Husband arrested after missing woman’s body found at previous residence, officials say

AMHERST COUNTY, Va. (WDBJ/Gray News) - After a monthslong investigation in the disappearance of a Virginia woman, authorities said an arrest has been made.

According to Amherst County Sheriff Jimmy Ayers, justice still needs to be served for Elsie Wiggington after the search didn’t end the way anyone had hoped.

Remains located at a property in Amherst, Virginia, on Wednesday were identified as Elsie Wiggington, who was reported to have been last seen in June 2023.

The grandmother’s family told WDBJ that she would never have willingly left her children behind. However, family members were the only ones searching until earlier this year, when Ayers, who was not in office when Elsie Wiggington disappeared, decided to look into the case.

“Since we started our investigation of this case, obviously, that has been the No. 1 priority to determine what the fate of Elsie was,” Ayers said.

The search began with a series of questions.

Ayers said officials were working to determine if Wiggington was still alive or possibly still out in the world, having taken on a new life somewhere. Or maybe something had been done to her.

Ayers said it became a mission he vowed to see through.

“In my heart, I felt that what was going to happen happened yesterday from Day 1, but there was still a faint hope that something would turn up that would change that direction,” he said. “But unfortunately, it did not.”

After searching last month, Ayers said authorities decided to do another check on Elsie Wiggington’s previous residence. This is where they found what is believed to be her remains.

Officials then arrested her husband, Frederick Wiggington, who was not living on the property at that time.

“It’s got to be evil in an individual to do something to another human being, whatever that may be,” Ayers said. “To extinguish a vibrant life like that is just evil.”

Elsie Wiggington’s cause of death has not yet been released.

Although Ayers is almost certain on the fate of Elsie Wiggington, he said the fight is far from over.

“The last day of this will be when we have the conviction that we’re looking for and hold the individual accountable that has done this,” he said.

Ayers said he expects additional charges against Frederick Wiggington to follow.

He said when the case goes to court, he’s determined to sit in and watch justice be served to the person who hurt Elsie Wiggington.

A GoFundMe has been set up to support the family.