On Friday, Fred Wiggington was found guilty of the first degree murder of his wife, Elsie Wiggington. The jury reached its verdict after deliberating for just over an hour.
45-year-old Elsie Wiggington was last seen in Amherst, Virginia on June 25, 2023. She disappeared after calling a friend in Maryland for help to escape a domestic violence situation with her husband.
On August 14, 2024, Elsie’s remains were found during the execution of a search warrant on her property. Wiggington’s ex-husband, Fredereick Wiggington, was charged with first degree murder and for the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
In January, Fred’s ex-wife, Patricia Wiggington, was also arrested in connection with the case. She was charged with obstruction of justice and accessory after the fact.
Fred’s sentencing is scheduled for July 30, 2025.
The Disappearance of Elsie Wiggington
Elsie May Wiggington grew up as a foster kid in the Amherst County area. She is a mother of two adult children from a previous marriage with her ex-husband. She is also a grandmother.
In 2023, Elsie was a resident of Amherst, Virginia. She was employed as a director of nursing at Fairmont Crossing Health and Rehabilitation Center in Amherst.
Disappearance
On June 23, 2023, Elsie Wiggington called her friend and said that “she was scared and needed her help.” She had made plans to come live with her friend in Maryland and to start a new job if needed, in order to “escape a domestic violence situation” with her current husband.
On June 25, 2023, Elsie received a phone call from her daughter who asked for instructions for a recipe. She did not initially pick up the phone, but responded via text messages some time later.
That evening Elsie was reportedly last seen by her husband at their residence in Amherst, Virginia. She was said to be wearing pajamas at the time and packing.
Elsie never showed up to work the next day and hasn’t been heard from since. At 3:30 pm on June 26, 2023, her husband filed a missing person’s report with the Amherst County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigation
Elsie Wiggington left her cellphone and dog behind at home.
Authorities initially considered Elsie as a voluntarily missing adult. In 2024, the Amherst County Sheriff’s Office announced that they were not aggressively investigating her disappearance with the help of the Virginia State Police.
Elsie’s loved ones state it’s uncharacteristic of her to leave without warning, and that she wouldn’t leave her kids or miss holidays with family.
Remains Found on Property
On August 14, 2024, remains believed to belong to Elsie Wiggington were found during the execution of a search warrant on her property. On August 20 they were positively identified as belonging to Elsie.
Wiggington’s ex-husband, Fredereick Wiggington, has been charged with first degree murder and for the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
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