On Monday, Aiden Fucci was set to face charges for the heinous crime of murdering 13-year-old Tristyn Bailey in 2021. However, Fucci pled guilty to first-degree murder for his involvement in the fatal stabbing.
At the St. Johns County Courthouse, sixteen-year-old Fucci pleaded guilty just before the jury selection process was to take place.
Fucci is facing a potential sentence of life in prison, with a minimum of 40 years to be served.
At the age of fourteen, Fucci was accused of murdering a thirteen-year-old cheerleader and charged as an adult with first-degree murder. The victim was found deceased in a wooded area close to her home on the day of Mother’s Day in the year 2021.
At a press conference, 7th Judicial Circuit State Attorney R.J. Larizza informed reporters that Tristyn had been stabbed a total of 114 times in total. She had at least 49 of the stab wounds to her hands, arms, and head being classified as “defensive in nature.”
On May 10, 2021, Fucci was taken into custody and reportedly confessed to the charges against him in his arrest report.
Law enforcement reported the discovery of garments saturated with blood, as well as a hunting knife they assumed was used in the killing, at a pond close by.
Days before Tristyn’s killing, Fucci told friends that he planned to kill someone, though he didn’t specify whom, Larizza said.
Prior to the murder of Tristyn, Fucci communicated to friends that he intended to take the life of another person. However, he didn’t mention the identity of the potential victim.
Crystal Smith, the mother of Fucci, is also accused of interfering with evidence related to her son’s murder. She supposedly cleaned off the blood from his pants.
Fucci will appear in court on February 23rd to discuss the potential sentence that could be imposed.