Aiden Fucci, 16, Sentenced to Life In Jail for Brutal Homicide of Teenage Cheerleader Tristyn Bailey

Choose Lee Smith revealed his determination on Friday morning, saying, “There is just one applicable sentence on this case,” earlier than sharing his ruling. As a result of he is a juvenile, Smith mentioned Fucci’s sentence can be eligible for evaluation in 25 years.

Smith mentioned he took Fucci’s age, psychological well being, house life and letters from the boy’s household into consideration, in addition to the actual fact he was the “sole participant” and was “100% liable for this homicide.” He additionally mentioned he believed that there’s a “poor prognosis for rehabilitation” on this case, earlier than acknowledging how “compelling” the sufferer affect statements have been in courtroom earlier this week and the way a lot Tristyn’s homicide affected all the group.

He mentioned the case was “most likely essentially the most troublesome and surprising case” within the county in his 16 years practising regulation and 30 years locally. Recalling simply how brutal the crime was and the way “troublesome” the post-mortem pictures have been to view, Smith mentioned Fucci’s habits earlier than the homicide confirmed a “heightened stage of premeditation” and it appeared he understood the results of his actions. Smith additionally discovered it “troubling” that there gave the impression to be no motive for the homicide — and was dedicated for “no different cause however to fulfill this defendant’s inner want to really feel what it was prefer to kill somebody.”

Bailey’s members of the family have been within the courtroom as the choice was introduced; her mother and father have been seen crying after the sentencing (inset above).

Earlier than the announcement, Choose Smith addressed Bailey’s household — warning them that the sentence itself will not “heal or present closure” to their grief. “It doesn’t matter what sentence this courtroom imposes in the present day, it can’t heal you. I can’t deliver her again. I can’t present a closure to this. You continue to have loads of therapeutic in the present day,” he mentioned, telling them to take the time they want undergo all of the levels of grief and reminding them Tristyn’s “spirit lives on in every certainly one of you.”

Bailey was reported lacking on Mom’s Day 2021, earlier than her physique was discovered later that night within the woods. The teenage sufferer was stabbed 114 occasions, with 49 defensive stab wounds to the palms, arms and head. The tip of a knife used to assault her broke off and was “situated by the health worker within the scalp” of the sufferer.

Fucci, who was 14 on the time, was arrested the following day, first for second-degree homicide earlier than the cost was later upped to first-degree.

The sufferer’s members of the family all appeared on the stand throughout this week’s sentencing hearings, giving affect statements to the courtroom during which all of them pushed for the utmost sentence doable for Fucci.

“The one justifiable sentence on this case is a full life sentence,” mentioned Tristyn’s sister Alexis. “Something in need of that might be an insult not solely to our justice system and group however to our household and Tristyn’s legacy.”

“Aiden Fucci, your deplorable actions are unforgivable, and I’ll pray day by day that you simply keep in jail for the remainder of your life and by no means have the ability to hurt anybody else on this world once more,” added Tristyn’s mom, Stacy. “Your Honor, I plead with you, please think about every thing he has achieved to our daughter and to our household.

“I detest your very existence,” mentioned her father, “and know that there’s nothing inside you that displays the smallest quantity of goodness or human decency.”

Watch extra of the affect statements right here.

The brutal homicide and Fucci’s habits first made headlines after the teenager uploaded posts to Snapchat whereas in police custody (under).

Certainly one of his posts was a message studying, “Hey guys has inybody seen Tristyn currently,” earlier than he shared movies of him and one other boy joking round within the cruiser.

In accordance with the arrest report obtained by First Coast News, deputies found safety footage that confirmed two teenagers strolling collectively at round 1:45 AM; later footage confirmed one individual strolling alone shortly earlier than 3:30 AM, holding a pair of footwear.

Yet one more video from inside Fucci’s house allegedly exhibits his mom, Crystal Smith, trying to scrub blood out of his denims simply hours after Bailey was killed. She was later charged with proof tampering.

After acquiring a warrant, investigators mentioned that among the many proof they discovered was an outfit that matched the one the suspect was sporting within the video; additionally they mentioned among the gadgets seized examined optimistic for the presence of blood. Investigators additionally discovered a pocket book containing “drawings of a violent nature,” with one “depicting a Satanic factor to them, to incorporate a pentagram.”