AMHERST CO., Va. (WDBJ) – A major breakthrough occurred Wednesday in the months-long investigation into the disappearance of Elsie Wiggington.
Although an arrest has been made, Amherst County Sheriff Jimmy Ayers said justice still needs to be done as the search for Elsie Wiggington did not end as hoped.
Authorities believe the remains found on a property in Amherst on Wednesday are those of her mother and grandmother, who were last seen in June 2023.
Elsie’s family told WDBJ7 she would never willingly abandon her children, but her family members were the only ones searching for her until Sheriff Ayers – who was not in office at the time of Elsie’s disappearance – decided to investigate the case earlier this year.
“Of course, since we began investigating this case, our top priority has been to find out Elsie’s fate,” the sheriff said.
The search began with a series of questions.
“Was she still alive? Was she still out there in the world, living another life…or had someone done something to her?” Sheriff Ayers recalled.
Sheriff Ayers vowed to complete the mission.
“In my heart, I felt from day one that what was going to happen would happen yesterday, but there was still a faint hope that something would happen that would change that direction,” he said. “But unfortunately that didn’t happen.”
After a search last month, Sheriff Ayers said, they decided to check Elsie’s former residence again – and apparently found her remains there.
Frederick Wiggington, her husband, who was not living on the property at the time, was arrested.
“It has to be evil for a human being to do anything to another human being, whatever that may be,” the sheriff said. “To take a living life like that is just evil.”
The cause of death was not disclosed.
Although Sheriff Ayers is almost certain about Elsie’s fate, he said the fight is far from over.
“The last day of this will be the day when we come to the conclusion that we must find the person who did this and hold him accountable,” he said.
Sheriff Ayers expects further charges to be brought against Frederick Wiggington and if it goes to court, he is determined to be there to see justice done for the person who hurt Elsie Wiggington.
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