Aiden Fucci appears in a squad car selfie video released by the 7th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office in Florida. Tristyn Bailey appears in an image provided by the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office.
Accused teenage killer Aiden Fucci, now 16, reversed course ahead of scheduled jury selection on Monday and pleaded guilty to murdering 13-year-old former classmate Tristyn Bailey on Mother’s Day weekend back in 2021.
With the plea, Fucci faces a mandatory minimum of 40 years in prison rather than an automatic sentence of life without parole. Because Fucci is a minor, the death penalty was not an option in the case.
Bailey was stabbed 114 times in the early morning hours of May 9, 2021, authorities have said.
“It has now been determined by Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Predrag Bulic that the cause of death is sharp force trauma by stabbing,” St. Johns County Sheriff Robert A. Hardwick’s office previously wrote in a press release. “The manner of death is homicide.”
On Monday, Sheriff Hardwick said in a statement that the guilty plea was the result of an “all-out agency effort” by investigators. The sheriff also credited locals for their assistance and support.
“The citizens of St. Johns County always show up and this case was no different. The immediate assistance from our community reaffirms the partnership we have with our citizens. The support they showed the Bailey Family was something special to witness,” Hardwick said in a statement obtained by Law&Crime.
“Lastly, the cooperation between our agency and the Bailey Family has been unparalleled,” the sheriff continued. “Their strength and grace throughout this case has been incredible. This agency will forever be connected to the Bailey Family and this community will forever be #BaileyStrong.”
The case made national news not only because of the brutal nature of the crime and the ages of the suspect and victim, but also because of Fucci’s reaction upon being arrested.
“Hey guys has inybody [sic] seen Tristyn lately,” read the caption of a Snapchat selfie.
Fucci’s courtroom behavior was also cause for alarm.
Fucci apologized Monday in court to both the Bailey family and his own family.
“I just want to say I’m sorry,” he said.
Fucci now awaits sentencing.
In June 2021, Fucci’s mother Crystal Smith was accused of evidence tampering by washing her son’s bloody jeans after the murder. That case is still pending.
[Image of Fucci via Twitter/screengrab, Tristyn Bailey appears in an image provided by the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office]