In one of Florida’s most shocking juvenile homicide cases, 16-year-old Aiden Fucci — who was just 14 at the time — is set to be sentenced for the brutal murder of 13-year-old Tristyn Bailey, a beloved cheerleader from St. Johns County.
On May 9, 2021, Mother’s Day, Tristyn was reported missing. Hours later, her body was discovered in a wooded area near her home — stabbed 114 times, a crime prosecutors described as “cold and calculated.” Surveillance footage placed Fucci with Tristyn hours before her death.
After his arrest, Fucci recorded a Snapchat video joking from the back of a police car, later seen smiling and dancing in his cell — behavior that horrified the public. Investigators also revealed that his mother, Crystal Smith, washed his bloodstained jeans, leading to a tampering charge against her.
Fucci was tried as an adult due to the brutality of the murder and faces a potential life sentence. Prosecutors insist his actions were deliberate and remorseless, while his defense cites his youth and troubled background.
As sentencing approaches, Tristyn’s family and community — still heartbroken — gather in search of justice and lasting peace.
