Frederick Lewis Wiggington, Jr., 38, has been sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of the first-degree murder of his estranged wife, Elsie Mae Wiggington. The crime, which occurred in Amherst County, Virginia, shocked both families and left the community devastated.
The jury took only an hour of deliberation to convict Wiggington after a three-day trial. He was also found guilty of using a firearm during the commission of a felony.
The Crime and Investigation
The events leading to Elsie Wiggington’s tragic death began on June 23, 2023, when she sent her foster sister a chilling message saying, “He’s going to kill me.” Elsie had expressed concerns about her safety and planned to move to Maryland to escape her abusive husband.
Two days later, the victim’s daughter received a suspicious text from someone believed to be posing as Elsie. Family members reported her missing on June 26.
It wasn’t until over a year later, on August 14, 2024, that authorities discovered Elsie’s remains under a concrete slab at a property in Amherst County.
The discovery followed an extensive investigation, during which Frederick Wiggington was arrested for concealing a dead body. As more evidence emerged, Wiggington was later charged with first-degree murder.
The Role of Inmate Testimony
A significant piece of evidence that led to Wiggington’s conviction came from an inmate who testified that Wiggington had admitted to killing his wife. The inmate recalled that Wiggington had said he murdered Elsie because she was planning to leave him and that he hoped to gain fame from the crime.
He even mentioned the possibility of appearing on the true crime show Dateline. The inmate also testified that Wiggington showed no remorse for his actions.
Family Impact and the Victim’s Legacy
Elsie Wiggington was remembered as a loving mother, grandmother, and nurse who dedicated much of her life to caring for others in her community. Family members created a GoFundMe page in her honor, describing her as a victim of domestic violence who tried to escape her abusive marriage.
They highlighted her devotion to her children, grandchildren, and her role as the director of nursing at a rehabilitation center.
Elsie’s foster sister, Tracey Coleman, spoke about the devastating impact of her loss. She explained that both families suffered irreparably—Elsie’s children lost their mother, and Frederick’s mother lost her son. She emphasized that no one walks away from this tragedy unscathed.
History of Abuse and Deception
The marriage between Frederick and Elsie Wiggington had been troubled for some time. They were married in April 2019, but separated in June 2020 after Elsie accused her husband of adultery.
The couple’s relationship had further deteriorated after Frederick admitted to forging Elsie’s signature to transfer ownership of her mobile home to his name and staging a robbery of their home in 2019.
The court filings highlighted that there was no hope of reconciliation between the couple, and Elsie had taken steps to distance herself from Frederick, including filing for divorce.
Frederick Lewis Wiggington’s brutal act of murdering his wife and hiding her body under a concrete slab has led to his life sentence. Elsie Mae Wiggington’s death serves as a painful reminder of the devastating effects of domestic violence.
Her family and friends remember her not only as a loving mother and grandmother but also as a woman who tried to escape a toxic and abusive relationship. The case has drawn attention to the often-hidden nature of domestic violence and the severe consequences that can arise from it.
