Share and Follow
Since Fucci’s arrest, there’s been a maze of court filings, trial delays and the release of eerie evidence in the case.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Aiden Fucci, the St. Johns County 16-year-old facing the possibility of life in prison for the murder of 13-year-old Tristyn Bailey, will stand trial starting Monday.
Jury selection will begin in the morning and is expected to last several days.
The case captured national attention in May 2021 as graphic, grizzly details of Tristyn’s murder became public. Police said the 13-year-old, who was the beloved youngest of her family and beloved as a cheerleader at her school, was stabbed 114 times.
Her accused killer, Fucci, was 14 at the time she was killed; his age and his bizarre behavior following his arrest made headlines around the country. Particularly a Snapchat selfie he took from the back of a patrol car — asking if anybody “had seen Tristan.”
Read Related Also: Alex Murdaugh murder trial live: Jury to hear first full week of testimony
As the State of Florida vs. Fucci is set to begin Monday, here is a timeline of the past year and nine months since Tristyn’s death.
For everything you need to know about this case, click here.
- Tristyn is last seen by her sister just after midnight
- Tristyn is last picked up on surveillance footage just before 2 a.m.
- Tristyn is reported missing at 10 a.m.
- Tristyn’s body is found by a neighbor in the evening
- Fucci appears in court for the first time, judge finds probable cause to charge him with second-degree murder
- Then-St. Johns County Sheriff Hardwick says Fucci is not cooperating and announces Tristan’s cause of death as stabbing
- Aiden’s mother, Crystal Smith, turns herself in to authorities on tampering charges
- Later that day, Smith is released on bond
- Crystal Smith, Aiden Fucci’s mother, pleads not guilty to tampering charges
- Snapchat images, surveillance videos released
- Aiden appears unsettled, rambling in court appearance, says “I won’t let you demons take my soul,” leading to speculation about his mental health
The anniversary of Tristyn’s death, hundreds gather to honor her
- New documents reveal that a friend of Fucci’s said in an interview that the murder was “100% premeditated” and “prompted by jealousy”
- Court filing shows that Fucci has refused to consent to polygraph test
- First Coast News confirms a survey was sent to St. Johns County residents by Fucci’s attorneys
- Judge denies motion to move Aiden Fucci out of Duval County after attorneys claim “ongoing torture”
- Judge says Aiden Fucci is not entitled to a 12-person jury
- First Coast News obtains documents showing Fucci is extorting other inmates
Defense asks for another trial delay. This request is denied
