HAMPTON, Va. - The search for missing 4-year-old Hampton boy Codi Bigsby has been an emotional case for many.
As the search continues, Codi's father, Cory Bigsby was in court Tuesday on charges unrelated to his disappearance.
Cory has been charged with seven counts of felony child neglect, stemming from incidents from before Codi was reported missing.
On Tuesday, he was denied bond in a appeal hearing. His bond was originally denied on February 8 after AWOL military charges surfaced. On Tuesday with Cory testified that it was due to a miscommunication issue between his higher in command and following a four day weekend when he was job hunting for life post-military.
In court, the judge said Cory is flight risk and a risk to the community. Commonwealth Attorney Anton Bell argued that if Cory was released, he may have tried to tamper with evidence related to the disappearance of his son, Codi.
Jeff Ambrose, Cory Bigsby's attorney, said Tuesday that Cory was mistreated, based off hours of video footage that was handed over to Ambrose from police.
In a breakdown of events, below is Ambrose's information claims that were presented in court:
- Cory Bigsby voluntarily called police and went to the police department
- He was told Miranda rights and that he was not under arrest
- Waited in station for 6.5 hours before FBI agent came
- Bigsby said he wanted to go home but was in 7 hours of interrogation
- 2 FBI agents and one police officer were present
- Cory said he was tired and exhausted
- Officials tell him he failed a polygraph
- Bigsby said he felt they were trying to talk him into something
- Ambrose then read a quote from Bigsby - "The way to help me is to let me get some rest" then asks to resume tomorrow
- FBI agents said he could not leave until he took responsibility
- At 4:15 a.m. Bigsby said - quote - "Get me a f***ing lawyer."
- About an hour later he asks for an lawyer again
- FBI agents allegedly ignored him
- Bigsby continues to say he was tired
- FBI agents told him to put chars together to sleep on, so he did
- The next night they gave him a cot to sleep on
- Bigsby was isolated until arrest
- He was brought clothes and medicine to the police station
- Ambrose arrived on Feb 3. Ambrose said he was turned away and told Cory did not ask for a lawyer. Ambrose gave officers his business card which he said Bigsby never received
- Bigsby was in HPD 76 hours total - 62 hours after asking for an attorney
- He was awake 21 hours before he was first allowed to sleep
- Ambrose argues agents and officers applied "psychological and moral pressures"
- Bigsby also had no access to the door and was physically blocked in by police/agents
Related: Hampton Circuit Court judges recuse themselves from hearing Cory Bigsby case
