Forensic unit gathers evidence from Cory Bigsby's apartment as search for missing toddler enters second week

HAMPTON, Va. - It's day seven in the search for 4-year-old Codi Bigsby, and Hampton Police officers walked in and out of the apartment belonging to Codi's father, Cory Bigsby, at the Buckroe Pointe Apartments, holding brown paper evidence bags.

Police say they are focusing on evidence and any intelligence they gather to further the investigation rather than large scale search efforts around the boy's home.

Cory first reported Codi missing last Monday. Cory said he last saw Codi at 2 a.m. the morning of January 31 in all black clothes and Spider-Man flip flops - but police say that timeline doesn’t add up.

Police have asked anyone who's seen Codi or Cory since Christmas to let them know when and where they last saw the father or son.

Community search crews have been out daily since last week, looking for any sign of the missing boy.

One woman told News 3 said she has been searching because this case tugs at her heart.

“No child should be injured or hurt or missing at any time. Kids are our future, we need to take care of these kids," said Lynn Landrum.

On Thursday, Cory wasarrested on seven counts of felony child neglectbecause police say headmitted to leaving his young children home aloneon at least two different occasions. These charges are not tied to Codi's disappearance.

We spoke to Lanae Holmes with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, who reiterated that the first 48 hours are crucial in bringing a child home. However, she pointed out that "children come home every day," even months or years after they've gone missing, and encouraged the community to never give up hope in looking for them.

“We will keep looking for him. We will never give up hope, and we will never assume something happened to him that’s negative - we always hold out the hope that he will come home alive and well and to a community that loves him," Holmes said.

Holmes also encouraged parents to talk to their children and prepare them to know basic information about their home, address, phone number and a trusted adult in their lives. For more on the basics of safety and other resources, visit MissingKids.org.

On Tuesday, police said there is no new information in the case and that they cannot discuss the specific investigative steps that are being taken. They also say they are unable to release any video of the interrogation due to the ongoing investigation.

Related: Community holds vigil for missing 4-year-old Codi Bigsby

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