Editor's Note: Some details in this story may be disturbing. Readers' discretion is advised.
For the first time, several confessions from Cory Bigsby, accused of murder in the death of his 4-year-old son Codi, were revealed in a court hearing.
Codi was reported missing in January 2022, and there's been no trace of him since.
In court Wednesday, prosecutors revealed letters they say Cory Bigsby wrote in jail, confessing to killing his son.
FULL CONFESSIONS DOCUMENTS CAN BE READ IN THE LINK BELOW. READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
Hampton Documents: Confession of Cory Bigsby in death of son Codi Bigsby 1:17 PM, Nov 08, 2023The first letter came on or around Aug 3, 2022. Cory Bigsby wrote a statement in the Hampton Roads Regional Jail, got an officer's attention, and handed it to the officer, who was present in the courtroom.
The officer broke down and got emotional as he read the statement.
The officer read the following excerpt from the statement Cory Bigsby wrote: "I stepped outside of my apartment to get some items out of my car to wash clothes. When I got inside, I saw my son laying on the ground unresponsive. I tried to revive him, but he couldn't breathe. I stepped outside and prayed. I then put him in a trash bag and left him in the car for three days."
The letter stated he then drove his son's body to Garriot Morgan Blvd. — a quick search on Google Maps shows that's in Maryland. The statement states this is where Cory Bigsby buried Codi Bigsby and then grabbed something to eat.
On the same day, Aug. 3, 2022, Cory Bigsby told another officer he found Codi Bigsby unresponsive at the bottom of the stairs. Then he taped Codi Bigsby's ankles and wrists, placed him in a trash bag, then buried him.
The defense on Wednesday argued Cory Bigsby made these statements because of the way he was treated at the jail and police station. The defense said Cory Bigsby was given suggestions during police questioning.
Sonny Stallings, a criminal defense attorney of 50 years who has no connection to this case, told News 3's Jay Greene this type of evidence, if admitted into trial, could sway a jury.
News Everything we know about the case of Codi Bigsby Heather Eckstine 11:20 AM, Jan 31, 2023"If it's spontaneous, that he for whatever reason, gave it to the guard, then I don't not sure how you keep it out," Stallings told Greene. "If they can prove that he wrote that. I don't know how he gets away from it. Except to say he was insane. But without doing that, it's a confession, voluntary confession, which will probably go before the jury."
On Wednesday, another jail officer testified Cory Bigsby handed her a piece of paper on Christmas 2022. It said Cory Bigsby buried Codi Bigsby after finding him unresponsive on Jan 31, 2022.
Another confession came in a notebook found in Cory Bigsby's cell, saying he hit Codi Bigsby's head on the floor on June 18, 2021, hit him with fists, put him in a bathtub, then in a fridge before burying him.
Stallings told Greene this could be a tough case for Cory Bigsby's attorneys.
"He would have to get on the stand to explain it. And that's when the wheels come off the wagon, on cross-examination," Stallings said. "How do you explain a written confession of what he did with the body?"
Another key development in the case happened at the hearing on Wednesday. A judge granted permission for Cory Bigsby's 6-year-old son to provide testimony during the murder trial. The judge said instead of appearing in the courtroom, the son would testify in a separate room.
The son's testimony will discuss the relationship between Cory Bigsby and Codi Bigsby.
This could also be a tricky obstacle, Stallings said.
"You crossed the line between admissibility and credibility," Stallings said. "In other words, are we going to let it in and take into consideration since it's a 6-year-old? Are we gonna keep it out? Because it's so prejudicial and so unsubstantiated. That's a pretty young age. And if the event happened when he was three or four, I have a hard time with that coming into evidence for a jury. It's just too much risk."
It's been a tumultuous case since Cory Bigsby's arrest in February 2022. Key developments that occurred since then include competency hearings for Cory Bigsby, Hampton Circuit Court judges recusing themselves from the case and a flurry of rescheduled court dates.
Throughout the case, Bigsby’s attorney, Amina Matheny-Willard, has been adamant in publicly advocating for her client. On the other hand, Hampton Commonwealth's Attorney Anton Bell, hasn’t been as vocal about the case. He called the hearing “a day of reckoning and a day of truth.”
The murder trial will take place from March 4 through March 8 of next year.
The prosecution and defense declined to comment on Wednesday.
The suppression hearing was set to reconvene Thursday morning.
We will be following further developments in court. Stay with News 3 for updates.
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