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Family, friends of Cody Pitts still seeking answers for his murder
HUBBARD
Cody Pitts' Father
Video
Al Pitts, father of Hubbard murder victim Cody Pitts, reflects on two years since his son's death.
It took two years for Cody Pitts’ dad to finally be able to talk about his son.
“I couldn’t talk about it before. There’s places I just didn’t want to go,” Al Pitts said.
An imposing physical presence, Pitts has a kindly and gentle demeanor. He calls people “hun,” and is apologetic when he chokes up while talking about Cody.
“Not that I really know how to handle it now,” he added. “But I think I’m getting more frustrated daily that nothing’s been done yet.”
Cody, 26, was found dead from a single bullet to the head in the early morning hours of March 7, 2015, shortly after he left the Downtown Coffee Cafe, now known as Grille 29. His murder remains unsolved, and his family, friends, and community remain determined to bring justice to his killer.
“Justice 4 Cody” yard signs are posted everywhere in the tight-knit town, with accompanying green ribbons hanging on trees. Friends of Cody’s wear “Justice 4 Cody” T-shirts and bracelets, and the investigation into his death is a daily discussion in the community.
Friends and family remain baffled by the killing of someone who by many accounts was the textbook definition of a “good kid.”
Cody is described as laid back and personable; a “gentle giant” with a come-what-may attitude toward a life that he fully enjoyed living.
Longtime friend Mike Maietta still feels his friend’s influence. He keeps a photograph of Cody on his desk at work.
“I think about the kid every single day. He’s a constant reminder, to me, to be a better person,” Maietta said. “I’d like to be a little more like Cody every day.”
Ryan Mills, too, finds himself thinking of Cody whenever he gets stressed or upset.
“I just lean back toward him and how he went about things, and it makes me feel a little better,” said Mills, who used to call Cody daily and still sometimes finds himself dialing his best friend’s number.
“Honestly, he never needed the spotlight, but everyone wanted to be around him,” said Melodie Marando, a family friend. “And he loved his friends right back. He was very loyal. Very honest.”
Melodie’s son, Joe, was friends with Cody, and the two families became close.
Joe, a police officer for the city, was the first person to arrive on scene after the call about Cody came in. He recalled being in shock when he found out the victim’s identity.
“Immediately, my thought was, ‘We need to find out what happened.’ It really didn’t set in until the next couple of days,” he said.
He recalled, too, the first time he saw Cody’s mother, Vada, after that. As the two cried and embraced each other, she told Joe, “Thank you.”
“I looked at her and said, ‘You just lost your son. Why are you thanking me?’” Joe said. “She said, “I’m glad you were with him when his soul left his body and went up to heaven.’”
“To this day, that really has kind of soothed the pain of having to find him that way,” he said.
For Al, the pain of losing his son is always present.
Asked what he misses most, he chokes up. “Him being here.”
Added to his pain is that a mere eight months after Cody died, Vada died of cancer.
“Her death was very hard. But I think I can sort of understand it. I think she wanted to be with him,” said Al.
There is no making sense of Cody’s death.
“If you’ve never been through something like this, you can’t even imagine,” Al said. “It’s very, very difficult. Not knowing why makes it a lot harder.”
The investigation into Cody’s murder remains open, and police say it is the department’s No. 1 priority.
Police Chief James Taafe declined to discuss any specifics of the case, but said police believe there are people in the community who know something about Cody’s murder.
“We firmly believe there are people out there that know what happened, and have been reluctant to come forward and assist,” Taafe said. “It would be quite helpful if those that have information came forward.”
On this point, he is emphatic: “This case, from two years ago until today, is still our priority. It is the most important thing we do every day, and we won’t stop until we get a successful resolution.”
Cody’s friends and family – which also includes older brothers Chad and Tony – hope that resolution comes sooner rather than later.
“Two years later, I know it’s a milestone. But every day is a milestone for that family, to face life without Cody and without Vada – and without justice,” said Melodie. “It’s not going to bring them back, but it would give them something.
“Answers, maybe.”