes' death. No one has been charged with causing her death as of yet.