Teen Admits Guilt in Shocking Killing of Schoolmate

Aiden Fucci, a 14-year-old from Florida, has taken responsibility for the brutal murder of his 13-year-old classmate, Tristyn Bailey. The tragic incident took place in St. Johns County on May 9, 2021 and was recorded by surveillance cameras. Tristyn was last seen walking with Fucci on the night of her disappearance and an hour later, the cameras captured Fucci walking away alone.

Law enforcement officials found Tristyn’s body with 114 stab wounds and a piece of the murder weapon still embedded in her skull near Fucci’s home. Fucci initially provided conflicting stories to the authorities before confessing to being with Tristyn the night of her disappearance and getting into an argument with her. He admitted to pushing her to the ground and leaving the scene.

Despite being only 14 years old at the time of the crime, Fucci was charged as an adult and changed his plea on the same day jury selection was set to start in his murder trial. The evidence against him was extensive, including more than 100 pages of emails from a school resource officer, one of which claimed the murder was “100% premeditated” and that Fucci had spoken about wanting to kill something in the woods.

Fucci’s mother, Crystal Smith, was also charged with evidence tampering after investigators caught her washing blood off her son’s jeans in a bathroom sink shortly after they took him for questioning. The police later found blood on the jeans and in the sink drain.

St. Johns County Sheriff Robert Hardwick praised the efforts of the investigators and the support of the community, who rallied around the Bailey family and provided tips. The guilty plea by Fucci brings a sense of closure to the Bailey family and the community as they seek justice for the young girl who lost her life too soon.