A beloved mother and talented chef, Amy Alberta Doverspike, a 55-year-old female, had her life tragically cut short on the morning of Wednesday, December 10, 2025. Her sudden and violent death unfolded within the familiarity of her own apartment complex in Maplewood, a suburb of Saint Paul, Minnesota, leaving her family in a state of profound grief and disbelief.
Those who knew her said that one could always count on a good home-cooked meal from Amy, a woman who was well-loved by her family and friends. She was a grandmother and adored her two dogs who were her constant companions.
The events that led to her death began to unfold around 10:45 a.m. at the Pondview Apartment Homes. Staff at the complex reported hearing multiple gunshots and quickly alerted the authorities. When Maplewood police officers arrived at the scene, they discovered Amy Doverspike in a hallway, lying in a pool of blood with gunshot wounds to her upper thigh and back. She was rushed to Regions Hospital, but tragically, she succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased. Her son, Trevor, recalled the agonizing drive to the hospital with his sister, under the initial impression that her injuries were not life-threatening, only to be met with the devastating reality of her passing.
The suspect in this harrowing incident was identified as 57-year-old Joseph Raymond Wiggins of St. Paul. He and Doverspike shared a son, who is currently incarcerated for a separate murder. According to police, after shooting Doverspike, Wiggins barricaded himself inside her apartment, leading to a standoff with law enforcement. Residents in the vicinity were advised to shelter in place as a SWAT team was deployed to the scene. Upon entering the apartment, officers found Wiggins with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was taken to a hospital in critical condition.
Investigators believe the motive for this tragic event stemmed from a volatile domestic situation. Wiggins' wife was reportedly leaving him after she discovered he was having an extra-marital affair. In the wake of this, Wiggins had been attempting to reconcile with Doverspike, but she had expressed to family and friends that she did not want to get back together with him. The day before the shooting, Wiggins' current wife had reportedly told apartment staff that he had threatened to end his life. In the aftermath of the shooting, Wiggins allegedly sent text messages to his wife containing pictures of his injury and a confession, stating, "I killed her. I'm dying. I can't get up.". He is also said to have streamed a live video to Facebook after shooting himself, in which he expressed remorse. Joseph Raymond Wiggins has since been charged with second-degree murder in the death of Amy Doverspike.
