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

‘Thou shalt not kill’ Bigsby prosecutor never interested in showing 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 dead body

Cory Bigsby found guilty in murder of son, Codi

Ahead of the sentencing, Codi’s mom Dina Abdul Kareem shared the psychological impacts her surviving three boys are experiencing. Kareem explained her children have been in counseling for six months and grief counseling begins next week.

“I have nightmares imagining what they’ve gone through…the horror…hurts me to my core,” she said through tears. 

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

“[His] innocence has been striped,” said Kareem. “The twins call him ‘baby Codi’… everybody misses him… they talk about him all the time asking ‘is Codi is in heaven? Is Codi going to come back’?”

Kareem reflects on traumatic impacts the case has caused.

“Love has played a big part in this because I feel they missed out on that in their life,” said Kareem.

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

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

The victim impact statement Kareem stated Codi’s murder “brought back abuse,” both physically and emotionally, she has sustained by Cory.

Adding she “witnessed the monster” Cory could be.

Kareem says she lives in constant fear of being harassed by Cory’s family which led her to move.

Following the sentencing, Kareem was met with hugs from supporters of Codi that organized dozens of searches and events for the missing toddler. 

“To me the sentence means that he’s finally being held accountable for actions for anything that’s he’s ever done to me and my children or for anybody else. Justice has been served for Codi,” Kareem said during a press conference.

Community Reaction:

“Codi got his justice and the community got what’s we wanted,” said Nancy Strickland, with We are Codi’s voice. “I feel for [Kareem], as a mother, as a grandmother to hear the tragedy that these babies have been through and trying to recover. I feel so bad for her and the babies.”

Charese Howard, with We are Codi’s voice adds, “I really wish [Cory] would step up to the plate, not only for family but to the community, where is he? Where is Codi?

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

“We are going to appeal but I don’t have any comment otherwise,” said Amina Matheny- Willard, defense attorney.

Previous Coverage:

• Codi’s seven-year-old big brother testified. He said he found Codi unresponsive on a bed, bruised and with his eyes open.
• Codi’s mother, Dina Abdul Kareem, told the court Cory threatened to hurt Codi.
• A member of law enforcement testified that a cadaver dog smelled the scent of a dead body in Cory’s home.
• There was also a confession Cory allegedly made in jail. In a letter, Cory wrote that he beat Codi until he was unresponsive. In another letter, he said he found Codi unresponsive.
• Cory’s sister, Tandeleyia Butler, testified saying she saw Codi alive three months after the alleged murder.

Timeline of developments in case:

• Jan. 31, 2022: Cory Bigsby reported Codi Bigsby missing, who was last seen at his Buckroe Pointe Apartment Townhome. Since his 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 went missing, former Hampton Police Chief Mark Talbot led the investigation. Hampton police said early on 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 felony child abuse charges against him. A judge decides there is enough evidence to send the case to a grand jury.
• July 5, 2022: A grand jury indicts Cory on 23 additional counts of child abuse. Totaling to 30 charges against him.
• Jan. 27, 2023: A Hampton judge ordered a second competency exam for Cory Bigsby. A judge initially ordered an exam when the defense team called Bigsby’s competency into question in November.
• June 5, 2023: A grand jury indicted Cory Bigsby on murdering Codi Bigsby and hiding his a dead body. Court documents show the grand jury believes that Codi Bigsby was murdered around June, 18, 2021.
• June 21, 2023: Cory Bigsby was released from jail on bond. He remained on house arrest. He was not able to have contact with his other young children who live out-of-state during this time. He also had a curfew and was not be able to leave the home unless it was for a doctor’s appointment or court appearance.
• Nov. 8, 2023: Circuit Court Judge James Hawks rules Cory Bigsby’s statements can be used in trial. The statements consist of two written confessions by Cory Bigsby and another signed by him made while he was in custody.
• March 4, 2024: Cory Bigsby murder trial begins with jury selection. It 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 showing officers around the home as they looked for Codi.
• March 12, 2024: After about two hours of deliberation, jurors found Cory Bigsby guilty of second-degree murder and hiding the body of his son, Codi, whose body has never been recovered.

This is a developing story and will be updated.