Five years after the brutal stabbing death of 13-year-old Tristyn Bailey on Mother’s Day 2021, her family faced her killer in a St. Johns County courtroom once more. The emotional weight of the moment was palpable as relatives delivered powerful statements, confronting Aiden Fucci—who was 14 at the time of the crime and has been serving a life sentence since 2023—over the unimaginable loss that continues to haunt them.

The latest hearing, held in early 2026, stemmed from post-conviction proceedings related to Fucci’s ongoing appeals and a review of certain procedural aspects of the case. Though Fucci’s first-degree murder conviction and life sentence without parole for 25 years remain firmly in place, the appearance allowed the Bailey family to speak directly to him again, reopening wounds that have never fully healed.

Tristyn’s mother, Stacy Bailey, stood at the podium with a composure that masked years of torment. Her voice steady but thick with emotion, she addressed Fucci directly: “I cannot accept this. I cannot accept that my daughter is gone because of your actions. Five years later, the pain is still as raw as the day we found her. You took her from us on Mother’s Day—a day that should have been filled with love—and turned it into a nightmare we wake up to every single morning.”

She recounted the horror of that night: the frantic search when Tristyn didn’t come home, the devastating discovery of her body in a wooded area near their St. Johns County neighborhood, stabbed 114 times in a frenzied attack. Stacy described how the family has clung to memories—Tristyn’s laughter, her cheerleading routines, her boundless energy—while grappling with a grief that reshaped their lives. “You didn’t just take Tristyn,” she said. “You shattered our family. We will always be the Bailey 7, but one piece is missing forever.”

Tristyn’s father, Forrest Bailey, spoke next, his words carrying the same raw honesty that marked his impact statement at Fucci’s 2023 sentencing. “How long did she suffer?” he asked, voice breaking. “Did she call for us? Did she think of her brothers and sisters in those final moments? These are questions that haunt me every day.” He emphasized that no amount of time would erase the brutality of the crime or the innocence stolen from their daughter. “You were 14,” he said to Fucci. “Old enough to know right from wrong. Old enough to stop. But you chose violence. You chose to end her life in the most horrific way imaginable.”

Tristyn’s siblings—Alexis, Tegan, Sophia, and others—also shared statements, some read aloud by family members. Alexis, who famously placed 114 stones into a jar during the original sentencing to represent each stab wound, spoke of the ongoing void. “She was the baby of the family,” she said. “The one who lit up every room. Now there’s a silence that never goes away.” The siblings described sleepless nights, missed milestones, and the struggle to find joy in a world without Tristyn’s presence.

The hearing also revisited the impact on the broader community. Tristyn’s cheerleading coach and close friends attended, offering statements that highlighted the ripple effects of her death. One friend read a letter Tristyn had written, filled with dreams of the future—dreams that would never come true. “She was kind, funny, full of life,” the friend said. “And she was taken from us too soon.”

Fucci, now 19 and serving his sentence in a Florida prison, appeared via video link. He sat silently throughout the statements, head bowed at times. His legal team has pursued appeals focusing on sentencing guidelines for juveniles, but the core conviction has remained intact. During the hearing, Fucci offered no new remarks, though he had previously submitted handwritten letters expressing remorse during the 2023 proceedings.

The Bailey family’s statements carried a consistent theme: justice had been served with the life sentence, but healing remained elusive. Stacy Bailey spoke directly to Fucci’s family as well, echoing her words from earlier hearings. “I hope you understand the pain you helped cause,” she said. “Not just to us, but to an entire community that loved Tristyn.”

Tristyn’s murder shocked St. Johns County and the nation. The 13-year-old cheerleader was found dead in a wooded area near her home on Mother’s Day 2021, stabbed 114 times in what prosecutors described as a premeditated attack by classmate Aiden Fucci. Surveillance footage showed the two walking together earlier that night, and Fucci later confessed to the killing after initially lying to police. The brutality of the crime—detailed in autopsy reports and crime scene evidence—left lasting scars on everyone involved.

The 2023 sentencing hearing was marked by powerful victim impact statements, including from Tristyn’s siblings who placed stones in a jar to symbolize each wound. The family expressed profound grief but also resolve to honor Tristyn’s memory through advocacy for child safety and mental health awareness.

Five years later, the pain remains fresh. The latest court appearance allowed the Baileys to reaffirm their unyielding love for Tristyn and their refusal to let her story fade. “We will continue to speak her name,” Stacy Bailey said. “We will continue to fight for justice, for awareness, for every child who deserves to grow up safe.”

As the hearing concluded, the family left the courtroom together—arms linked, heads high. Outside, supporters waited with signs bearing Tristyn’s photo and messages of love. The Baileys paused to thank them, then walked away, carrying the weight of five years without their daughter but also the strength that comes from refusing to stay silent.

Tristyn Bailey’s legacy endures in the hearts of her family, friends, and community. Her story is one of unimaginable loss, but also of enduring love, courage, and the refusal to let tragedy define the future. Five years on, the Baileys face the future without her—but never without her memory.