LYNCHBURG, Va. — A 63-year-old Virginia woman has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder after her ex-husband was found dead with nearly 100 stab wounds. Carol Long admitted to killing Walter Sigmon, her ex-husband, during an altercation in their home on April 11, 2021, according to Lynchburg ABC affiliate WSET.
Long reportedly confessed soon after the incident, telling an unidentified recipient in a phone call, “I messed up” and that “Walter is gone, he’s dead.” The recipient contacted police, who arrived at the home around 11:20 a.m. for a welfare check.
According to court records, Long claimed that Sigmon had been choking her during a fight, leading her to grab a kitchen knife and stab him. She now faces 15 to 20 years in prison after entering the guilty plea on Tuesday.
Authorities have not released additional details on the nature of the fight or the extent of Long’s injuries, but Long’s confession and the severity of Sigmon’s wounds were central to the case.