A man from Virginia is now facing serious charges, including murder, after the remains of his estranged wife were discovered under a concrete slab on their property, according to her family.
A 37-year-old man named Frederick Lewis Wiggington, Jr. has been charged with first-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. These charges are related to the death of a 45-year-old woman named Elsie Mae Wiggington, according to authorities.
A chilling sequence of events unfolded, ultimately leading to the shocking discovery of Elsie Wigginton’s remains and the subsequent arrest of her husband. According to a report by local NBC affiliate WSLS, on June 23, 2023, Elsie sent a haunting message to her foster sister, expressing her fear for her life and revealing her plans to seek refuge in Maryland.
Two days later, the victim’s daughter received a text from an individual whom the family suspects might have been impersonating Elsie Wiggington. Her family members reported her as missing on June 26.
Investigators discovered her remains over a year later, on August 14, during a search of a property in Amherst County, according to a news release from the Sheriff’s Office.
Frederick Wiggington was swiftly apprehended and initially faced charges of concealing a deceased individual.
According to court documents, the victim and the defendant tied the knot in April 2019 but went their separate ways on June 17, 2020. The victim claimed that Frederick Wiggington moved back in with his ex-wife. Elsie Wiggington has filed for divorce, citing allegations of adultery, as revealed in court documents obtained by local ABC affiliate WSET.
According to the document, Frederick Wiggington confessed to unlawfully transferring ownership of Elsie Wiggington’s mobile home by changing the title and forging her signature. According to court documents, he confessed to orchestrating a burglary at their residence in September 2019.
During the incident, he allegedly took his firearms, Elsie Wiggington’s jewelry, home decorations, and other belongings to his ex-wife’s house.
A GoFundMe page was created to honor the memory of the victim, with family members sharing heartfelt memories of a beloved mother and grandmother who held the position of director of nursing at a rehabilitation center.
Frederick Wiggington was detained without bail at the Blue Ridge Regional Jail. According to online court records, his court appearance is set for Oct. 7.
