Codi Bigsby Disappearance: Latest Developments in Murder Case - Indictment of Cory Bigsby

Jun 17

The case of Codi Bigsby's disappearance has been ongoing since January 2022. Codi's father, Cory Bigsby, reported his son missing from their Buckroe townhome, and police named him as the only person of interest in their investigation. After months of investigation, the authorities have concluded that Codi is dead, and on June 5, 2023, Cory Bigsby was indicted for the murder and concealment of Codi's body. This update on the case will explore the latest developments in the investigation and the efforts to find Codi.

The Search for Codi

On January 31, 2022, Cory Bigsby reported his 4-year-old son, Codi, missing from their Buckroe townhome. A search immediately ensued, but Codi was nowhere to be found. Police named Cory as the only person of interest in their investigation. The authorities have long presumed that Codi is dead, although his body has never been found.

From the first minutes of the investigation, Hampton Police Chief Mark Talbot said that the evidence about what likely occurred has been very clear. There is little about this that has been mysterious. Since then, the authorities have been working tirelessly to find Codi's body and bring justice to his family.

Cory Bigsby's Arrest and Mental Competency

During the initial investigation, Cory Bigsby was taken down to the station for questioning, which turned into an interrogation that spanned days. He was subsequently arrested on multiple charges of child neglect, and since then, he has remained in jail. His mental competency has been called into question, and after several hearings, a grand jury was convened and on June 5, 2023, Cory Bigsby was indicted for the murder and concealment of Codi's body.

The Mental Health Evaluation

A recently released mental health evaluation reveals that Cory Bigsby is competent to stand trial. Dr. Weare Zwermer conducted an evaluation of Cory Bigsby in February and March, during which he determined that Bigsby seemed to understand the legal process ahead of him but not the seriousness of the charges against him. The evaluation also detailed Bigsby's "escalating paranoia" and a series of "bizarre" behaviors during his time at the Hampton Roads Regional Jail.

In March, Bigsby's team requested a judge to dismiss the charges against him after they say the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office obtained evidence that wasn't submitted to the defense for months. The evidence is a written statement Bigsby wrote while in jail. Bigsby's defense team said the Commonwealth got a copy of that letter on Aug. 3 but did not share it with the defense team until November.

The Competency Restoration Services

Bigsby was behind bars without bail at the Hampton Roads Regional Jail until a judge ordered him to Eastern State Hospital in March to receive competency restoration services after an exam found him incompetent to stand trial. Licensed Clinical Psychologist William McKenna evaluated the father on May 30 and determined he is now competent to stand trial.

During his hospitalization, Bigsby's thought process was "goal-directed" and did not contain "overt delusional ideation, obsessions, or phobias," according to the report. He also denied having any auditory or visual hallucinations. A doctor diagnosed him with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and prescribed him medication.

Bigsby began competency restoration services on April 19 and addressed several concerns that Zwermer highlighted in his evaluation of the father that happened in the spring. Those included conflicting background information that Bigsby gave several medical providers, which the father said had been "misinterpreted." He also told the counselor that he gave erroneous biographical information to at least one evaluation because "he believed the evaluator did not need to know such personal details," the report states.

The Indictment

On June 5, 2023, a grand jury indicted Cory Bigsby on charges of murder and concealment of a dead body. The paperwork associated with the indictment has not been filed yet in Hampton Circuit Court, according to clerks in that office. He's also facing 30 charges connected to the alleged abuse and neglect of Codi and his brothers.

Codi's Legacy

Codi's disappearance has had a profound effect on his family, friends, and the community at large. Despite the challenges of this case, Codi's memory lives on through the efforts of those who have worked tirelessly to find him and bring justice to his family.