HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) — It’s been 730 days since police first reported a Hampton boy was missing.
On Jan. 31, 2022, Codi Bigsby was reported missing by his father, saying the little boy was last seen around Old Buckroe Road.
The news sent shockwaves through the community, and many people jumped up, offering to search for Codi.
“I’ve been searching for Codi from day one,” said Nancy Strickland of We Are Codi’s Voice.
She described seeing his face and eyes that drew her in and made her want to help.
“I search all the time for Codi,” she said.
Two years later, he still has not been found.
“It’s a sad day,” said Amanda Randall, co-founder of 6 Women N A Notebook. “To know it’s been two years, but we are still looking.”
Said Strickland: “I didn’t think I would be standing here two years later. I thought Codi would be found safely. … I didn’t want to be here today. I wanted Codi home and Codi to be safe and we know that’s not going to happen.”
Officials presume he is dead.
“It’s so heartbreaking,” Strickland said.
Just steps away from the last place Codi’s father reported seeing him is a fence with a sign — ‘Justice for Codi.”
“We made this the Codi Fence,” Strickland said. “This is where all of our events and all of our meetings [took place].”
Everything on it, including the dozens of teddy bears, has to be taken down. It’s after the city of Hampton posted a notice saying all the items had to go by Feb. 5.
“It’s very emotional,” Strickland said. “We still consider this the Codi Fence.”
Wednesday night, the day that marks two years since he was reported missing, the community took time to visit the fence one last time.
“They can see a community come together when stuff happens,” Randall said. “We can come together and it could be a good event.”
People lit candles.
On the ground, blue candles spelled “4 Ever N Our Hearts.”
“In remembrance of Codi and honor of Codi,” one person said to the group.
People cut the items off the fence to make sure it was preserved. The signs got loaded on a truck to be displayed around the area.
This group vowed always to keep his name out there.
“We will never forget about Codi,” Randall said. “He will always be in our minds forever.”