SISTER SHARES HEARTFELT TRIBUTE TO TRISTYN

Tristyn’s sister Brittney Bailey Russell has said she was “taken far too soon”, vowing that her “name will live on”.

Brittney wrote on Facebook: “I’ve been asked by so many, “what can we do to help” and honestly, nothing will bring her back so our answers have just been open air. 

“The gifts, prayers, thoughts, messages, donations, hugs and memories shared have been overwhelming, we cannot believe the boundless out cry of support for Tristyn and our family.

“She DESERVES this and we all know our center of attention queen is looking down freaking out about her MILLIONS of views.”

WHAT EVIDENCE DO PROSECUTORS HAVE?

Very few details have been released about the evidence investigators had to led them to believe that Aiden Fucci was responsible for Tristyn Bailey’s murder.

According to Fucci’s arrest report, a search of his bedroom turned up multiple “items of evidentiary value,” including pieces of clothing that gave presumptive positive tests for the presence of blood.

Fucci gave conflicting statements but made “several admissions,” according to the report. Exactly what he told investigators was redacted from a copy of the document made public Tuesday.

WHY HAS AIDEN FUCCI BEEN NAMED PUBLICLY?

Despite his young age, Aiden Fucci has been named by authorities due to the seriousness of the charges that have been brought against him.

In Florida, juveniles can be named if the offence committed is equivalent to an adult felony.

The Florida Legislature of 1995 made it simpler for names to be released in response to an increase in teenage criminal activity.

WILL FUCCI BE TRIED AS AN ADULT?

Fucci was charged with second-degree murder on May 10, one day after Tristyn’s body was found.

Prosecutors have the option of charging the young teen as an adult, and a decision is expected within a few weeks.

“The state attorney does have the discretion to refer a 14 or 15-year-old for a direct file to be tried as an adult under murder charges,” lawyer Curtis Fallgatter, who is not involved in the case, told First Coast News.

The lawyer added that the second-degree murder charge is the most severe he can face at the moment.

“Those particular crimes that carry serious penalties, life in prison, for example, death penalty, capital type cases, have to be returned by a grand jury,” he told the news outlet.

The lawyer emphasized: “If juvenile sanctions are imposed, that would yield a much more lenient sentence than adult sanctions.”

FUCCI AND TRISTYN BAILEY WERE ‘FRIENDS’

Aiden Fucci, 14, and Tristyn Bailey, 13, both attended Patriot Oaks Academy together in St. Augustine, Florida.

They also lived in the same neighborhood in a small, tight-knit community in St. Johns County.

Classmates of the pair say they were friends but weren’t in a relationship with one another.

The sheriff’s office addressed rumors on social media claiming there was more than one suspect, saying Fucci is the lone suspect in the case.

WHAT HAS THE JUDGE RULED IN TRISTYN BAILEY’S CASE?

On May 11, Aiden Fucci appeared in court for a hearing, following the murder of Tristyn Bailey.

“I do find that there is probable cause to believe the offense occurred and at this time I am going to order that Mr Fucci be detained by the department of juvenile justice in secure detention for 21 days or until further order of the court,” the judge ruled.

A sentence has still not been given, as it has not been determined if Aiden Fucci will be tried as an adult.

WHAT SCHOOL DID AIDEN AND TRISTYN ATTEND?

Both Aiden Fucci and his victim, Tristyn Bailey, attended Patriot Oaks Academy in St Johns County.

Patriot Oaks Academy runs from kindergarten to eighth grade and serves about 1,500 students.

According to its website, the school contains a community that “fosters character development, independence and a lifelong love of learning.”

The school was one of two new ones to open in 2014 in St John’s County. Valley Ridge Academy also launched the same year.

WHERE WAS TRISTYN BAILEY LAST SEEN?

Tristyn Bailey, 13, was last seen in St Johns, Florida on Sunday morning after being reported missing by her family at 10am.

An arrest report, obtained by First Coast News, alleged that security footage showed two teenagers walking at 1.45am. However, less than two hours later, at 3.27am, only one person was seen walking – holding a pair of shoes.

The report said that Aiden Fucci’s mother mentioned something about him carrying his shoes, however, he told her it was because his feet hurt.

While executing a search warrant at Fucci’s home, the report said that officers found items that tested positive for the presence of blood.

LOCAL SHERIFF SAYS AIDEN WAS PROUD OF MURDER

Before Tuesday’s court appearance, Sheriff Robert Hardwick told WOKV that he is “proud of what he did.”

“I know it looks egregious with him making those statements in that car, but that is now evidence that we gather and use against him.

“So that just makes our case a better case to present to the State Attorney’s office and to present to a jury down the road saying this was his mindset.

“This is what he’s doing, was he’s proud of what he did. So, you know, this is going to help our case and make it stronger to, you know, his intentions.”

AIDEN FUCCI ROLLED EYES IN COURT

14-YEAR-old Aiden Fucci rolled his eyes as he was put behind bars and may face life for the alleged murder of 13-year-old Tristyn Bailey.

Fucci appeared in court before Judge Richard Orfinger on Tuesday morning, wearing a dark-colored sweater, at a detention center in Volusia county.

“I do find that there is probable cause to believe the offense occurred and at this time I am going to order that Mr Fucci be detained by the department of juvenile justice in secure detention for 21 days or until further order of the court,” the judge determined.

WHAT ARE THE CHARGES AGAINST AIDEN?

Aiden Fucci, 14, has been charged with second-degree murder for the murder of his classmate, Tristyn Bailey.

Prosecutors have the option of charging the young teen as an adult, and a decision is expected within a few weeks.

“The state attorney does have the discretion to refer a 14 or 15-year-old for a direct file to be tried as an adult under murder charges,” lawyer Curtis Fallgatter, who is not involved in the case, told First Coast News.

HOW OLD IS AIDEN FUCCI?

Aiden Fucci is 14 years old, and his victim, Tristyn Bailey, was 13 at her death.

Aiden and Tristyn both attended Patriot Oaks Academy in St. Johns, Florida.

The 14-year-old is the only suspect in the murder of his classmate.

TROLLS DISRUPTED POLICE INVESTIGATION

Police say they have been inundated with reports about trolls claiming to be part of the 13-year-old’s death and that they are investigating every tip.

Many of the cruel posters have used the hashtag #FreeAiden.

One post shows a picture of a bloody knife, which they claim was used in her murder.

AIDEN POSTED SNAPCHAT FROM BACK OF COP CAR

Shortly after his arrest, Aiden sent out a Snapchat of him holding up a peace sign with the caption: “hey guys has inybody [sic] seen Tristyn lately.”

During a police press conference on Monday, May 10, Sheriff Robert Hardwick said officials were aware of the photo.

Hardwick said: “I will say our real-time intelligence center really has captured all these videos as much as we can. We monitor it.”

SISTER POSTED FOR HELP AFTER TRISTYN DISAPPEARED

Tristyn’s sister Brittney posted on social media begging for any information about the cheerleader’s disappearance before Tristyn’s body was found.

She shared: “PLEASE. If anyone has any information please please please share.

“I’ve never seen my family in the state we are in right now, we just want our baby Bailey home.”

FAMILY OF TRISTYN HOPES AIDEN CONFESSES

Speaking exclusively to The Sun, Tristyn’s cousin, Connie Stull, said she hopes Aiden confesses.

Asked if she hopes he comes clean, she replied: “Yes I do. I have cried my eyes out.

“I looked him [Aiden] up on Facebook, but there are too many. I’m happy they made an arrest and hope they try him as an adult.

“Tristyn was a sweetheart, she loved cheerleading, I’m an emotional wreck, my husband and I didn’t sleep well last night.”

JUDGE RULES IN TRISTYN BAILEY MURDER

Aiden Fucci appeared in court before Judge Richard Orfinger, wearing a dark-colored sweater, at a detention center in Volusia county.

“I do find that there is probable cause to believe the offense occurred and at this time I am going to order that Mr Fucci be detained by the department of juvenile justice in secure detention for 21 days or until further order of the court,” the judge determined.

PETITION CALLS FOR AIDEN TO BE TRIED AS ADULT

As of Friday morning, more than 375,000 people had signed a Change.org petition asking the State Attorney’s Office and Gov Ron DeSantis to charge Fucci as an adult and with first-degree murder.

If he is not charged as an adult, he cannot legally be held in jail beyond age 21. 

WHAT WAS THE CAUSE OF TRISTYN BAILEY’S DEATH?

The Medical Examiner’s Office determined Bailey’s cause of death to be a homicide. 

In a statement on Tuesday, the office revealed that the Patriot Oaks Academy student had “blunt force trauma by stabbing.” 

Her classmate Aiden Fucci was charged on Monday after a search warrant “led to the location of multiple items of evidentiary value at the suspect’s home.”

It reportedly included pieces of clothing that gave presumptive positive tests for the presence of blood.

WHEN WAS AIDEN FUCCI ARRESTED?

Aiden Fucci, 14, was arrested on Sunday morning hours after Tristyn Bailey was last seen.

He was charged on Monday with second-degree murder.

The 14-year-old provided an initial statement, however officials said this changed several times and that he made several “admissions.”

WHERE WAS TRISTYN BAILEY FOUND?

The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office said that Bailey was located dead at the end of a retention pond, and that she appeared to have significant injury to her head and other trauma.

A medical examiner ruled Tristyn’s death a homicide caused by “sharp force trauma by stabbing.”

The teen was last seen Sunday morning after being reported missing by her family at 10am.

AIDEN’S STATEMENTS TO BE USED AGAINST HIM

During an interview with Fox News on Thursday morning, Sheriff Rob Hardwick said Fucci “said some spontaneous other statements that will be used against him.”

After being asked what will happen next in the case, Hardwick said that he hopes Fucci is charged as an adult for first-degree murder.

Discussing the police’s interactions with Fucci, Hardwick insisted that “the suspect in the very beginning was very cooperative” when the situation was being dealt with as a missing person case.

WILL AIDEN FUCCI BE CHARGED AS AN ADULT?

An officer with decades of experience with law enforcement, says that Fucci could be charged as a adult, given the nature of the horrific crime.

Speaking to the Wokv, law and safety expert, Dale Carson, said that it’s unlikely that the 14-year-old will be tried as juvenile and instead with be subject of a ‘direct file.’

He said: “It (a direct file) means that the State Attorney’s Office is charging him as an adult.

“One of the reasons it’s going to happen is because in a murder charge, the defendant has to be granted certain protections that are not available in juvenile court.”

AIDEN FUCCI FATHER JAILED FOR CHILD ABUSE

Now, 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.”

Fucci Sr. was sentenced to two years probation but was later jailed for 14 months after violating the conditions, with 158 days given as credit.

HAS FUCCI ADMITTED GUILT?

Although he has been charged with second-degree murder, Fucci has not yet entered a plea.

However, he reportedly told police several contradicting stories under questioning.

The 14-year-old provided an initial statement, however officials said this changed several times and that he made several “admissions.”

After officers executed a search warrant at Fucci’s home, the report said that officers found items that tested positive for the presence of blood.