AMHERST COUNTY, Va. – UPDATE:
Frederick Wiggington was found guilty on all charges in the Elsie Wiggington murder case on Friday. The jury deliberated for just over an hour.
“Relief. Happy that justice for Elsie is served today.”
Mary Jordan, Elsie’s biological sister
These were the emotions felt by Elsie’s relatives after a jury was unanimous in their findings.
Tracey Coleman, Elsie’s foster sister, says she felt her presence as the verdict was read.
“Because while we were sitting in there, Satina said to me ‘Trace, my shoulder is tingling’ and I was like yeah mine is too I think Elsie is here.”
Tracey Coleman, Foster Sister
The prosecution hammered Frederick’s inconsistent stories while highlighting details on how she was killed.
A Blue Ridge Regional Jail inmate testified that Frederick told him that he shot and killed Elsie in 2023. The prosecution rested its case after a recorded interview with the inmate and law enforcement.
Even though Elise is gone, her family says they have some closure knowing that Frederick has faced justice.
“But it still hurts to know that she’s not here. I know she is in heaven, and I thank God, and I thank the jury, and I thank this court for serving justice today.”
Mary Jordan, Elsie’s biological sister
But they know their fight isn’t over.
“Again, I want the sentencing to be max for everyone involved in killing my sister.”
Mary Jordan, Elsie’s biological sister
Frederick’s sentencing is set for July 30, 2025.
Day 3:
The jury has started deliberations in the trial of Frederick Wiggington, who is charged with first-degree murder following the disappearance of Elsie Wiggington. This marks day three of the proceedings.
Today, jurors heard testimony from a jailhouse informant who claimed Wiggington told him in jail that he shot and killed Elsie on a Saturday in June and then pawned a gun.
The jury also heard from the medical examiner yesterday, who stated that the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head. Blunt force trauma to the face was noted as well, indicating it occurred after her death.
Updates will continue to be available here on 10 News, working for you.
DAY 2:
On Thursday, the jury heard from the medical examiner, who testified about the cause of death: a gunshot wound to the head.
They performed the autopsy on August 15, 2024, after the body was recovered. Examiners recovered bullet fragments from the skull.
They also noted blunt force trauma to the face, injuries that the examiner says appeared to have happened after her death.
Jurors also heard from another investigator who says Fred claimed Elsie ran off to Virginia Beach.
Right now, they’re hearing testimony about what was found on Fred’s phone.
10 News is still working for you, getting the very latest.
DAY 1:
Nearly two years after his wife, Elsie Wigginton’s disappearance, and nearly eight months after her remains were found on their property, Frederick Wigginton’s trial for first-degree murder began Wednesday.
The prosecution called it a ‘cold-blooded execution’, saying Elsie was shot in the back of the head, in opening statements.
The jury heard from 12 witnesses on day one, who all gave their accounts of Elsie’s disappearance.
Multiple witnesses testified that Wigginton told them after Elsie’s disappearance, that Elsie had been murdered in Virginia Beach — shot in the chest and left under a pier. That included two people who interviewed him for a job in Lexington, saying he claimed he had to go identify her body.
But as we’ve reported before, Elsie’s remains were found months later, in August 2024, buried beneath a concrete slab on the couple’s property.
The topic of financial descrepancies between the couple. was also discussed by multiple witnesses.
In their opening statements, the defense argued there’s no DNA evidence tying Wigginton to the crime and raised questions about when and where it actually happened.
A neighbor testified to hearing the couple loudly arguing around the time Elsie’s family last heard from her.
Her daughter, Sativa Rucker, said she stopped hearing from her mother in late June 2023.
Sativa testifed that days later, Wiggington called and told her Elsie had left him — something that surprised her.
Tracy Coleman, Elsie’s foster sister, said Elsie planned to come stay with her around that time in Baltimore but never showed.
Finally, the jury heard from a special agent who interviewed Wiggington almost a year after Elsie disappeared.
He says Fred gave conflicting statements — initially claiming Elsie left to stay with her daughter, then later saying he had ‘no idea where she went.’
He mentioned she had an affinity for the beach, referenced a brother recently out of prison, and claimed she talked about leaving — but only revealed later in the interview that he believed she came back to the house after disappearing.
Court will reconvene at 9:00 a.m. Thursday where the prosecution will continue calling witnesses.
You can find all of our previous coverage of this case here:
