HENRY COUNTY, Va. (WSET) — The Henry County sheriff says investigators have discovered the remains of a missing woman and arrested the man who they say is responsible for her death.
It’s been a little more than a week since Laura Cardenas, 51, was reported missing, and on Thursday investigators say her fiancé killed her.
Cardenas was reported missing on October 25 after she didn’t show up for work two days in a row. Deputies went to her home on Kings Mill Road and spoke with her fiancé, Adam Hughes, 41, who told them he had not seen her since Saturday, October 21.
The next day, investigators executed a search warrant on the home and discovered human blood inside. Investigators also seized two vehicles from the home and obtained search warrants to search them for evidence. Inside Hughes’ truck, multiple blood samples were recovered from the bed of the truck and the back seat.
Through the course of this investigation, Henry County Investigators explored leads that Cardenas’ body was possibly in South Boston. On Tuesday, investigators from the Henry County Sheriff’s Office and the Virginia State Police traveled to South Boston, where Cardenas’ remains were found in a wooded area near a roadway.
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On Wednesday, Virginia State Police Agents conducted rapid DNA testing and confirmed those remains were Laura Cardenas. Authorities then arrested Adam Hughes and charged him with the following:
- 2nd Degree Murder.
- Concealment of a Dead Body.
At a press conference on Thursday, Henry County Sheriff Wayne Davis said he hopes the community takes comfort in the arrest.
“I’d just like to reassure the community that we’re working hard. We’re going to ensure that if someone comes to Henry County and commits a violent crime or act of violence, we’re going to find you, and we will continue to work diligently to do so,” Sheriff Davis said.
Adam Hughes could face up to 40 years for the murder charge. Sheriff Davis says they’re still waiting for the autopsy report to determine how Cardenas died.
Sheriff Wayne Davis extended his thanks to Henry County Commonwealth Attorney Andrew Nester and his staff, Virginia State Police, South Boston Police, and the Deputies and Investigators of the Henry County Sheriff’s Office for their efforts to the suspected killer to justice and provide closure for the victim’s family.
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Sheriff Davis also extended his deepest sympathies to Cardenas’ family during their time of grief.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Henry County Sheriff’s Office at (276) 638-8751 or the Crimestoppers Program at 63-CRIME (632-7463). The Crimestoppers Program offers rewards up to $2500.00 for information related to crime. The nature of the crime and the substance of the information determine the amount of reward paid.