Aiden Fucci hearing LIVE updates – Tristyn Bailey’s ‘killer’ in court after he allegedly ‘stabbed cheerleader 114 times’
AIDEN Fucci appeared briefly in court on Thursday over the alleged murder of his 13-year-old classmate Tristyn Bailey, but waived his appearance.
A reporter on Twitter noted that Fucci, 14, made a quick appearance, but that his new pretrial date was set for February 2, 2022. "Trial not likely to start until fall of 2022, possibly the fall for Aiden Fucci," .
reported that he waived his appearance and that he and his mother, Crystal Smith, had been expected in court at 9:00am.
Fucci is accused of killing cheerleader Tristyn Bailey by allegedly stabbing her 114 times. Tristyn was found dead in woodland near Fucci's home on Mother's Day having been stabbed 114 times after her family reported her missing.
Fucci, who is being prosecuted as an adult despite his age, told cops an argument erupted between the pair as they walked back from a friend's house in the early hours of the morning.
The hearing came after Fucci was seen rocking back and forth in his chair and saying he wouldn't let "you demons take my soul" during his last court appearance.
He was previously seen in a stream of that hearing from St John's County Courthouse looking scared as he swayed in his chair and stared into the space above while calling into the court from Duval County jail.
Read our Aiden Fucci live blog for the latest news and updates...
'COLD-BLOODED MURDER'
"This is a cold-blooded murder of a 13-year-old young girl who did not deserve to die," County Sheriff Rob Hardwick .
"That being said, I don't want to mention the number of times [she was stabbed], but it is horrific."
"It's horrible, and the word accident is nowhere involved in this case."
NO OTHER SUSPECTS
None of the others who were with the pair the night Tristyn died are suspected of wrongdoing in the case.
However, the prosecutor voiced frustration that Fucci's alleged plans to commit homicide were "not taken seriously" when he confessed them to "several" of his peers.
"Could this have been prevented? We can't be sure," he said, adding that the murder should serve as a cautionary tale to parents that they "need to know what your kids are doing and saying."
AIDEN FUCCI WAIVED HIS COURT APPEARANCE
Aiden Fucci waived his appearance in court Thursday morning.
reported that he and his mother, Crystal Smith, had been expected in court at 9:00am.
Fucci made a quick appearance before his new pretrial date was set for February 2, according to .
"Trial not likely to start until fall of 2022, possibly the fall for Aiden Fucci," White wrote. "His mother, Crystal Smith, is charged with tampering with evidence. Her second pretrial date is the same date."
NEW PRETRIAL DATE SET FOR 2022
Reporter Dawn White on Twitter revealed that Aiden Fucci has a new pretrial date set for 2022.
"Another pretrial date is set for February 2nd at 9 a.m. Trial not likely to start until fall of 2022, possibly the fall for Aiden Fucci," she shared.
"His mother, Crystal Smith, is charged with tampering with evidence. Her second pretrial date is the same date."
FUCCI IN COURT FOR PRETRIAL HEARING
"Aiden Fucci, charged as an adult in the murder of Tristyn Bailey, is in the St. Johns County Courthouse for his pretrial hearing. His mother Crystal Smith is also expected in court," reporter Dawn White shared on Twitter on Thursday morning.
VILE TAUNT
A photograph that was circulating on social media following Bailey's death appeared to show Aiden Fucci in the back of a cop car, holding up a peace sign with the caption "hey guys has inybody [sic] seen Tristyn lately."
VIDEO EVIDENCE, CONTINUED
One of the people in the footage was wearing black pants and a black shirt, the same clothes Bailey was wearing when her body was found in the pond the next day.
The other person was wearing shorts, a light-colored hooded sweatshirt, and white shoes with a black Nike logo.
The arrest report said only this person was seen walking away from the area at around 3.27am carrying the white shoes in their hand.
VIDEO EVIDENCE
According to Fucci’s arrest report, surveillance footage shows two people matching his and Bailey’s description walking together at about 1.14am on Sunday.
A neighbor’s surveillance camera also reportedly shows the same pair walking along Saddlestone Drive, close to where Bailey’s body was found, about 30 minutes later.
TRISTYN'S FAMILY STATEMENT
Tristyn Bailey’s family released a statement shortly after prosecutorsd announced Fucci would be charged with first-degree murder.
They said: “We greatly appreciate the tremendous community outpouring from all parts of the world. Particularly for those in St. Johns that have helped from the Mother’s Day search, the vigils, remembrances and memorials.
“With the press conference sharing details of this heinous crime, the caring and love shown from the people and businesses to raise up the memory of Tristyn and the resolve of our community serve as a beacon of light in the darkness.”
The family continued: “We do ask for your continued respect for our privacy as well as of Tristyn’s teammates and her school. As we move forward, we will seek to keep Tristyn’s memory alive and the spirit of the community.”
THE EVIDENCE
Florida State Attorney RJ Larizza discloseD that investigators found Fucci's DNA on Tristyn's body.
They also found Tristyn's DNA on shoes and a t-shirt found in Fucci's bedroom, Larizza said.
'WRONG PLACE, WRONG TIME'
Prosecutors say that have no evidence suggest that Fucci specifically targeted Tristyn.
"This could just be a case of wrong place, wrong time,"; Florida State Attorney RJ Larizza said.
None of the others who were with the pair the night Tristyn died are suspected of wrongdoing.
But the prosecutor voiced frustration that Fucci's alleged plans to commit homicide were "not taken seriously" when he confessed them to "several" of his peers.
"Could this have been prevented? We can't be sure," he said, adding that the murder should serve as a cautionary tale to parents that they "need to know what your kids are doing and saying."
CHARGED AS AN ADULT
The decision to charge Aiden Fucci with first-degree murder came from a grand jury.
First-degree murder charges automatically move the case to adult court.
Fucci will now face adult penalties if convicted and even be housed in an adult jail - though he'd be held separately from the general population.
Explaining the state's decision to charge Fucci with premeditated first-degree murder, prosecutors alleged that the teen earlier told friends he was planning to "take someone into the woods and stab them."
WHO ARE TRISTYN'S PARENTS?
Tristyn Bailey’s parents, Stacy and Forrest held a ceremony to honor Bailey’s life at Celebration Church in Jacksonville, .
The family is devastated by the sudden loss of the teenager, with Stacy promising to keep her daughter’s memory alive.
In the ceremony, Stacy said: “I was going to make her name shine above all the evil that has happened.”
She described Bailey as a goal-getter, saying: “She had a drive in her soul to be the best and always give 100-percent to achieve her goals.”
HOW WAS TRISTYN BAILEY'S BODY FOUND?
The body was discovered fully clothed in the woods near Durbin Crossing just after 6pm on May 9.
Community members helped officials search for the missing teenager for 16 hours.
St. Johns County Sheriff Robert Hardwick said, "this was not the outcome the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office wanted, or this community (wanted)."
"This is a grieving community and we’re going to respect our grieving community."
GOFUNDME FOR TRISTYN
A gofundme page created to raise money for Tristyn's family said, "What was planned to be a juvenile, harmless meeting with friends was taken to an extreme she did not plan for."
VILE TAUNT
A photograph that was circulating on social media following Bailey's death appeared to show Aiden Fucci in the back of a cop car, holding up a peace sign with the caption "hey guys has inybody [sic] seen Tristyn lately."
MOM CHARGED WITH EVIDENCE TAMPERING
A shocking video released by the Florida State Attorney's Office shows what investigators allege is Aiden Fucci's mom Crystal Smith washing blood off of her son's jeans.
She allegedly washed the trousers while her son was being interviewed by deputies for ther murder of Tristyn Bailey.
After the jeans and a drain in his home tested positive for blood, Smith was charged with evidence tampering in connection with Bailey's death.
The videos are likely to play a role in the trial.
THE PETITION
More than 700,000 have signed a change.org petition that asked for Aiden Fucci to be tried as an adult, which has now happened, as Tucci has been charged with first-degree murder.
The petition read: "Tristyn Bailey was murdered. She was only 13. Her murderer is 14 and is being charged with second degree murder. But he should be tried as an adult.
"He showed no remorse for what he did. He posted on his Snapchat story a picture of him in a police car saying, “[Has anyone] seen Tristyn lately?” knowing he had just murdered her the night before. Tristyn deserves to have justice."
COURT RAMBLINGS
Aiden Fucci was of a hearing from St John's County Courthouse looking scared as he swayed in his chair and stared into the space above while calling into the court from Duval County jail.
The Florida teen then held the phone receiver in his hand as he stared straight ahead.
He was also heard asking, "Why am I here?" according to a .
"I just want to talk to my mom and dad. What's going on?" Fucci says in a video of the stream posted to social media.
"What's going on?" he repeats twice again.
"I won't let you demons take my soul, demons take my soul away," he says in another clip as his eyes dart around the room.
WHEN WAS AIDEN FUCCI ARRESTED?
He was arrested on May 10 just hours after her body was found by a pond in a wooded area.
More than 700,000 people had signed an online petition urging prosecutors to try Fucci as an adult for the brutal attack and upgrade his charges to murder in the first degree.
Prosecutors had until May 31st - or 21 days after the date of his arrest - to decide whether to try Fucci as an adult.
Had prosecutors declined, he wouldn't have legally been allowed to be held in jail past the age of 21.
FUCCI’S FATHER SERVED TIME FOR CHILD ABUSE, CONTINUED
Fucci Sr. was sentenced to two years probation for the child abuse case but was later jailed for 14 months after violating the conditions, with 158 days given as credit.
His rap sheet also includes a number of other run-ins with the law, with charges for theft and driving with a suspended license.
He was also booked in 2016 for battery, after cops claimed he got into a fight at a gas station with a couple while his son was present, although it is not known if this was young Aiden.
FUCCI'S FATHER SERVED TIME FOR CHILD ABUSE
The Sun can reveal Fucci's father Jason, 36, has an extensive rap sheet, including a stint in jail after being charged with lewd or lascivious battery and child abuse in 2003.
Filings obtained from Duval County Court for the first count show Fucci Sr., who was 18 at the time, was guilty of engaging in sexual activity with a 15-year-old female at his home.
The second count showed he "did knowingly or wilfully abuse a child by intentionally committing an act that could reasonably be expected to result in physical or mental injury to a person under the age of 18 years."
THE MURDER WEAPON?
Police said they discovered what they believe to be the murder weapon, a folding buck knife, from a pond near to where Tristyn's body was found on May 9.
The tip of the knife was missing, which medical examiners later located lodged in Tristyn's scalp.
COULD FUCCI FACE THE DEATH PENALTY?
A judge ruled that Fucci won't face the death penalty for allegedly stabbing cheerleader Tristyn Bailey 114 times.
Fucci, 14, is still facing life behind bars after prosecutors decided to charge him as an adult with premeditated first-degree murder in the brutal killing of 13-year-old Tristyn.
WHAT WAS TRISTYN BAILEY'S CAUSE OF DEATH?
A medical examiner classified Tristyn’s death a homicide that was caused by “sharp force trauma by stabbing."
"This is a cold-blooded murder of a 13-year-old young girl who did not deserve to die," County Sheriff Rob Hardwick .
"That being said, I don't want to mention the number of times [she was stabbed], but it is horrific.
"It's horrible, and the word accident is nowhere involved in this case."
Eventually authorities confirmed the teen was stabbed 114 times.