HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) — Three years after 3-year-old Codi Bigsby was reported missing, activists continue to honor his memory and advocate for justice.
Codi’s father, Cory Bigsby, was convicted last June of second-degree murder and hiding Codi’s dead body and is serving a 45-year prison sentence for his son’s death, and Cory Bigsby still faces additional child abuse charges, with a trial set to begin Tuesday.
Prosecutors revealed during the trial that Bigsby waited nearly seven months before reporting Codi missing in January 2022. The child’s body has never been found.
Nancy Strickland, an organizer with the group We Are Codi’s Voice, emphasized the community’s commitment to remembering Codi.
“Codi is on my mind all the time—Christmas, his anniversary, his birthday,” she said.
Codi’s case has also led to legislative changes. The CODI Alert, named in his honor, was passed by the Virginia General Assembly in 2024. This alert is issued for missing children who do not meet the criteria for an AMBER Alert.
“We were able to get the CODI Alert passed unanimously through the House and Senate,” activist Japharii Jones said. “Since it has been activated last September, to our knowledge, it has helped find seven kids.”
Activists are determined to continue their fight, pressing for answers about Codi’s disappearance.
“We got justice for Codi,” Strickland said. “Now, it’s time for his father to tell us where he is.”
For full coverage and timeline of Bigsby’s case, click here.