HAMPTON, Va. - The Bigsby family has announced that they are offering a $25,000 cash reward “for information leading to finding Codi Bigsby, or the arrest and prosecution of whoever took him,” according to a press release.
The family hosted a press conference to discuss and review what they consider inaction by the Hampton Commonwealth's Attorney's office. The conference was held on July 15, 2022, at 1 p.m.
The family will also be publicly condemning the Hampton Commonwealth's Attorney's office and how it has handled the investigation into Codi Bigsby’s whereabouts and the continued prosecution of Cory Bigsby.
During the conference, the family's attorney says the Hampton Police Department started a false narrative regarding Cory Bigsby. The attorney says when the police could not get "Cory to confess to a crime he did not commit," they began wrongful practices that she described as corruption.
His next court date is July 22.
The family says Hampton Police are trying to cover up not doing their part.
"To come out and say, for those who claim to love Codi, if they can give us more information. Like how much more information do you need if we've done everything you've asked us to do. It's not fair at all," the aunt, Tandaleyia Butler said.
News 3's Leondra Head spoke with Bigsby's attorney, Amina Matheny-Willard who shared details about the $25,000 reward. Willard says TV Unleashed is sponsoring the reward. You may notice this familiar face getting involved in the search for 4-year-old Codi Bigsby. Dog the Bounty Hunter’s daughter, Bonnie Chapman of TV Unleashed is hoping a $25,000 reward will lead to finding 4-year-old Codi Bigsby.
"We were heartbroken to find out that after 8 months, Codi is still missing and we would like to do all we can to make sure we get Codi home and get answers for the family," Chapman tells News 3's Leondra Head.
"We decided to match current rewards and equal out the total amount to $25,000 so that we can encourage anyone who has any information to come forward so we can finally get some answers. The family right now has up to $3,000 out there. I believe there are some businesses that have contributed as well."
TV Unleashed is sponsoring the $25K reward.
"Unleashed is a network that works with television shows. What we do is we’re mostly a social justice network. We try to write the wrongs of the inequality if the country," Chapman said.
News 3's Leondra Head also caught up with Joe Slabinski of the WATER Team who’s been searching for 4-year-old Codi or any clues since he was reported missing.
"The search tomorrow is up on the Eastern Shore. This will be search number five up there now. It’s particularly pond searches," Slabinski said.
Slabinski is headed to the Shore with his boat to search water near the shore.
"It’s a small boat tomorrow with two people. It will probably take us 3 hours to search the pond we’re doing tomorrow. We got a system that we can see the bottom of the water all the way to the shoreline so if there is a person on the bottom, we’ll be able to see them," " Slabinski said.
He says his goal is to continue searching until little Codi is found.
"If the 4-year-old walked away from his home, he would have been found fairly quickly," Slabinski said.
Stay with News 3 for updates.
