Top inset: Elsie Mae Wiggington (GoFundMe). Bottom inset: Frederick Lewis Wiggington (Middle River Regional Jail). Background: The Virginia property where Elise Wiggington’s remains were found (WSET/YouTube).
The Virginia man who murdered his wife after she predicted “he’s going to kill me” and buried her body in a concrete slab is headed to prison forever.
A judge sentenced 38-year-old Frederick Lewis Wiggington, Jr. to life behind bars for the murder of his estranged wife, Elsie Mae Wiggington, in Amherst County. Frederick Wiggington was convicted in May of first-degree murder after jurors deliberated for just over an hour following a three-day trial, according to local CBS affiliate WDBJ. He was also found guilty of using a firearm in the commission of a felony.
“The truth didn’t stay buried,” prosecutors reportedly said during closing arguments. “The truth is that he planned and executed his wife, Elsie Wiggington.”
Also key to the guilty verdict was an inmate who reportedly said Wiggington admitted to him that he killed his wife and wanted to frame her brother. The defendant said he killed her because she was going to leave him. He also felt he would gain acclaim.
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“I’m going to be on Dateline,” the inmate reportedly recalled Wiggington telling him.
The inmate believed Wiggington “isn’t right in the head.”
“He ain’t got no remorse, he don’t give a damn,” the inmate reportedly testified.
Frederick Wiggington previously entered an Alford plea — not an admission of guilt but an acknowledgement that prosecutors have enough evidence for a conviction — on the concealing of a body charge.
The victim’s foster sister spoke to WDBJ about the impact her death has had on both families.
“When you consider all the losses, my niece and nephew they lost their mom. My foster sister Victoria and I, we lost our sister. And Fred’s mom, well, she lost her son. Nobody walks away from this unscathed,” Tracey Coleman told the TV station.
As Law&Crime previously reported, the series of events leading to the discovery of 45-year-old Elsie Wigginton’s remains and her husband’s arrest began on June 23, 2023, when she sent her last message to her foster sister, saying, “He’s going to kill me,” and that she was coming to Maryland to live with her, local NBC affiliate WSLS reported.
Two days later, the victim’s daughter got a text from someone the family believes may have been posing as Elsie Wiggington. Family members reported her missing on June 26.
It wasn’t until more than a year later — on Aug. 14, 2024 — that investigators found her remains while searching a property in the 600 block of Pendleton Drive in Amherst County, the sheriff’s office said in a news release.
Frederick Wiggington was quickly arrested and initially charged with concealment of a dead body.
The victim and defendant were married in April 2019 and separated on June 17, 2020, when she alleged Frederick Wiggington returned to live with his ex-wife, court documents said. Alleging adultery, Elsie Wiggington filed for divorce, according to court documents obtained by local ABC affiliate WSET.
Frederick Wiggington admitted to taking the title to Elsie Wiggington’s mobile home and retitling it in his name by forging her signature, court documents stated. He also admitted to staging a robbery of their home in September 2019 and taking his guns, Elsie Wiggington’s jewelry, home décor and other property to his ex-wife’s home, court documents said.
“There is no prospect of reconciliation,” the court filing noted.
The victim was fondly remembered on a GoFundMe page where family members recalled a devoted mother and grandmother who was the director of nursing at a rehabilitation center.
“Elsie Wiggington, mother, grandmother, sister, nurse, and caring community member was brutally murdered and parts of her body hidden under her own home,” the page said. “She was a victim of domestic violence. Elsie tried to escape the situation and stood up for herself.”
“Elsie doted on her grandchildren and devoted her time to members in her community that were in need,” the page added.
Jason Kandel contributed to this story
