Police recover possible murder weapon used in Poultney death
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By Cristina Kumka Herald Staff - Published: November 29, 2008
Vermont State Police have seized three cast-iron frying pans in their investigation into the killing of a Castleton State College instructor earlier this month, allegedly bludgeoned to death by her boyfriend, according to newly released court records.
David Denny, 41, has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of Linda Wiggin, 49, whose body was found in the basement of her Poultney home last week by police.
Police have not publicly identified the alleged murder weapon.
However, documents filed this week in Rutland District Court as part of a warrant obtained by police allowing them to conduct a search of Wiggin's home, garage and car revealed numerous items confiscated from Wiggin's property during the investigation.
The search warrant was issued Nov. 17 by Judge Thomas Zonay. It did not become public until police filed a return with the court this week stating the items seized.
The list includes nine toothbrushes, a hatchet, a Rutland Herald, and three cast-iron frying pans, one of which was said to have been used by Denny to kill Wiggins, according to information previously released in the case.
In a Nov. 18 interview with Vermont State Police, a man living in the home in Brandon where Denny was staying after he allegedly killed Wiggin told police "Dave" told him he hit her with a frying pan then buried her, according to a police affidavit.
The affidavit states that later in the interview, the man told police Denny admitted to killing Wiggin.
A medical examiner ruled Wiggin's death a homicide. Court records reveal she died from four blunt impacts to the left side of her head. Wiggin also had five defensive wounds on her hands that were inflicted by a knife-like object, court records stated.
State Police Detective Sgt. Daniel Elliott, the investigator who filed the search warrant, could not be reached for comment.
In an application for the search warrant, Elliott wrote: "Wiggin occupies the 1st floor, downstairs apartment and has access to the basement. The scope requested includes digging up the basement floor and examination of all areas of the basement and its structure."
Although the newly released documents include a list of items seized by police in the searches, it does not state where investigators found the items. The documents only provide a general description of the seized items.
The new filing also offers little information into the investigation than had previously been made public in an earlier police affidavit.
College students living in the upstairs apartment said they heard an argument coming from Wiggin's apartment several days before her body was found by investigators, a police affidavit stated. Police also said one of the students reported hearing Wiggin call for help.
Police arrested Denny at the Brandon home Nov. 18 for a violation of his probation and later, charged by police with the second-degree murder of Wiggin.
The next day, Denny pleaded innocent to the charge. He is being at the Rutland jail for lack of $750,000 bail on the murder charge.
Other confiscated items on the list submitted by Elliot include:
City Editor Alan. J . Keays contributed to this story.
Contact Cristina Kumka at cristina.kumka@rutlandherald.com.
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