Aiden Fucci, 17, of St. Johns was sentenced Friday, March 24, to life in prison for the murder of 13-year-old Tristyn Bailey on May 9, 2021.
Due to his age, he is eligible to have his sentence reviewed in 25 years. He has 30 days to appeal his sentence on legal grounds.
In sentencing Fucci, Judge R. Lee Smith explained how the court weighed factors, such as age and mental capacity, that might have bearing on the sentence. Ultimately, none did.
In fact, Smith explained that the murder, for the most part, was devoid of motive.
“It was done for no other reason than to satisfy this defendant’s internal desire to feel what it was like to kill someone,” Smith said.
Fucci pleaded guilty to first-degree murder on Feb. 6 just as jury selection was scheduled to begin.
He had been arrested after Bailey’s body was discovered in a wooded area off Saddlestone Drive. The victim was reported missing by her family that morning, and had not been seen since late the previous evening. Fucci was 14 at the time.
Bailey was found to have sustained 114 stab wounds. Forty-nine of the wounds were defensive, indicating that she was attempting to fend off her attacker. Six of the wounds were fatal.
Fucci and Bailey were acquainted, and both attended Patriot Oaks Academy.
