HAMPTON, Va. — As the fifth day of the search for missing 4-year-old Codi Bigsby began on Friday, his father appeared in court for arraignment on child endangerment charges.
The Hampton Police Division said Cory Bigsby faces seven counts of Felony Child Endangerment. He was arrested on Thursday evening.
The charges are not directly related to Codi's disappearance.
According to the criminal complaints, Bigsby told police he left his 4-year-old and twin 2-year-olds alone for more than three hours on December 13 so that he could buy a vehicle in Norfolk.
Police also say he left them at home again along with his 5-year-old on January 25 for about two hours to visit several locations.
Both times, the children were without adult supervision.
He allegedly told police the children were "too much of a burden to take out with him when he leaves his home."
Meanwhile, Hampton police said the search for Codi will continue throughout the weekend.
"This is not the conclusion of the investigative process — we will continue to do everything in our power to find Codi," the Hampton PD said.
Police are asking the public if anyone has seen Codi, his siblings, or Cory since Christmas. Those who answer "yes" are encouraged to call 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Before Cory Bigsby's arrest on Thursday, 13News Now learned that the Bigsby family hired lawyer Jeffrey Ambrose a day after police deemed Cory a "person of interest" in the case of his missing son.
The police division said Cory voluntarily stayed at police headquarters since he reported his son missing Monday morning. According to a police spokesman, Cory was cooperating with detectives.
Ambrose said he and co-counsel went to the police headquarters earlier Thursday afternoon but was told he wasn't allowed to enter, because Cory didn't request an attorney and was present voluntarily.
According to Ambrose, he requested that detectives inform Cory that legal counsel hired by his family was present. He said he was told that they wouldn't do so, and wouldn't answer further questions on the matter.
“I was told that he was not going to be provided my card when I gave it to officers," Ambrose said. "I was told that he would not be told that counsel was present to speak with him and he would not be told that attorney would be retained for him on his behalf."
Ambrose said he expects to be able to sit down and meet with Bigsby for the first time on Friday afternoon.