Silke Jasso
Aiden Fucci, the Florida teenager Hulu was set to stand trial for the 2021 murder of 13-year-old Tristyn Bailey has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in her fatal stabbing. The 16-year-old entered the plea in St Johns County Courthouse before jury selection was set to begin, according to First Coast News.
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“I just want to apologize to the Bailey family,” Fucci stated after changing his plea from not guilty. He is now facing a sentence of life in prison with a minimum of 40 years. 14 at the time of the murder, Fucci was charged as an adult with first-degree murder in the stabbing of the 13-year-old who was found dead in the woods near her house on May 9, 2021. This was after her parents had first reported her missing.
The cheerleader had been stabbed 140 times, with at least 49 stab wounds to her arms, hands, and head that were “defensive in nature,” according to 7th Judicial Circuit State Attorney R.J. Larizza.
Fuicci was quickly arrested on May 10, 2021, and subsequently made several “admissions of guilt.”
Teen Accused of Stabbing Cheerleader to Death Faces Trial Next Week
According to his arrest report, authorities found his clothing stained with blood as well as the hunting knife that is believed to be the murder weapon in a nearby pond.
Days before the killing, Fucci reportedly told friends that he planned to kill someone, but he didn’t specify who. “He indicated to witnesses that he was going to kill someone by taking them in the woods and stabbing them,” Larizza stated.
After his arrest, Fucci went on to post a selfie on social media of himself in the back of the patrol car referencing Tristyn. In the photo, he is seen giving a peace sign with the caption, “Hey guys, has anybody seen Tristyn lately?”
During a pretrial conference video from the Duval County Jail, he can also be her talking about demons saying “please don’t let the demons take my soul. The demons are going to take away my soul.” he can then be heard asking, “ what’s going on?” saying “Why am I here? I just want to talk to my mom and dad. What’s going on? What’s going on?”
Fucci’s mother, Crystal Smith, is being charged with tampering with evidence in the murder case after allegedly washing blood off her son’s jeans. The teenager is scheduled to return to court on February 23rd for a hearing to discuss his sentencing.
