John Jefferson
Inset top: Elsie Mae Wiggington (GoFundMe). Inset bottom: Frederick Lewis Wiggington (Middle River Regional Jail). Background: The Virginia property where Elise Wiggington’s remains were found (WSET/YouTube).
A Virginia man faces murder and other charges in connection with the discovery of the remains of his estranged wife, whose family said were found under a concrete slab on the couple’s property.
Frederick Lewis Wiggington, Jr., 37, was charged with first-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony in the death of Elsie Mae Wiggington, 45, authorities said.
The series of events leading to the discovery of 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 — that investigators found her remains while searching a property at 673 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 the defendant got 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, forging her signature, the document said. 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.
Frederick Wiggington was being held without bond at the Blue Ridge Regional Jail. He is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 7, online court records show.
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