HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) — Cory Bigsby, the father of missing Hampton 4-year-old Codi Bigsby, was denied another chance at a bond hearing on Tuesday.
This comes more than four months after Bigsby reported Codi missing. Cory Bigsby faces 7-felony child neglect charges for reportedly leaving his young children at home while he ran errands. He does not face charges directly related to Codi’s disappearance.
Cory Bigsby has been denied bond twice so far. Attorney Amina Matheny-Willard, who came on as counsel after Bigsby’s previous attorney withdrew from the case. Most recently requested a bond hearing two weeks ago, but Judge Wilson denied that request as well.
In court Tuesday, his new attorney Matheny-Willard asked Judge Wilson to reconsider Cory’s bond. She claims his last attorney Jeffery Ambrose was “ineffective.”
For example, she details Cory released his military record to Ambrose, yet claims the Commonwealth used it against Cory during his previous bond hearing.
“Those military records were in the hands of the Commonwealth and used against him.”
She believes his previous bond hearings were based on “emotion.”
“At his previous bond hearings, the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s [office] used evidence that was improper, as I’ve argued before, to kind of stir up emotions.”
Bigsby is still the only person of interest in the disappearance of his 4-year-old son Codi.
“They are continuing to say he’s a person of interest. It’s been over five months and that was the first narrative the police department put out there. So, everyone’s all upset because they feel based on what the police department and Commonwealth Attorney’s office have done that he’s responsible for Codi’s disappearance and he absolutely is not.”
She also believes Hampton police are misleading the community.
“The Hampton Police Department in conjunction with the Commonwealth’s Attorney [have] pretty much created this false narrative the community members were upset,” she said.
10 On Your Side reached out to Ambrose, the Hampton Commonwealth’s Attorney Anton Bell and the Hampton Police department spokesperson for comment on the hearing. All had no comment on the allegations.
Despite the new allegations, Judge Wilson denied yet another request for a bond hearing.
Bigsby is now scheduled to appear for his preliminary hearing on Monday. This will determine if there is enough evidence to go to trial.
Matheny-Willard hopes the child-neglect charges are thrown out or dropped down to a misdemeanor.
This is a breaking update. Look for more coverage and the full interview with Matheny-Willard coming up.
You can read WAVY’s full coverage of the Bigsby case here.
