AMHERST, VA – Frederick Lewis Wiggington, Jr., 38, will spend the rest of his life in prison after being sentenced for the murder of his estranged wife, Elsie Mae Wiggington, whose body was found encased in concrete beneath a home in Amherst County more than a year after her disappearance.
A jury convicted Wiggington of first-degree murder in May, following just over an hour of deliberations after a three-day trial. He was also found guilty of using a firearm during the killing. Prosecutors argued that Wiggington meticulously planned his wife’s murder and worked to conceal his crime, but ultimately, his attempts to hide the truth failed.
A pivotal moment during the trial came from the testimony of a fellow inmate, who said Wiggington confessed to killing Elsie and tried to implicate her brother in the crime. According to the testimony, Wiggington boasted about the attention he expected to receive for the killing. The inmate described Wiggington as lacking remorse and being indifferent to the gravity of his actions.
Before the murder conviction, Wiggington had entered an Alford plea to a charge of concealing a body, thereby acknowledging that prosecutors had sufficient evidence against him without admitting guilt.
Family members of Elsie Wiggington spoke out about the profound loss they have suffered, noting the ripple effect the tragedy has had on both the victim’s and the defendant’s relatives. Tracey Coleman, the victim’s foster sister, emphasized the extensive family devastation, from children losing their mother to the defendant’s mother losing her son to a life sentence.
The case first drew attention in June 2023 when Elsie Wiggington sent a troubling final message to a relative, stating that she feared for her life and was planning to leave Virginia for safety. Within days, her daughter received messages believed to be from someone impersonating Elsie, raising suspicions among family that she was already missing. A report was filed with authorities on June 26, 2023.
Elsie’s remains were not discovered until August 14, 2024, when Amherst County investigators, acting on new leads, searched a property on Pendleton Drive and found her body buried beneath a concrete slab. The discovery led to Frederick Wiggington’s immediate arrest and the subsequent murder charge.
Court documents revealed a tumultuous relationship between the couple. Married in April 2019, their marriage deteriorated within a year, with Elsie Wiggington formally separating in June 2020, citing Frederick’s return to his ex-wife and allegations of adultery. Legal records show Frederick Wiggington forged documents to claim ownership of Elsie’s mobile home and staged a robbery to remove property from their shared residence.
Throughout court proceedings, there was no indication of the possibility of reconciliation between the couple. Elsie persisted in seeking independence and security for herself and her family, attempts that ultimately proved tragically futile.
In the wake of Elsie Wiggington’s death, supporters described her as a loving mother, grandmother, and community nurse. Family and friends remembered her dedication, compassion, and the hope that her story will serve as a stark reminder of the dangers of domestic violence.
Elsie’s family hopes to honor her memory by raising awareness about the signs of abuse and advocating for those at risk. Despite the conviction, the loss is deeply felt across those who knew her, with loved ones seeking solace in remembering her life and commitment to her children, grandchildren, and patients.