GUARDIAN OF THE MISSING
Where are they?
BRING CODI HOME
CODI BIGSBY
MISSING FROM HAMPTON, VA
Law enforcement do not believe Codi was abducted. An Ambar Alert was NOT issue. If you know anything, you are asked to call the crime line at 1-88-LOCK-U-UP (1-888-562-5887) or submit a tip online at P3Tips.com or via the P3Tips app.
HAMPTON, VA
Codi went missing from Hampton, VA.
TIMELINE
EVENTS
December 13th- Cory Bigsby admitted to leaving children alone for 3 hours.
December 25th- Timeline of when LE wants information starts. They are asking if anyone has seen Codi alive and well.
January 25th- Additional complaint of children left alone.
January 30th- Last sighting of Codi. Cory Bigsby reports this is the last time he saw his son.
January 31st- CODI IS REPORTED MISSING.
February 1st- LE provide an update and expand the search for Codi. During this update, LE mentioned that parents are persons of interest. The search crew went into Nasa Steam Plant, search include the FBI, drones, dogs and the community.
February 2nd- Cory Bigsby is named the sole person of interest. Police ask for information from the public on where Cory goes and who he sees etc.
February 3rd- Cory is arrested on 7 counts charges of child neglect.
February 4th- Cory in court, investigation continues. A bond hearing is set for February 8th. Police say the investigation is not over. Cory was able to see his attorney in the jail at 4 p.m. Friday. Ambrose asked the father where is Codi? Cory said he didn't know and that he turned all he had over to detectives. Cory's attorney said Cory wasn't at Police Headquarters voluntarily for 4 days; he said Cory asked for an attorney Monday and was denied. Cory will reportedly ask for bond on Tuesday. Ambrose says his client is not a flight risk, has no failure to appears and is part of the community in a substantial way. He said Cory doesn't have means to leave the area.
February 4- LE give an update about the investigation and Chief Talbot was asked why Bigsby wasn't allowed to speak with his attorney at the press conference. He answered, "He was a capable man who had every opportunity to ask for an attorney. If he did make a request, we would have honored it."
February 7th- Forensic team went back to Cory's house and they collected more evidence. Police say they are focusing on evidence and any intelligence they gather to further the investigation rather than large scale search efforts around the boy's home.
February 8th- Bond was denied. In cross examination, Cory Bigsby admitted to having an AWOL conviction in the US Military. Commonwealth attorney says this makes him a flight risk.
February 10th- Cory Bigsby has been transferred from Hampton City Jail to Hampton Regional Jail. Appeal Bond Hearing has been set for February 25th at 9 a.m. Codi's mom breaks the silence and make her first statement.
February 12- A bomber jacket was found behind the apartment complex where Codi lived. LE arrived at the scene with K9 and the forensics team.
February 14- Chief Talbot communicate in a press conference that Cory's rights were violated in two ocacasions by the lead detective after a heated argument
PEOPLE INVOLVED
SUSPECT- CHIEF- ATTORNEY
CORY BIGSBY
Cory Bigsby reported his son missing at 9 a.m. on Jan. 31, telling police he last saw his son sleeping in his bed about seven hours earlier. But police say that doesn’t match other evidence in the case, and they don’t believe the boy walked away in the middle of the night. Authorities named Cory Bigsby as the only person of interest in Codi's disappearance. As of now, he has not been charged in connection to the disappearance of his son, however, he faces seven felony child neglect charges. He admitted to leaving his four young children, all under five years old, at home alone as he ran errands. He said the children were too much of a burden to take out with him when he leaves the home, according to the complaint. Police said Cory left the children with no way for them to contact him or emergency services.
Bond has been denied. In cross examination, Cory admitted to having an AWOL conviction in the US Military. Commonwealth attorney Anton Bell says this makes him a flight risk.
CHIEF MARK TALBOT
“We are still investigating the last time that Codi was seen alive and well by anyone,” "I will say that I’ve known a few 4-year-olds in my life,” Talbot said. “I don’t know any who decide at any hour of the morning, when it’s dark, to leave their home ... I don’t believe that’s what happened this time, either.”
Talbot won’t explicitly say whether investigators believe Codi is still alive, but he did not appear optimistic during his last public briefing Friday.
“With each day that passes, we become more and more concerned, and we lose a little bit more hope. Obviously, the longer it goes, the more tragic it feels,” Talbot said.
CORY BIGSBY ATTORNEY
the family attorney said that Bigsby told him that he was at police headquarters involuntarily, contrary to the police chief's earlier statements. He claimed his client was held at Hampton Police Division headquarters against his will. Bigsby's family hired attorney Jeffrey Ambrose to represent him after the police division said he was considered a "person of interest" in Codi's case. Ambrose said he went to speak with Bigsby before the arrest on Thursday and had been turned away by police officers. He said they didn't let him in because his client was supposedly there voluntarily. When Ambrose met with Bigsby for the first time on Friday afternoon -- after Bigsby's arrest and arraignment -- he said his client denied that claim.
"I'm very anxious to review these materials to get some definition as to exactly what happened during those four days," Ambrose told 13News Now on Friday. "I am extremely concerned about taking the Commonwealth and the police at their word."
Bigsby told Ambrose he didn't know his family had hired an attorney.
A NEW HOUSE
CORY BIGSBY HAD RECENTLY BOUGHT A NEW HOME
Cory recently bought a house in the city of Hampton on Burns St. in January. He borrowed about $188k to buy the house. The deed was made on January 4th, 2022 by the Hampton Redevelopment and Housing Authority and Cory Bigsby. News 3 spoke with a woman who said she worked as a real estate agent for Cory. She said she handed information over to the FBI when they contacted her. According to the real estate agent, Cory was 'strange' client that did not want to meet up in person and wanted to communicate over text message. She said the one time she did meet up with him for a brief period, there was a little boy with him. She stated that she believes the child was Codi after seeing his pictures related to his disappearance. She said he was the only child with him at the time of the meeting this past November. News 3 also uncovered information about issues in Hampton Civil Court where Cory had to go to court after receiving notices of failure to pay rent in 2018 and 2017 at the Cambridge Apartments.
TANDALEYIA BUTLER
"My brother would not harm his childrens"
Bigsby’s sister, Tandaleyia Butler, called Codi a “very loving” child, and she said her brother is a good father to his four sons.
“My brother has always been a great dad,” she said. “He’s a great person ... He may look like this big guy, but he’s got a soft heart.”
Since the day Codi went missing, Cory's sister has defended her brother. She has stated that she believes Codi is alive and well. "We just need to find him".
When asked about when was the last time she saw Codi, she responded "that's irrelevant". She also has stated "If i knew where he was, I would've found him by now.
What she thinks about her brother 7 charge of child neglect? She believes because the family has retained counsel he is been charge. She called the charges "BOGUS".
Tandaleyia stated to Ronda Young on a video that the last time she had spoken with Codi was weeks before he went missing but, claimed her ex-husband spoke with him over the phone the day before he went missing.
THE SEARCH
WHERE IS CODI?
The search for Codi Bigsby initially focused on the townhouse complex in the 100 block of Ranalet Drive, where the boy lives, and surrounding areas.
Law enforcement from surrounding jurisdictions have provided assistance, with authorities using drones and helicopters to cover a mile-wide area around the townhouse and searching nearby bodies of water. They also used canines — search and rescue dogs and cadaver-finding dogs. Police are also relying on assistance from residents. They’ve asked neighbors to check their yards and trash cans and to keep a look out for anything that seems amiss. They’ve also asked the public to report any sightings of Cory or Codi Bigsby in the time leading up to the boy’s disappearance so investigators can narrow their timeline. Authorities are also seeking photos or videos from the neighborhood, including video footage from security or doorbell cameras.
Diving teams were sent to a marsh on the fifth street. LE received a tip and went to the area to conduct a search, after a while police came empty handed. LE went also to search at the NASA steam plant near Codi's home as “an element of the comprehensive search” Tuesday afternoon and evening.
Hampton Police Chief Mark Talbot said that the investigation is not over and will only become “more intense now.”
Talbot said that the investigation does not end with Cory’s arrest.
“In fact, in some ways our investigation is going to start and become more intense now,” he said.
Talbot said that the FBI has provided an extensive amount of forensic data to review and there is still “many interviews to conduct, many areas to search and many leads to follow.”
WHY CORY HAD THE KIDS?
BOND HEARING- WHAT WAS SAID IN COURT?
WAITING FOR FORENSIC RESULTS TO CONFIRM?
Ambrose- " he is not a flight risk, and he is not a threat to the community."
Commonwealth attorney, argue against a bond, asserting that Cory is "absolutely a flight risk". He is the NUMBER OF SUSPECT FOR A PROBABLE HOMOCIDE, & HE HAS VERY INCENTIVE TO LEAVE".
APPEAL BOND
COURT HEARING DAY HAS BEEN SET FOR; FEBRUARY 25TH AT 9.A.M.
According to court documents, Cory Bigsby has filed a bond appeal hearing that is set for February 25 at the Hampton City Circuit Court. Ahead of that decision, Jeff Ambrose, Cory Bigsby's attorney, said Cory has been a Hampton resident since 2017. When arguing for bond Ambrose said Cory had never been convicted of a crime in the past and has had no failures to appear in court. Ambrose said Cory was willing to apply to requirements set for bond including an ankle monitor, house arrest and pre-trial check-ins.
CODI'S MOM FIRST STATEMENT
investigation by Adrienne Mayfield -Executive producer of investigation for WAVY-TV
“At this present time, I do not wish to take part in any telephone, television or social media interviews. My reluctance is based on the upcoming trial and the questions asked are questions that will be addressed in court. In addition, I have been advised by legal counsel not to address the public. However, I would like to speak to the support of the community. I sincerely appreciate all the volunteers, rescue workers, police, FBI, news reporters, the community at large, family, friends, and everyone who is showing love and support for Codi. It truly warms my heart. I am praying for the safe return of my baby boy, Codi. I hope the public and the community understand and respect my position during this tragic time.”
HAMPTON POLICE DEPARTMENT VIOLATED CORY'S RIGHTS
Hampton police denied the right to legal counsel for the father of a missing 4-year-old Hampton boy, Police Chief Mark Talbot said during a Monday press conference.
In a Friday review of Cory Bigsby Sr.’s interview footage, police found Bigsby expressed “a desire for legal counsel” twice during a “heated exchange” Feb. 1 with the case’s lead detective, Talbot said. The back and forth centered on the results of a polygraph test Bigsby took around 10 p.m. Jan. 31.
REWARD
" A REWARD FOR THE SAFE RETURN OF YOUR CHILD MIGHT BE WHAT IT TAKES TO PERSUADE SOMEONE WHO KNOWS SOMETHING TO SPEAK UP"
-DON RYCE