Tristyn Bailey’s Family Describes Torment Since 13-Year-Old’s Brutal Stabbing Death
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The victim impact statements were heart-wrenching during the two-day sentencing hearing for 16-year-old Aiden Fucci, who pleaded guilty last month.
The family of a 13-year-old girl, stabbed 114 times by a 14-year-old classmate, gave emotional testimony Wednesday during the sentencing hearing for Aiden Fucci, the now 16-year-old who pleaded guilty to the vicious murder on the day his trail was to begin in February.
Tristyn Bailey’s sister Alexis, dropped 114 stones into a glass jar before she spoke, NBC News reported.
Alexis Bailey gave her powerful statement this morning beginning with a jar she filled with 114 stones, the same amount of times Aiden Fucci stabbed Tristyn Bailey. ? #lawandcrime #aqua pic.twitter.com/H0QDnBC0ZN
— Steel Ribbon (@steel_ribbon) March 22, 2023
“I have nightmares about that moment. In my dreams, I try and reach out and grab her, beg her to spend the night, anything to prevent what happened just hours later. Yet, every time, the door closes before I can get to her,” Alexis Bailey said.
Another sister, Brittney Bailey Russell, told the court she was on her honeymoon when she was told her younger sister was missing.
“Agony isn’t painful enough. Shattered to the core doesn’t crumble like how I feel. Infuriated doesn’t even come close to touching the amount of rage I find myself trapped in,” she said. “And let me tell you, justice is just a word for comfort. It doesn’t bring her back.”
Fucci was charged as an adult for luring Bailey into a wooded area on Mother’s Day 2021 and stabbing her to death. He was arrested the day after Bailey was found dead, as CrimeOnline previously reported. He initially pleaded not guilty, but changed his plea on February 6, saying in court that he wanted “to apologize to the Bailey family.”
Fucci continued his apology on Thursday in a handwritten letter to the court, the Florida Times-Union said.
“First off I want to say that I’m sorry. I’m sorry for all the pain I caused to the Baily family. I sorry to the friends, brothers, sisters, mom, dad and any other family relatives. I’m sorry that you didn’t get to know her that long. You did not have any long relationships with Tristen and for that I’m sorry.”
A letter submitted to the Judge from #AidenFucci. He apologizes to her family, community, and his mom and dad. But, never to #TristynBailey, directly. pic.twitter.com/310aVEFSqw
— The Docket (@ChasingPaper89) March 22, 2023
Fucci also apologized to his parents and the community, adding that he knows the apology “will not fix anything or bring her back but I hope it help in some way.”
Letters from Fucci’s mother and father were also read on Thursday, both remarking on the profound loss to Tristyn Bailey’s family and at the same time asking the court to show mercy to their son. “He’s not beyond saving,” his mother, Crystal Smith, wrote. The teen’s grandmother, Deborah Spiwak, was the only member of his family to plea for him in person.
But it was the wrenching testimony from the Bailey family the day before that hovered over the letters from Fucci’s family.
The mother of #TristynBailey, the 13-year-old cheerleader stabbed to death by #AidenFucci , scolded the teen killer for stealing her daughter from her family and friends. pic.twitter.com/SuQvff8Ca1
— Law&Crime Network (@LawCrimeNetwork) March 22, 2023
Tristyn’s brother Teegan told the court has “breakdowns” and feels like he “failed” his sister, NBC reported. Her mother, Stacy Bailey, cried as she described her many sleepless nights since her daughter was killed.
“The sleep deprivation is taking a toll on me mentally and physically. I do not recognize the person looking at me in the mirror,” she said. “I feel like my life has spun out of control.”
Tristyn’s father, Forrest Bailey, spoke directly to Fucci, telling him his apology was “insincere” and that he showed no remorse whatsoever.
#TristynBailey‘s father called his daughter’s killer and his apology insincere. “I loathe your very existence,” Forrest Bailey said. #AidenFucci stabbed Tristyn 114 times, murdering her, in May 2021. pic.twitter.com/nCljlOQVKC
— Law&Crime Network (@LawCrimeNetwork) March 22, 2023
“I loathe your very existence and know that there is nothing within you that reflects the smallest amount of goodness or human decency,” he said.
Each member of Tristyn’s family dropped a white stone into Alexis’s jar of 114 teal stones.
Fucci is being tried as an adult, and prosecutors are seeking life in prison. The sentence is expected to be announced on Friday.
[Featured image: Tristyn Bailey/handout]
