A Virginia man, Frederick Lewis Wiggington, Jr., has been sentenced to life in prison for the brutal murder of his wife, Elsie Mae Wiggington, and the concealment of her body in a concrete slab.
The 38-year-old defendant was convicted in May of first-degree murder and using a firearm in the commission of a felony, following a three-day trial and a deliberation that lasted just over an hour.
A Shocking Admission and Cold Indifference
During the trial, prosecutors presented key evidence, including testimony from an inmate who reported that Wiggington had confessed to the crime. According to the inmate, Wiggington admitted to killing his wife because she planned to leave him and that he believed he would gain attention for the crime.
The inmate recalled that Wiggington said, “I’m going to be on Dateline,” revealing his chilling lack of remorse.
In a statement made during the trial, prosecutors emphasized that “the truth didn’t stay buried” and confirmed that Wiggington had carefully planned and executed his wife’s murder.
The Gruesome Discovery
Elsie’s tragic death began to unfold on June 23, 2023, when she sent a final message to her foster sister, saying, “He’s going to kill me,” and that she was planning to leave for Maryland. Two days later, her daughter received a suspicious text, seemingly from Elsie, but the family believed someone was impersonating her. Elsie was reported missing on June 26.
It wasn’t until over a year later, on August 14, 2024, that investigators discovered her decomposed body hidden beneath a concrete slab on a property in Amherst County, leading to Wiggington’s arrest. Initially charged with concealing a body, he later faced the murder conviction.
The Tragic Impact on Family
The victim’s foster sister, Tracey Coleman, spoke about the emotional toll of Elsie’s death on the family. “When you consider all the losses… nobody walks away from this unscathed,” she said, emphasizing the deep impact on Elsie’s children, grandchildren, and close relatives.
Elsie was remembered as a devoted mother, grandmother, and community member. She worked as the director of nursing at a rehabilitation center and was known for her compassionate nature and dedication to her family and community.
A GoFundMe page set up in her memory described Elsie as a victim of domestic violence who had tried to escape her abusive situation. “Elsie tried to escape the situation and stood up for herself,” the page said, reflecting the courage she displayed in the face of her struggles.
Frederick Wiggington’s History of Abuse
Before the murder, Elsie had separated from her husband on June 17, 2020, after alleging adultery and filing for divorce. During the proceedings, it was revealed that Frederick Wiggington had forged her signature to take control of Elsie’s mobile home and had staged a robbery of their home in September 2019 to cover up his actions.
The sentence of life in prison reflects the severity of Frederick Wiggington’s actions, not only in taking his wife’s life but also in his callousness and the lengths he went to hide the crime.
Elsie’s family now faces a life without her, but they continue to honor her memory as a loving mother and grandmother who was tragically taken too soon.
