ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — A medical examiner said a 13-year-old girl who was found dead after being reported missing over the weekend died after being stabbed.
Aiden Fucci, 14, is facing a second-degree murder charge after Tristyn Bailey, 13, was found dead in St. Johns County on Sunday. Fucci appeared in front of a judge in Volusia County on Tuesday.
READ: Man shot, killed after armed home invasion in Titusville
“It has now been determined by Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Predrag Bulic that the cause of death is sharp force trauma by stabbing,” the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. “The manner of death is homicide. We will continue to investigate this case fully and will begin transitioning this case to the State Attorney’s Office.”
Deputies said Bailey vanished around 1 a.m. Sunday in the 700 block of North Durbin Parkway.
UPDATED STATEMENT REGARDING TRISTYN BAILEY INVESTIGATION: Cause and manner of death determined. Please continue to keep the Bailey family in your thoughts and prayers.
Posted by St. Johns County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday, May 11, 2021
READ: Suspected gunman, victim identified in fatal shooting at immigration office
Channel 9′s sister station Action News Jax obtained Fucci’s arrest report, which offers new insight into the case.
The report details that video footage shows Fucci and Bailey walking together around 1:45 a.m. Sunday morning east on Saddlestone Drive. At 3:27 a.m., Fucci was seen walking alone holding a pair of white shoes. Fucci told police he took his shoes off because his feet hurt.
READ: Lightning strike causes chunk of road to fly through windshield, injuring 2
Action News Jax reported that a search warrant was executed at Fucci’s house where police found clothing in his bedroom that “yielded a presumptive positive test result for the presence of blood.” When Fucci was taken into questioning, the arrest report details that he changed his story several times, but ultimately made several admissions.
The arrest report also states that Bailey was found on the south end of a retention pond. She appeared to have significant injury to her head and other trauma. She was found wearing black pants and a black shirt.
READ: Atlanta spa shootings: Suspect Robert Aaron Long indicted on murder charges
Fucci lives 0.3 miles away from where Bailey was discovered.
Fucci appeared in Volusia County Regional Detention Center in front of Circuit Judge Michael Orfinger for a detention hearing Tuesday morning.
WATCH: New video shows car thought to be tied to deadly shooting of Orange County mother
Fucci appeared to fight back tears as the judge formally charged him with second-degree murder, according to a report by Action News Jax.
Judge Orfinger ordered Fucci to stay in juvenile detention for 21 days until the state attorney makes their decision on if he will be charged as an adult.
Fucci and Bailey went to the same school and grew up in the same neighborhood.
Hundreds of people gathered Monday night for a vigil.
READ: 2 homes in Sanford’s historic district destroyed in fire
See map of scene below:
Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, and click here to watch the latest news on your Smart TV.
UPDATE REGARDING THE TRISTYN BAILEY INVESTIGATION:
Posted by St. Johns County Sheriff's Office on Monday, May 10, 2021
Cox Media Group
