Aiden Fucci, a 16-year-old Floridian who admitted to fatally stabbing 13-year-old Tristyn Bailey 114 times in 2021, was just sentenced on Friday. He pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in February and now received a sentence of life in prison, though that sentence can be reviewed after 25 years. Fucci was 14 years old at the time of the stabbing.
Describing the attack, Circuit Judge R. Lee Smith said, “Tristyn Bailey was conscious, she was aware, and she was doing everything she could to fend off this attack. She suffered a painful, horrifying death from someone that she trusted.” Continuing, the judge added, “There was a heightened level of premeditation in this case.”
Judge Smith also encouraged the Bailey family to try to bring fun and life back into their home and lives, saying, “Allow Bailey Sunday Fun Days to return to your home. Allow laughter to return to your home because in depriving yourselves of that, it would continue to victimize Tristyn because it’s not what she would want. She would want that happiness and that laughter to return.”
Bailey’s father, Forest, said, “We are very appreciative of this outcome and felt that it is the right verdict considering how heinous the crime is and Aiden’s behavior around it.” Forest added that he thinks people should treat Fucci’s family respectfully, saying, “Please extend them kindness. They should be given grace for the pain they’re going through. They should not be given additional hardship.”
Forest also sent his daughter a message, saying, “Tristyn, I wanted to let you know we are so extremely proud of the person that you were in your time here. We have seen that when you went out into the world, you gave it your very best. You should be proud of the friend that you were, the teammate that you were, and what you left behind and the people that knew you that we trust will go forward and continue to make the world a better place…With respect to what you mean to our family, it’s in our hearts. There are no words. We love you. We will continue to hold you in our hearts and we will always be the Bailey Seven.”
Tristyn’s sister Brittney spoke as well, saying, “Agony isn’t painful enough. Shattered to the core doesn’t crumble like how I feel. Infuriated doesn’t even come close to touching the amount of rage I find myself trapped in. And let me tell you, justice is just a word for comfort. It doesn’t bring her back.”
Fucci, for his part, apologized in a written note, saying, “I’m sorry that you didn’t get to know her that long. You did not have any long relationships with [Tristyn] and for that i’m sorry. or the Community i’m sorry i brought all this pain on everyday and i’m sorry and i know my [apology] will not fix anything or bring her back but i hop it help in some way.”
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NBC News, describing the series of events that led to Fucci being sentenced to life in prison for Bailey’s murder, said:
Tristyn was found dead in woods outside Jacksonville. According to a probable cause affidavit, Fucci told investigators that he got into an argument with her and pushed her to the ground after they left a mutual friend’s home before dawn May 9.
While he was still considered a witness, Fucci snapped a photo of himself in the back of a police vehicle flashing a peace sign and posted the image to social media with the caption: “Hey guys has anybody seen Tristyn lately.”
He was arrested May 10 and initially accused of second-degree murder.
Days later, a grand jury indicted him on a first-degree murder charge, and Fucci was to be tried as an adult.