MEAWW.COM / NEWS / CRIME & JUSTICE

Tristyn Bailey's alleged teen killer Aiden Fucci seen running from woods in video

Bailey’s body was found on May 9, about 80 feet off the southern end of a retention pond in St Johns, hours after she was reported missing

ST JOHNS, FLORIDA: On May 9, 13-year-old cheerleader Tristyn Bailey was found dead in the woods at the end of a cul-de-sac near her house in St Johns. The Sheriff's Office arrested Aiden Fucci, 14, who grew up in the same neighborhood and went to the same private school. A chilling new surveillance video shows Bailey alive walking beside her alleged killer right before she was brutally stabbed 114 times. 

As per reports, prosecutors released new evidence on Tuesday, August 24. Among the evidence is footage of the cheerleader walking beside Fucci toward a wooded area just after midnight on May 9 in the Durbin Crossing neighborhood. Police say it is the last time Bailey was spotted alive. Over an hour later, the surveillance video allegedly shows Fucci running in the opposite direction of the woods where he allegedly stabbed Bailey to death.

READ MORE

Were Tristyn Bailey and Aiden Fucci friends? Florida cheerleader, 13, was filmed walking with 'killer' schoolmate

What caused Tristyn Bailey's death? Florida cheerleader, 13, allegedly stabbed multiple times by Aiden Fucci

The video which allegedly shows Fucci running was reportedly recorded at 3.27 am on Sunday, May 9. According to an explanation of the various footage contained within police documents and court records, footage depicted “one subject, appearing to be the taller subject, wearing a light-colored hooded sweatshirt, running west along the sidewalk of Saddlestone Drive at approximately 0327 hours.” 

“The video system was also equipped with audio and the sounds of the subject’s feet hitting the pavement while running were clear,” the explainer said. “Additionally, the subject appeared to be carrying something in his right hand; however, the video footage appeared blurry and the carried item could not be positively identified. Based on the video previously obtained from [a nearby address on] Saddlestone Drive, and the subject and timeline appearing to be consistent, it was reasonably presumed the carried item observed in this video footage was the white shoes with the black ‘Nike’ swoosh.”

Bailey’s body was found on May 9, about 80 feet off the southern end of a retention pond at 4286 Racetrack Road in St Johns, hours after she was reported missing. The tip of the knife allegedly used to kill her was reportedly found broken off in her skull. The suspected weapon was found in a pond near her body. Prosecutors also reportedly released a video of Fucci’s mother allegedly washing blood from his jeans. Thirty-five-year-old Crystal Smith was charged with evidence tampering in June after turning herself in. 

Three Snapchat videos were also released by prosecutors that reportedly show Fucci in the back of a police car that was allegedly taken while authorities were searching for Bailey. “We’re having fun, in a f***ing cop car,” Fucci said in one of the Snapchat videos. In another video, Fucci said, “Guess who’s in a f***ing cop car… tripping, dude.”

According to Chief Medical Examiner Predrag Bulic, the cause of Bailey's death was "sharp force trauma by stabbing." An autopsy revealed Tristyn had 114 "stab or cutting wounds about her head, neck, shoulders, arms, hands, and back." Reportedly, thirty-five of the wounds were to her head and neck. The word "KARMA" was also handwritten in blue ink inside her left ankle and a "smiley face" was drawn inside her right ankle, as per the Medical Examiners’ report. The report does not state who put the writing on her body.

Fucci was charged as an adult with first-degree murder. Fucci pleaded not guilty in June. The death penalty is not a possible sentence because of Fucci’s age, a judge recently noted.