The Murder of Tristyn Bailey
- Posted:
- June 16, 2021
- 12:00 am
Tristyn Bailey, 13, was last seen May 9, 2021, at 1:15am in the Durbin Amenity Center in northwest St. John’s County, Florida, USA. The police were notified that Tristyn was missing at 10:00 in the morning on May 9, 2021. Search parties set out looking for Tristyn or any indication of her. Around 6pm, Tristyn’s body was located in a wooded area by a man who was walking his dog.
Tristyn suffered 114 stab wounds, 49 of them were defensive, a state attorney commented in a press release.
A knife was found in a pound close to the location where Tristyn’s body was discovered. Investigators stated the tip of the knife had broken off during the murder. The coroner located the tip of the knife in the victims scalp during the autopsy.
Investigators questioned Aiden Fucci, 14, who was last seen with Tristyn. Surveillance footage showed the two teenagers together walking on Saddlestone Drive around 1:45am. At 3:27am the video shows Fucci alone after what is believed to be when the murder took place, carrying a pair of Nikes in his hands. A warrant to search Fucci’s house was executed. Investigators found multiple items linking him to the murder, including the white Nikes he was carrying in the video along with a sweatshirt, both which had Tristyn’s blood on it.
While being brough to the police station for questioning, Fucci posted a picture on snappchat, asking if anyone had seen Tristyn.
Fucci was originally charged with second degree murder by the St. John’s Sheriff’s office. After further investigation, the charges were raised to first degree murder. This was due to the Fucci is being held without bail or bond while awaiting trial.
Upon further investigation, Fucci’s mom, Crystal Smith was arrested and charged with tampering with evidence. The arrest warrant states that home video surveillance shows Smith going into her sons’ room, retrieving a pair of jeans, which she took to the bathroom, and attempted to clean them. The drain had tested positive for blood. The warrant also sites a moment during an interview where Smith asked Fucci if he was sure there was nothing on his clothing that could be used against him. When Fucci stated he thought so, Smith was heard whispering the word “blood” to him.
Smith was arrested on June 5, 2021, and was released shortly after on a $25,000 dollar bond.
Since Tristyn’s murder her community has rallied together. One football player created a pair of cleats to honor her memory and the cheer community has started selling shirts, where the proceeds will go to the Tristyn Memorial Fund.
