St. Johns County community remembers Tristyn Bailey one year after her death

Jacksonville, Fl — Aqua ribbons wrapped around trees lining the Durbin Crossing community in St. Johns County on the one-year anniversary of Tristyn Bailey’s death.

Signs that read ‘Tristyn Strong’ and pinwheels are also visible throughout the community. The 7th grade cheerleading team captain at Patriot Oaks Academy is being remembered as a hard worker with a contagious laugh.

“She would walk in always smiling. Always so excited”, said Chelsey Mark, All-Star Director.

As the Bailey family reflects on the last year, they released the following statement:

“As a family, we continue to be devastated and overcome with grief at the loss of Tristyn. With time, we are learning to deal with carrying this loss forward. We draw our greatest strength from our love of Tristyn and seek to honor her memory in line with her spirit”.

The family is planning to honor Tristyn’s memory with a youth mental health program, a community-focused gym that will offer self-defense classes, as well as a scholarship program.

Tristyn was reported missing early on Mother’s Day 2021 and, hours later, her body was found in a wooded area not far from her home. St. Johns County detectives said the body had 114 stab wounds.

Aiden Fucci, who is now 15, is awaiting trial in November on a first degree murder charge.

Fucci’s mother, Crystal Smith, is charged with tampering with evidence in the case. Security footage from inside their home appears to show Smith taking a pair of blue jeans into a bathroom and scrubbing them in the sink.

The arrest warrant stated that the same jeans tested positive for blood. The drain in the sink also tested positive for blood.

Fucci and Tristyn were classmates and both grew up in the same neighborhood. Investigators said video footage showed the two walking together early that morning and then Fucci returning to his home alone.

Remembering Tristyn Bailey

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