Elsie Wiggington’s haunting final text—“He’s going to kill me”—became a chilling prophecy that ended with her buried beneath concrete and her husband convicted of murder.
At a Glance
- Elsie Wiggington disappeared in June 2023; her remains were found in 2024
- Husband Frederick Wiggington Jr. was convicted of first-degree murder in May 2025
- Elsie had filed for divorce after Frederick rekindled a relationship with his ex-wife
- Patricia Wiggington was charged with obstruction and accessory after the fact
- A jailhouse informant testified that Frederick confessed to shooting Elsie in the head
A Foretold Tragedy
In June 2023, nurse and mother Elsie Wiggington vanished from her home in Amherst County, Virginia. Just days earlier, she had texted her foster sister: “He’s going to kill me.” That warning became tragically prescient when, in August 2024, her body was discovered buried beneath a concrete slab on her property. According to People, authorities charged her husband, Frederick Wiggington Jr., with first-degree murder.
Frederick initially claimed Elsie had run away. But his story unraveled when a fellow inmate testified that Frederick admitted to shooting Elsie in the head and hiding her remains. That testimony, paired with forensic evidence, led to Frederick’s conviction in May 2025, as reported by WSET.
Watch WSLS 10’s report on the conviction at Frederick Wiggington found guilty in wife’s murder.
A Tangled Web of Betrayal
Elsie had filed for divorce from Frederick in 2020 after learning he had rekindled a relationship with his ex-wife, Patricia Wiggington. Though the divorce was dismissed, tension between the pair remained high. Patricia moved into the home shortly after Elsie’s disappearance—and was later charged with obstruction of justice and as an accessory after the fact.
According to WDBJ7, Patricia misled investigators and admitted that Frederick confessed to her about the killing. Court records showed Patricia withheld key information during the critical early days of the investigation, significantly hindering the search for Elsie.
Justice and Reflection
After a swift jury deliberation in May 2025, Frederick was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without parole. As WSET reported, the verdict brought emotional closure to Elsie’s family after nearly two years of anguish.
Elsie’s sister, Mary Jordan, delivered a tearful statement outside the courthouse: “It still hurts to know that she’s not here… but I thank this jury and this court for delivering justice today.”
A Call to Action
Elsie’s story is a brutal reminder of the danger posed by domestic violence. Like the high-profile case of Chris Watts, her death underscores the need for swift intervention and vigilance when signs of abuse emerge.
October marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month—but the urgency to act is year-round. Those in danger are urged to contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE.
