The body of a missing Henry County woman has been found and her fiancé has been taken into custody. On Thursday, Henry County Sheriff Wayne Davis held a press conference announcing that the body of 51-year-old Laura Cardenas had been found near the highway in South Boston on Tuesday.

41-year-old Adam Hughes, of Ridgeway, has been taken into custody for second degree murder and concealment of a dead body. According to Davis, technology used during the investigation placed Hughes at the scene where Cardenas body was found.

Cardenas was reported missing on Wednesday Oct. 25 after not showing up for work the previous two days. Deputies responded to 1588 Kings Mill Road in Ridgeway and spoke with Hughes, who said he hadn’t seen Cardenas since Saturday Oct. 21.

On Oct. 26 authorities returned to the home and executed a search warrant. During the search human blood was found inside the home and inside of a vehicle.

Technology led authorities to believe the body of Cardenas could be in South Boston. On Tuesday authorities traveled to the area and found human remains. The human remains were confirmed to be Cardenas on Wednesday.

Henry County Commonwealth Attorney Andrew Nester said during the press conference  that a previous domestic violence case pending against Hughes was dismissed after Cardenas recanted her statement on Dec. 6, 2022.