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Post by Graveyardbride on May 13, 2021 9:56:52 GMT -5
Tristyn Bailey, 13, Murdered by 14-year-old SchoolmateAround 6 p.m. on the afternoon of Sunday, May 9 (Mother’s Day), the body of 13-year-old Tristyn Bailey was found at the south end of a retention pond in a wooded area at the end of Saddlestone Drive in St. Johns, Florida. The pretty and popular young cheerleader had been stabbed multiple times and there was evident head trauma.
A video clip from the Durbin Amenity Center showed Bailey and Aiden Fucci, 14, at approximately 1:15 a.m. The two teens, who lived in the same neighborhood and attended Patriot Oaks Academy, were later captured on a neighbor’s surveillance video walking east on Saddlestone at 1:45 a.m. Approximately an hour and 45 minutes later, at 3:27 a.m., Fucci was seen walking back alone.
Bailey’s family didn’t realize the girl was missing until around 10 a.m., when they contacted the St. John’s County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Robert Hardwick quickly identified Fucci as a person of interest and searched his home on Castledale Drive, where deputies discovered bloody clothing and other incriminating evidence. During questioning, Fucci kept changing his story.
While law enforcement and numerous volunteers were searching for Bailey, teenagers were posting comments concerning the young cheerleader’s disappearance on social media. According to Hardwick, they were using the case “to try to gain fame and followers” and he requested all such activity be forwarded to the sheriff’s office.
On Monday, May 10, Sheriff Hardwick announced Fucci had been taken into custody. Following his arrest, as he sat in the backseat of a deputy sheriff’s cruiser, he sent a Snapchat selfie to his friends with the caption “Hey guys has inybody seen Tristyn lately.”
When Fucci’s cavalier attitude was reported by the local news media, one individual commented, “He’s always been a sick little weirdo smartass. He couldn’t care less that he just snuffed out the life of a pretty little girl. Too bad he’s too young for the death penalty.”
On Tuesday, Fucci appeared before Circuit Judge Michael Orfinger at 8:30 a.m. He showed little emotion during the proceedings, closing his eyes and running his hands through his hair, although at one point, he did appear to be holding back tears. Both his parents, Jason Fucci and Crystal Smith, were present and he was represented by Jacksonville attorney Anwar Snober. The judge ordered that Fucci be held in the juvenile detention center for 21 days on a charge of second degree murder.
Dr. Justin D’Arienzo, a forensic and clinical psychologist, later viewed the videotaped hearing. “I just saw a child that was exhausted, that was self-soothing, that was overwhelmed and that was really scared,” he said. “It’s very rare that pure and impulsive behavior would lead a 14-year-old boy to stab a 13-year-old girl,” he continued. “Usually, when we dissect these cases, usually there is a history of something that led to that behavior.”
The state attorney’s office has not yet decided if Fucci will be charged as an adult.
While there is a great deal of sympathy and support for Bailey’s family, a lot of people would like to know why neither set of parents knew the whereabouts of their children on the night of the murder. There have been suggestions that perhaps the teens sneaked out of their homes, but many are quick to point out that parents are supposed to be aware of such propensities and take measures to prevent this sort of activity.Sources: WJAX, May 12, 2021; WJXT, May 11, 2021; St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office; Daniel Dahm, WKMG, May 11, 2021; Jennifer Ready, WKMG, May 11, 2021; Vic Micolucci, WJXT, May 10, 2021; and comments sections on various sites.
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Post by pat on May 13, 2021 10:37:00 GMT -5
If they sneaked out, which I doubt, you can bet this wasn't the first time. I think the girl's parents knew she was at the community center and either she didn't have a curfew, or it wasn't enforced. No child of mine at the age of 13 or 14 would have been out in the wee hours of the morning. Parents in the 21st century are too lenient with their kids and both sets of parents are partially responsible for this girl's death. I've noticed that the girl's parents don't want themselves identified -- which I think is pretty lowdown. In my opinion, this means they knew their daughter was out at all hours.
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Post by jane on May 13, 2021 13:08:04 GMT -5
If they sneaked out, which I doubt, you can bet this wasn't the first time. I think the girl's parents knew she was at the community center and either she didn't have a curfew, or it wasn't enforced. No child of mine at the age of 13 or 14 would have been out in the wee hours of the morning. Parents in the 21st century are too lenient with their kids and both sets of parents are partially responsible for this girl's death. I've noticed that the girl's parents don't want themselves identified -- which I think is pretty lowdown. In my opinion, this means they knew their daughter was out at all hours. Everywhere I go in St. Augustine, people are talking about this murder and from what I've heard, both the girl and boy stayed out until all hours of the night. What kind of parents don't know their 13 year old daughter isn't home in her bed until 10 o'clock in the morning? I can understand why they don't want people to know who they are. Of course, everybody close by knows they're Forrest and Stacey Bailey. That's something else I don't understand. Their daughter has been brutally murdered and they're concerned about their privacy.
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Post by catherine on May 13, 2021 15:00:47 GMT -5
If they sneaked out, which I doubt, you can bet this wasn't the first time. I think the girl's parents knew she was at the community center and either she didn't have a curfew, or it wasn't enforced. No child of mine at the age of 13 or 14 would have been out in the wee hours of the morning. Parents in the 21st century are too lenient with their kids and both sets of parents are partially responsible for this girl's death. I've noticed that the girl's parents don't want themselves identified -- which I think is pretty lowdown. In my opinion, this means they knew their daughter was out at all hours.
There's something seriously wrong with parents who allow young teens to walk up and down the streets and through the woods after midnight. I looked at the location where she was found on the map and they had to walk 100 yards (the length of a football field) through the woods to get to the south end of the retention pond. It's obvious her parents realize their negligence contributed to their daughter's death and that's why they don't want to identify themselves.
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Post by Graveyardbride on May 13, 2021 20:21:56 GMT -5
Fucci Could Be Charged with 1st Degree Murder, Internet Trolls Continue to Fan FlamesAiden Fucci is currently charged with second degree murder in the stabbing death of Tristyn Bailey, but if it turns out he lured the young cheerleader to the location where she was killed or had a weapon on his person, this would constitute premeditation and warrant a charge of murder in the first degree.
In the meantime, Sheriff Rob Hardwick, still contending with hundreds of internet trolls, has announced those who claim to be involved in the murder – as some have – “could do prison time for interfering in a murder probe.”
Posts on numerous sites taunt the victim’s family and friends and one troll posted a photo of a bloody knife which he (or she) claimed was the murder weapon. Some since-deleted posts by presumed friends of Fucci’s made derogatory comments, e.g., “She probably deserved it” and “Don’t dress like that and you might not get raped.”
Although Bailey’s body was fully clothed when found, rumor has it that she was sexually assaulted in some manner and an online petition demanding the 14-year-old teen be tried as an adult contends the girl “is believed to have been raped.”
Hardwick admitted detectives have been bombarded with “hundreds and hundreds of leads” and his office is “trying to figure out” if each tip is legitimate and “coming from a person that’s a possible witness.” He added that crime analysts have identified many of the accounts and there are many individuals who still have to be questioned.
Under Florida law, an individual posting harassing comments online could be charged with interfering with an investigation or providing false information. Attorney Gene Nichols of Jacksonville, who is not involved in the case, confirmed those who “post something stupid on the internet” could be charged. “The question is whether or not they know what they’re doing is impacting a criminal investigation,” he added. “And what we have seen and what we know is the sheriff’s office has these individuals, they know who they are, and if these individuals continue to keep posting.”
Fucci is being held at the juvenile detention facility for a period of 21 days while the state attorney determines whether he will be charged with first or second degree murder and tried as a juvenile or an adult.
The following is from the Probable Cause Section of Fucci’s Arrest Report:
On Sunday, May 9, 2021, at approximately 0100 hours, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office received a call in reference to a missing 13-year-old female.
The initial investigation led deputies to contact the above-named defendant, who provided an initial statement. The defendant’s story changed several times, but ultimately made several admissions. The defendant admitted to being with the victim at a mutual friend’s house and leaving at approximately 0110 hours with the victim. The defendant admitted to walking north along North Durbin Parkway, which was verified with video surveillance footage obtained from the North Durbin Amenities Center which depicted two subjects resembling the description of the victim and the defendant walking north at 0114 hours. the defendant admitted to engaging an argument with the victim in which he forcefully pushed the victim to the ground striking her head. The defendant further admitted to walking around and got home at approximately 0330 hours.
Video footage obtained from a home on Saddlestone Drive revealed two subjects walking east on Saddlestone Drive at approximately 0145 hours. One subject was wearing what appeared to be shorts, a light colored hooded sweatshirt and white shoes with a black “Nike” logo. The second subject appeared to be wearing black pants and a black shirt. The video footage depicted only one subject wearing the shorts and the light colored hooded sweatshirt walking west on Saddlestone Drive at approximately 0327 hours. The subject walking west was carrying a pair of white shoes with a black “Nike” logo.
The defendant was transported to the Sheriff’s Office and placed into an interview room. While alone in the interview room, which was audio- and video-recording, the defendant’s mother mentioned something about video surveillance depicting the defendant carrying his shoes. The defendant admitted he took his shoes off because his feet hurt.
The victim was located deceased on the south end of a retention pond, located just to the east of the cul-de-sac on Saddlestone Drive. The victim appeared to have significant injury to her head and other trauma and was wearing black pants with a black shirt. It should be noted, the defendant’s residence is located approximately .3 miles from the location where the victim was discovered, which is consistent with the timeline established from the video surveillance.
A search warrant was executed on the defendant’s residence, where several items of evidentiary value were located within the defendant’s bedroom which were consistent with clothing observed in the aforementioned video surveillance. Furthermore, some of these items yielded a presumptive positive test result for the presence of blood.
Based on the defendant’s statements, the video surveillance, and the items of evidentiary value obtained from the defendant's bedroom, probable cause was established for homicide.
According to the Arrest Report, Fucci’s full name is Aiden Sean Fucci; his date of birth is November 6, 2006, and he is 5'11" tall and weighs 179 pounds. Sources: State of Florida v. Aiden Sean Fucci, Case No. 21-825-CF, Division 56; WJXT, May 13, 2021; St. Johns County Sheriff's Office; and State Attorney's Office, Seventh Judicial Circuit of Florida.
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Post by jason on May 16, 2021 0:29:56 GMT -5
I doubt his intention was to kill the girl when they decided to walk to the retention pond. He probably intended to try his luck with her and when she resisted, he whacked her over the head with something and then stabbed her to death. Most kids don't normally carry a knife with which they could stab someone to death, so if he had something like a hunting knife or butcher knife, then he certainly intended to rape her if she resisted. Of course, a person can be killed with a pocketknife if they're stabbed in the right place. Considering how this young bastard and his crazy friends have been acting since it happened, I don't think he feels any remorse at all.
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Post by catherine on May 16, 2021 18:17:56 GMT -5
I just tried to have a look at the house where that fiend Aiden Fucci lives and the house at 724 Castledale Drive on Google maps has been blurred so that you can't see it! All the houses in that subdivision are what I'd call McMansions on lots so tiny there's no more than a few feet between them. www.google.com/maps/@30.1007023,-81.5521394,3a,75y,358.63h,89.56t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1so6Y3IuF4M0QG9GkSfdTRKA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656I'd like to see the one where Tristan Bailey lives. Does anyone have the address?
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Post by Graveyardbride on May 16, 2021 19:17:44 GMT -5
I'd like to see the one where Tristan Bailey lives. Does anyone have the address? She lived on Cloisterbane Dr., St. Johns, Florida. I checked and Google hasn’t blurred the house. His house has a covered swimming pool, the Bailey house doesn’t have a pool.
If you want to know what Fucci’s house looks like, here’s a photo:
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Post by Graveyardbride on May 17, 2021 18:53:54 GMT -5
Fucci Applies for Indigency Status, Celebration of Life Scheduled for Tristyn Bailey
Today, May 17, Jacksonville attorney Anwar Snober field a motion to withdraw as counsel for Aiden Fucci, indicating he had “discussed the matter with the defendant and his parents and both are in agreement as to the withdrawal ....” Some have speculated Snober wishes to withdraw because Crystal Smith and Jason M. Fucci, the 14-year-old defendant’s parents, are unable to pay his fees.
In a second motion, also filed today, Liana Dolores Orta, an assistant public defender, requests a determination of Aiden Fucci’s indigency status. Under Florida law, “an applicant, including an applicant who is a minor or an adult tax-dependent person, is indigent if the applicant’s income is equal to or below 200 percent of the then-current federal poverty guidelines prescribed for the size of the household of the applicant by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.” Smith and Fucci applied for indigency status Friday, May 14. Smith’s application was approved, however that of Jason M. Fucci was denied. The motion requests the court hold a closed hearing to determine the defendant’s indigency status “due to the extensive media coverage of this case and the nature of the charge.”
Crystal Smith and Michael T. Akel purchased the property at 724 Castledale Court, St. Johns, Florida, on December 30, 2020, for $560,000. Jason M. Fucci owns Fucci’s Complete Package, LLC, a landscaping company, in Jacksonville. He lives in Jacksonville in a home built in 1967 that he purchased in July 2019 for $257,000.
Celebration of Life. Services for Tristyn Bailey will be held Tuesday afternoon (May 18) at Celebration Church on R.G. Skinner Parkway in Jacksonville. Thousands are expected and those attending are asked to wear aqua and white, Tristyn’s favorite colors.
Celebration Pastor Jeffrey McDuffie said he had met with the Bailey family and they are going through a “roller coaster of emotions.”
Of note, Tristyn’s parents, Forrest and Stacey Bailey, are still withholding their names and such aren’t even included in their daughter’s Celebration of Life announcement.
Sources: State of Florida v. Aiden Sean Fucci, Case No. 21-825-CF, Division 56; WJAX, May 17, 2021; and WJXT, May 17, 2021.
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Post by catherine on May 18, 2021 1:28:00 GMT -5
There has to be a reason these parents are keeping in the background and refusing to publicize their names. If they didn't feel guilty about something and fear condemnation by the community, they wouldn't be hiding.
I'll bet Michael T. Akel wishes he hadn't hooked up with Crystal Smith and her crazy son.
Thanks for the photo of the house. It looks like all the other McMansions in that pretentious neighborhood.
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Post by Kate on May 18, 2021 3:28:21 GMT -5
There's a lot more to this story than has been released. I think her parents knew she was at a party, or whatever it was, at that community center and they just went to bed without even checking if she was home. I know kids are sneaky and lie about spending the night with a girlfriend when they're up to no good, but there's nothing to suggest this is what happened with this girl. I think they were just very lax when it came to parenting and now they're paying for it.
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Post by Graveyardbride on May 20, 2021 22:22:43 GMT -5
Judge Appoints Public Defender to Represent Aiden FucciToday (May 20), Circuit Judge Michael Orfinger granted Jacksonville attorney Anwar Snober’s motion to withdraw and appointed a public defender to represent Aiden Fucci on a charge of what is now second degree murder in the stabbing death of Tristyn Bailey.
Both Fucci’s parents (pictured above) applied for indigency status, claiming they were unable to afford private legal representation for their son. The clerk of court approved Crystal Smith’s application last week, but denied that of Jason Fucci. However, after explaining his financial situation, during which he said he has no equity in his home and that his landscaping business has lost customers since his son’s arrest, Judge Orfinger declared him indigent.
Josh Mosley will be the lead public defender on a team of attorneys who will work together in Aiden Fucci’s defense. “It’s a privilege to represent young Mr. Fucci,” one member of his defense team said.
State Attorney R. J. Larizza still has not determined if Fucci will be tried as an adult or if the charge will be increased to first degree murder.
Yesterday, May 19, a memorial service was held for Tristyn Bailey in Jacksonville, at which family members and many of those in attendance wore aqua, the 7th-grader’s favorite color.Sources: State of Florida v. Aiden Sean Fucci, Case No. 21-825-CF, Division 56; Jessica Clark and Mindy Wadley, WTLV, May 20, 2021; and WJAX, May 20, 2021.
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Post by catherine on May 21, 2021 14:18:39 GMT -5
I wonder how Crystal Smith's neighbors feel about having an indigent living in one of the McMansions on their street?
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Post by jason on May 21, 2021 14:57:51 GMT -5
Damn! Crystal Smith is ugly as homemade sin! Instead of wasting her money on a McMansion, she should have been saving up for a freaking nose job!
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Post by pat on May 24, 2021 16:55:49 GMT -5
Larizza doesn't have but about a week left to decide whether to try that pimply-faced little pissant as an adult and raise the charge to first degree murder.
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