Christopher Blevins and Laura Hughes had a history of domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse, according to the affidavit (Photos: NJSP and Alston family) NJSP/Daily Voice
A Camden County man already accused of desecrating his girlfriend's remains left in Cape May County forest is now accused of killing her.
Christopher Blevins, 45, is currently jailed in San Diego, Calif., although it was unclear when he fled there.
The last information authorities had released was early January, when he was charged with using his truck to move a refrigerator with Laura Hughes' body inside to Belleplain State Forest.
At that time, an affidavit said Blevins had fled to Mexico, where he surrendered Aug. 27, saying he had been involved in a "violent incident" in Runnemede, Camden County.
That was prior to any charges being filed in the case, so it appears he was released at some point.
Hughes' then-unidentified body was found Dec. 22, after hiker John Tyrrell called police to the Belleplain State Forest. Tyrrell, 46, is charged with obstruction in the case.
License plate reader data was able to capture Blevins' green Dodge Ram transporting a refrigerator-shaped object on two separate occasions, BreakingAC previously reported from the affidavit of probable cause.
An ALPR photograph from 6:16 a.m. July 24 shows the loaded truck in Long Beach Island. At 4 p.m. the next day, the same truck with the object was in Sea Isle City.
Blevins was arrested on a fugitive warrant in San Diego, Calf., on Jan. 19. While he has been there, he was charged with murder last week, local court records show.
He also incurred additional charges in California, including giving false identification to police and possession of non-narcotic drugs and paraphernalia.
San Diego does not release mugshots to the public.
Hughes leaves behind two daughters, ages 18 and 13. Their father, Cornel Alston, has set up a GoFundMe to help them.
Alston told the Daily Voice that he has been provided with little information from authorities.
"I’m numb personally because it is not about me," Alston told the publication. "I have to remain strong for my daughters being there for them. One of the toughest things I had to do was tell them how she would no longer have the opportunity to be in their lives every day. Then safe-guarding them from the internet and other people's opinions online."
A TikTok post shows various photos of the victim with her daughters and their father.
