A Virginia man was convicted this month of murdering his wife, whose remains were discovered buried beneath a concrete slab on the couple’s property more than a year after she was reported missing.
Frederick Wiggington Jr. was found guilty of first-degree murder and using a firearm to commit a felony in connection with the death of his wife, Elsie Wiggington, according to an Amherst County Sheriff’s Office statement released on May 2.
Elsie, 45, was reported missing on June 26, 2023, according to a previous press release from the Sheriff’s Office. More than a year later, on August 14, 2024, authorities discovered her remains while searching a property in Amherst, Va., according to the release. Frederick, then 37, was arrested and initially charged with concealing a deceased body.
Elsie’s remains were buried under a concrete slab on the couple’s property, according to family members, but authorities did not confirm this.
Elsie was reportedly concerned about Frederick prior to her disappearance. She texted her foster sister, “He is going to kill me,” and planned to move to Maryland with her, according to WSLS-TV, citing family members. However, she never made it to Maryland.
According to court documents obtained by WSET-TV, Elsie filed for divorce from Frederick in June 2020, alleging that he was cheating on her with his ex-wife, Patricia Wiggington.
According to public records reviewed by PEOPLE, the divorce is in “nonsuit” status, which means the case has been dismissed by the court.
Patricia is also being charged in connection with Elsie’s death, according to court records obtained by WSET-TV and WBDJ. According to a criminal complaint, Patricia, who moved in with Frederick around the time Elsie went missing, lied to investigators about her whereabouts, WBDJ reported.
PEOPLE could not immediately confirm the current status of the charges, which include obstruction of justice and accessory after the fact, according to WSET-TV. It is unclear whether she has entered a plea or hired an attorney to speak on her behalf. Patricia was released on bond in January 2025, according to WBDJ.
While a motive was not revealed during the trial, an inmate at Halifax County Adult Detention Center, where Frederick was detained, testified that Frederick admitted to killing his wife in June 2023, according to WSET-TV. According to the outlet, Frederick’s defense claimed that the evidence at hand was only circumstantial.
According to her obituary, Elsie was a mother of two who had worked in nursing for nearly three decades, most recently as the Director of Nursing at Fairmont Crossing Health and Rehab in Amherst.
Elsie’s loved ones remembered her as someone who “doted on her grandchildren and devoted her time to members of her community who were in need” in a GoFundMe campaign set up after her death.