After years on the run, John Tufton Blauvelt, an Upstate man accused of murdering his estranged wife in 2016, is set to stand trial on Monday. The case has captured national attention, not just for the brutal nature of the crime, but for the dramatic years-long manhunt that eventually brought Blauvelt to justice.
Blauvelt, a former U.S. Army recruiter stationed in Greenville County, was arrested in 2022 in Oregon, six years after the murder of his estranged wife, Catherine “Cati” Boyter-Blauvelt. According to U.S. Marshals, Blauvelt had been living under the alias “Ben Klein” when he was finally apprehended by the Medford Police Department and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, thanks to an intensive nationwide search.
The 2016 Murder of Cati Boyter-Blauvelt
Cati’s family reported her missing on October 24, 2016, after she failed to meet with friends after work. Her body was tragically discovered two days later in an abandoned house on South East Main Street in Simpsonville. According to arrest warrants, John Blauvelt used a knife to kill Cati, an act that left her family devastated and a community in shock.
The days leading up to her murder were marked by signs of domestic violence, according to Cati’s family. The abuse, which went unreported until it was too late, was part of a tragic pattern often seen in similar cases. Blauvelt had been her estranged husband, and despite their separation, the tension between them escalated to a fatal confrontation.
The Manhunt Begins
Soon after Cati’s body was found, Simpsonville Police issued an arrest warrant for Blauvelt on November 18, 2016. But instead of turning himself in, Blauvelt fled, taking his 17-year-old girlfriend, Hannah Thompson, with him. Thompson, from Fountain Inn, was reported missing by her parents on November 21, 2016, just days after Blauvelt’s arrest warrant was issued. The two disappeared without a trace, leaving behind a trail of heartbreak and questions.
For weeks, authorities searched for Blauvelt and Thompson. It wasn’t until December 12, 2016, that Thompson was located safe in Eugene, Oregon. After being abandoned by Blauvelt, she reached out to her family from a family friend’s home, asking to come home. Blauvelt, however, remained elusive.
Years on the Run
Blauvelt’s evasion of law enforcement turned the murder case into a high-profile manhunt. He managed to remain undetected for nearly six years, living under an assumed identity as “Ben Klein.” It wasn’t until early 2022 that the U.S. Marshals dedicated a special team to track down the fugitive. Working with agencies across the country, including the Medford Police Department and Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, they finally located and arrested Blauvelt in Oregon.
Blauvelt’s ability to remain hidden for so long underlines the challenges law enforcement faces in tracking fugitives who are willing to sever all ties and live under false identities. His arrest brought a long-awaited sense of relief to Cati’s family, but it also reignited the pain of their loss as the case moved toward trial.
What Happens Next?
John Blauvelt is now scheduled to appear in court on Monday morning at the Greenville County Courthouse, where his trial will begin. He faces charges of murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. The trial is expected to feature testimony regarding the domestic violence in Blauvelt and Cati’s relationship, as well as the details of his flight from justice.
For Cati’s family, this trial is a critical step toward justice, but it is also a painful reminder of the domestic abuse that led to her tragic death.
This case highlights not only the horrors of domestic violence but the resilience of law enforcement in ensuring that justice is served, no matter how long it takes.
Stay tuned to Crime and Cask for updates on this long-awaited day in court.
