Cory Bigsby sentenced to 45 years in prison for the death of his son

HAMPTON Va. (WAVY) — Cory Bigsby was sentenced Tuesday to 45 years in prison for the death of his 3-year-old son, Codi.

“Thou shalt not kill” Bigsby prosecutor never meant to show mercy

June 18 marks the day the prosecutor believes Codi was killed three years ago in 2021, seven months before Cory reported him missing.

In March, a jury found Cory guilty of second-degree murder and hiding Codi's body.

Cory Bigsby found guilty of murdering his son, Codi

Before the sentencing, Codi's mother, Dina Abdul Kareem, shared the psychological impacts her three surviving boys are experiencing. Kareem explained that his children have been in counseling for six months and that grief counseling begins next week.

“I have nightmares imagining what they went through… the horror… hurts me deeply,” she said through tears.

Kareem is now raising four children as a single mother, including five-year-old twins and the 8-year-old who testified in court earlier this year.

“[His] innocence has been wiped away,” Kareem said. “The twins call him 'baby Codi'…everyone misses him…they talk about him all the time wondering 'is Codi in heaven?' Will Codi come back?

Kareem reflects on the traumatic impacts this case has caused.

“Love played a big role in all of this because I feel like they missed that in their lives,” Kareem said.

She explained the financial loss because she “struggles every day and every night.”

“I pray Codi haunts him for all eternity,” Kareem said.

Victim Kareem's statement said Codi's killing “brought back the abuse,” both physical and emotional, she suffered at the hands of Cory.

Adding that she “witnessed the monster,” Cory might be.

Kareem says she lives in constant fear of harassment from Cory's family, which pushed her to move.

After the sentencing, Kareem was welcomed into the arms of Codi's supporters who organized dozens of searches and events for the missing toddler.

“To me, this sentence means that he is finally being held accountable for everything he did to me and my children or anyone else. Justice has been served for Codi,” Kareem said at a press conference.

Community reaction:

“Codi got justice and the community got what we wanted,” said Nancy Strickland, in the voice of We are Codi. “I feel for [Kareem], as a mother, as a grandmother, to hear the tragedy that these babies experienced and to try to recover from it. I feel so bad for her and the babies.

Charese Howard, with the voice of We are Codi, adds: “I really wish [Cory] would be ready to intervene, not only for the family but for the community, where is he? Where is Codi?

“I was hoping [Cory] I have life but I’m good with the most,” said Amanda Randall of 6 Women and a Notebook. “[Now] Cory needs to tell us something. One area, somewhere and we'll do the rest. He's here somewhere, dead or alive. It's still there somewhere.

“We will appeal but I have no further comment,” said defense lawyer Amina Matheny-Willard.

Previous coverage:

Chronology of developments in the case:

• January 31, 2022: Cory Bigsby reported Codi Bigsby missing, who was last seen at her townhouse at Buckroe Pointe Apartment. Since her disappearance, police and the community have conducted several searches for Codi. A few days after the missing report, Cory was arrested for child abuse. Bigsby was facing seven child neglect charges after court documents revealed he admitted to leaving his children home alone. After Codi disappeared, former Hampton Police Chief Mark Talbot led the investigation. Hampton police said early on that Cory Bigsby was the only suspect.

Chief says Codi Bigsby case was mishandled, search continues with 'immense' amount of evidence

• June 13, 2022: A preliminary hearing for Cory Bigsby was held on the seven child abuse charges against him. Judge rules there is enough evidence to send case to grand jury.






• July 5, 2022: Grand jury indicts Cory on 23 additional counts of child abuse. In total, 30 charges were brought against him.






• January 27, 2023: Hampton judge orders second competency exam for Cory Bigsby. A judge initially ordered a review when the defense team questioned Bigsby's competency in November.






• June 5, 2023: A grand jury indicted Cory Bigsby for murdering Codi Bigsby and hiding her body. Court documents show the grand jury believes Codi Bigsby was murdered around June 18, 2021.






• June 21, 2023: Cory Bigsby was released from prison on bail. He remained under house arrest. He was unable to have contact with his other young children who live out of state during this time. He was also subject to a curfew and could not leave his home except for a doctor's appointment or court appearance.






• November 8, 2023: Circuit Court Judge James Hawks rules Cory Bigsby's statements can be used at trial. The statements consist of two written confessions from Cory Bigsby and another signed by him, made while he was in custody.






• March 4, 2024: The Cory Bigsby murder trial begins with jury selection. This was a pool of 65 potential jurors.






• March 7, 2024: Jury selected. The court hears testimony from Codi's mother, Dina Abdul Kareem. The court also hears testimony from two Hampton police officers who were the first to arrive at Cory's home the day he reported Codi missing. Police body camera video shows Cory pointing the officers around the house as they searched for Codi.






• March 12, 2024: After about two hours of deliberations, Jurors found Cory Bigsby guilty of second-degree murder and of hiding the body of his son, Codi, whose body was never found.

This is a developing story and will be updated.