A judge in Henry County has declared a mistrial for Adam Hughes, a man charged in connection with the murder of his fiancée, Laura Cardenas.
The decision follows a two-day jury trial that began on January 15, 2025.
According to Henry County Commonwealth’s Attorney, Andrew Nester, the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict. “They came back on Friday morning and ultimately let the court know they were deadlocked and couldn’t come to a unanimous verdict,” Nester explained. As a result, the judge declared a mistrial.
The case stems from the disappearance of Laura Cardenas, who was reported missing in October 2023. Hughes, her fiancé at the time, became the primary suspect after investigators executed a search warrant on his home on Kings Mill Road.
Authorities reported finding human blood inside the residence, which led to Hughes’ arrest in November 2023. He was charged with second-degree murder and concealment of a dead body.
Despite the lack of a verdict, the legal process is far from over for Hughes. “A final resolution has not been reached. Mr. Hughes was not acquitted or convicted,” Nester stated. “What that means for Mr. Hughes and the Commonwealth is that he will be retried again at the end of September.”
Hughes’ friend, Donna Digiacomo, voiced her support for him following the mistrial.
She believes Hughes is innocent and should be released from jail during the interim period before his retrial. “That means he is going to be in jail for two years before he can ever get out because no one will admit they have the wrong person,” Digiacomo said, expressing frustration over the ongoing legal proceedings.
The retrial is set to take place in September 2025.
Hughes is now facing an upgraded charge of first-degree murder. The case continues to attract attention as authorities and the community await the next steps in the legal process.
The mystery surrounding Cardenas' death remains unresolved as investigators continue to search for answers.
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