Reportedly last seen playing in a neighbor's backyard on Hosack Street around 7:00 p.m. Cody vanished the day before his mother, Robyn Stepp, was released from prison. Robyn's sister, Mickey Stepp, had had physical custody of Cody since January 1994 and legal custody since December 1996. Mickey told authorities that she believed Cody's maternal grandmother, Janice Stiles, was supervising him while she went to the store. Stiles claimed that she thought Cody accompanied Mickey on the errand, but in fact Cody went to play in a neighbor's backyard and disappeared. Investigators were unable to locate evidence Cody resided there after he was reported missing. Authorities said there was no clothing, toys or photos connected to the child inside the home, and neighbors stated they had not seen Cody for about a year prior to his reported disappearance. Robyn testified she saw Cody for the final time on December 18, 1995. She claimed her mother and sister refused to allow her to speak to her son when she called from prison.