A New Jersey man, aged 46, is set to spend nearly 20 years in prison after being convicted of strangling his girlfriend and concealing her body in a refrigerator, which he later transported to a state park.

Christopher Blevins received a 17-year prison sentence on Friday after admitting guilt in October to the charge of first-degree aggravated manslaughter for the killing of 50-year-old Laura Hughes. Initially, Blevins faced a first-degree murder charge, but this was reduced as part of his plea agreement with prosecutors.

Hughes is survived by two children. Cornel Alston, the father of these children, described the profound effect their mother’s death has had on their lives. Their youngest, a 14-year-old daughter, refers to herself as a “secondary victim of a homicide.”

“No amount of time will bring [Hughes] back, but you should never again walk among the free,” Alston stated, as reported by NJ.com. “This tragedy will forever be a burden on my children. They will carry it with them for life.”

Alston expressed discontent that Blevins might be released while still alive.

“My children should never have to face the possibility that their mother’s killer might one day walk on the same sidewalk as them,” he remarked.

Blevins apologized for the “pain and suffering” he caused, saying he didn’t mean to kill Hughes.

“I do not know why it happened. I wish I could do things differently, in that I just left,” he said, per NJ.com.

As Law&Crime previously reported, Hughes’  remains were discovered in Belleplain State Forest on Dec. 22, 2024, according a probable cause affidavit obtained by NJ.com.

Authorities said the two had a “history of domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse.”

In a Facebook post, state police provided a description of the woman later identified as Hughes.

“The remains are believed to belong to a Caucasian or Hispanic female, approximately 5’1″ tall,” the release stated. “The individual had two tattoos (pictured): 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. Additionally, a distinctive yoga mat and necklace (both pictured) were recovered at the scene.”

According to a report from Breaking AC, Blevins on Aug. 2, 2024, fled south through Texas and crossed into Mexico. He was arrested after turning himself in to Mexican law enforcement authorities on Aug. 27, 2024. Following his arrest, Blevins allegedly told authorities that he fled because he “panicked” after “being involved in a violent incident” in New Jersey. He reportedly claimed that he may have killed another person during a “bar fight.”

The affidavit reportedly alleges that Blevins brought the refrigerator containing Hughes’ body into the forest on July 24, 2024. Authorities said they obtained photographs from license plate readers of him driving his green Dodge Ram pickup truck to transport “a refrigerator-shaped object on two separate days before he fled the United States.”

That truck, which police said was “solely operated” by Blevins, crossed into Mexico on Aug. 2, 2024.

A GoFundMe page for Hughes states that she was the mother of two daughters.

“This unimaginable loss has left [the] daughters facing a difficult journey filled with grief and a whole lot of uncertainty,” the page states. “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. Any remaining funds will be directed toward supporting the girls education and school needs, ensuring they have the resources they need during this challenging time.”