Episode 288

Summary

Sword and Scale – Episode 288: The Dark Secrets of St. John's

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Introduction: Shattering Illusions in St. John's

Sword and Scale delves deep into the harrowing true crime case that unfolded in St. John's, Florida. Episode 288 chronicles the tragic disappearance and subsequent murder of 13-year-old Tristan Bailey, unearthing the dark underbelly of a seemingly idyllic suburban community. This episode explores not only the brutal crime but also the intricate web of relationships, deceit, and desperation that led to the community's unraveling.

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The Peaceful Facade of St. John's

The episode begins by painting a serene picture of St. John's, a suburban enclave that experienced rapid growth from 18,000 to almost 90,000 residents over a decade. This growth, however, concealed underlying tensions and secrets that would soon come to light.

Mike Boudet [00:33]: "This is season 12, episode 288 of Sword and Scale, a show that reveals that the worst monsters are real."

Despite its outward tranquility, St. John's held secrets that would soon disrupt its veneer of safety.

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Tristan Bailey's Disappearance: A Mother's Nightmare

On Mother's Day, May 9, 2021, Tristan Bailey's sudden disappearance shattered the community's sense of security. Her mother discovered her empty bed and immediately initiated a frantic search, involving police and extensive neighborhood inquiries.

Mike Boudet [06:01]: "While her mother was on the phone, Tristan's father scoured the property desperate to find her."

Tristan, a well-regarded cheerleader with good grades, was not the typical target for such a heinous crime, making her disappearance all the more unsettling.

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The Suspects: Teenage Boys and Misdirection

As the investigation commenced, suspicion quickly fell on three teenage boys: Trey Absher, Aiden Fucci, and Afton Abrahini. Their actions and digital footprints painted a disturbing picture.

Jeff Valen [09:42]: "They were hanging out at the north. They snuck out sometime in the middle of the night and were hanging out at the north."

These boys were known for their troubled backgrounds and involvement in illicit activities, such as drug use in the notorious underground tunnels beneath the neighborhood.

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Social Media and the Brink of Horror

The boys' use of Snapchat during the critical hours added a chilling layer to the case. Videos captured in the back of a police cruiser showed nonchalant behavior amid a missing person's crisis.

Jeff Valen [04:05]: "Tristan, if you fucking walk out down."

Their social media posts, including distressing messages and interactions, fueled rumors and heightened suspicions within the community.

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Unraveling the Truth: Evidence and Inconsistencies

Investigators uncovered a trail of evidence that implicated Aiden Fucci. Security footage contradicted his statements, revealing inconsistencies in his account of the night Tristan went missing.

Jeff Valen [14:20]: "He said he thought she hit her head."

Aiden's shifting stories and the discovery of blood-stained clothing linked directly to Tristan solidified the case against him.

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Parental Involvement and Cover-Up

Aiden's mother, Crystal Fucci, played a pivotal role in attempting to shield her son from the consequences of his actions. Her involvement raised questions about parental responsibility and the extent to which family members can influence legal outcomes.

Jeff Valen [35:27]: "She brought the jeans out of her room and handed them to me, and I held them up, and I didn't see anything on the jeans."

Crystal's efforts to obscure the truth only deepened the community's disillusionment and highlighted the complexities of familial loyalty versus justice.

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The Final Confrontation and Sentencing

As evidence mounted, Aiden Fucci was brought to trial. Despite initially pleading not guilty, external pressures and overwhelming evidence led him to change his plea to guilty. The court proceedings were intense, with the gravity of Tristan's suffering and the community's trauma emphasized.

Jeff Valen [50:22]: "He said that he wanted to kill someone to see what it was like to kill someone."

The sentencing reflected the heinous nature of the crime, with Aiden receiving a life sentence, acknowledging both his actions and the profound impact on Tristan's family and the wider community.

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Aftermath: Community and Family in Turmoil

The case left an indelible mark on St. John's. Families grappled with loss, suspicion, and the unsettling realization that darkness can reside even in the most trusted relationships. Tristan's father voiced a poignant reflection on the unpredictable and concealed capacities within their own children.

Jeff Valen [67:40]: "Sometimes the darkness we fear most isn't lurking out there. It's right in front of us, hidden beneath the choices we make."

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Conclusion: Lessons from a Tragic Loss

Episode 288 serves as a sobering reminder of the fragility of community trust and the unforeseen depths of human depravity. Through meticulous storytelling and raw audio evidence, Sword and Scale not only recounts a gruesome crime but also invites listeners to reflect on the broader implications of secrecy, protection, and the true nature of evil within society.

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Notable Quotes:

• Jeff Valen [16:53]: "Aiden Fucci will be tried as an adult. To say that it was horrific could arguably be made as an understatement."

• Jeff Valen [50:16]: "It was done for no other reason than to satisfy this defendant's internal desire to feel what it was like to kill someone."

• Jeff Valen [43:20]: "You don't know what happened to her after you pushed her."

• Jeff Valen [58:41]: "Though there were no sexual assault charges pursued, this one witness says that Aiden confessed to raping Tristan before killing her."

• Jeff Valen [67:40]: "Sometimes the darkness we fear most isn't lurking out there. It's right in front of us, hidden beneath the choices we make."

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Final Thoughts

This episode, meticulously produced by Elena Thomas, underscores the profound complexities of true crime storytelling. By providing a 360-degree view of the events, Sword and Scale invites listeners to ponder the unsettling questions about human nature and societal flaws that this case brings to the forefront.

For more in-depth content, consider subscribing to Sword and Scale Plus and support the podcast at store.swordandscale.com.

Transcript

[Mike Boudet]

Sword and Scale contains adult themes and violence and is not intended for all audiences.

[Jeff Valen]

Listener discretion is advised. There was no reason. There was no purpose. It was done for no other reason than to satisfy this defendant's internal desire to feel what it was like to kill someone.

[Mike Boudet]

Why is there a Sword and Scale on a Tuesday? That doesn't seem right. I should call the manager. This is season 12, episode 288 of Sword and Scale, a show that reveals that the worst monsters are real. Hey, instead of complaining, why don't you head on over to the store and buy something? Store.swing and scale.com we got murder daddy shirts. We got People are tank tops. We have sass hole dad hats that are perfect for summer. In fact, we have a whole bunch of tumblers and things that are great for the beach or the pool. Why don't you head on over there and support your favorite podcast, Because I know this is something we do for the love of it, but, you know, we also like to eat every now and then. It's getting a little warmer out there. So let me take you down to a little place called St. John's Florida. It's a suburban dreamland tucked between Jacksonville and St. Augustine. Sounds pleasant, doesn't it? This is a place where life feels peaceful, predictable, ordinary. Golf courses blend seamlessly into HOA neighborhoods. Everyone has a pool here. Parents trust that when their kids leave in the morning, they'll come back at night before the streetlights turn on. St. John's wasn't always as booming as it is today. In fact, it was barely a dot on a map just a few decades ago. But things have changed, especially in Florida. Over the past 10 years, the once quiet community has exploded in size, growing from just over 18,000 people to almost 90,000 today. Despite that growth, there's still a sense of security here, a belief that you know your neighbors, that you know your children, that bad things happen somewhere else. On Mother's Day, May 9, 2021, it would take only 12 hours for that sense of safety to shatter completely. You're gonna have to pay close attention here. We're gonna jump around in the timeline a bit, but we'll start at around 3.30pm on the side of one of these beautifully landscaped streets sits a cop car. In the back seat, there are two teenage boys, both about 14 years old. They live in the area, and their parents have money and ring cameras everywhere. These aren't the type of kids you usually see in the back of a police cruiser. They're laughing, each holding their own Phone with one extended arm as they record videos on Snapchat for cred.

[Jeff Valen]

I'm having fun in a fucking cop car.

[Mike Boudet]

Yep.

[Jeff Valen]

Tristan. What's up guys? Tristan, if you fucking walk out down.

[Mike Boudet]

Would you see this in a mud pack? He's talking about a missing teen, Tristan. He says, tristan, if you walk out the dam. And then the video cuts off, then Aiden posts another snap, but he's holding up a peace sign and it's captioned, hey guys, has anybody seen Tristan lately? You see as they're laughing and joking in the back of a cop car, their classmate is missing. It's as if the gravity of the situation hasn't sunk in yet. Or worse, that it doesn't matter. Earlier that morning, 13 year old Tristan Bailey's mother had awoken to find her daughter's bed empty. Given Tristan's age and the fact that she's a cheerleader with good grades, her mom immediately called 911.

[Jeff Valen]

Yes, it is. I need somebody to come to my home right now. I have anything to help. Take a big breath for me. Okay. How old? She's 13. 13 years old. Can you go room by room with me? I did, I did take a big breath. I had my whole family. Okay. Was she supposed to be sleeping in her room? Yeah, she. The last time somebody saw her was at midnight with last night. Yep. What time? We all waited for dinner. The last time her sister saw her was at midnight. Is there any reason that she would have left to go to a friend's house? No. Has she ever snuck out before? No, not to my knowledge and I. Her location is off. Her Snapchat locations off. I have my friend has her unlike strength 60 and now she stopped sharing location. Her phone's going straight to voicemail.

[Mike Boudet]

While her mother was on the phone, Tristan's father scoured the property desperate to find her. When that failed, he got in his car driving through the neighborhood in search of her. Soon police started to arrive at the Baileys residence ready to take statements and launch a full scale search of their own.

[Jeff Valen]

So you know, my wife and I woke up this morning and what time is that up? It's okay. We probably both Woke up around 7. Okay. And my daughter was had said that she was going to make breakfast for my wife because it's mother's Day. Started making breakfast. It was around 9:30, when I say 9:30 or 9:40 that we asked my son to go upstairs to wake up, come down for breakfast. Okay. He came down and said he didn't find her in her room or in the media room, which the kids would sometimes sleep on if they're watching tv. Okay. So I went up to drive around the two amenity centers. Just worried that. I'm sorry if I'm going too fast. No, you're fine. Worried that she might be up there. And then you came back over here and that's when law enforcement started to show up, correct? Correct. Law enforcement was here at one point. So that's when we started to piece together that she snuck out last night. We begin tonight with breaking news from St. Johns county where Police say this.

[Mike Boudet]

13 year old girl hasn't been seen.

[Jeff Valen]

In some 15 hours. Thanks for joining us at 6. I'm Jeff Valen. This is the photo the St. Johns.

[Mike Boudet]

County Sheriff's office wants you to take a close look at. Tristan Bailey is missing. Deputies say she was last seen during the overnight hours at the Amenities center in the Durban Crossing suburbs subdivision.

[Jeff Valen]

You know, again, so many families out here. You know, I talked with one family who says their kids went to school with Bailey and they still can't believe something like this happened. You know, they've been living here for about 12 years now and they said never has a child been missing. The St. John's County Sheriff's office says Bailey was last wearing a white cheerleading skirt and a dark colored skirt shirt. So if you have any information about the current whereabouts or of seen Bailey, please contact your nearest local law enforcement.

[Mike Boudet]

After piecing some things together and talking with the parents of some of Tristan's friends, they quickly determined that Tristan had plans to sneak out that night, as did many other kids. Apparently there were secret tunnels underneath Tristan's neighborhood, which is straight out of a Stephen King novel and you know, kind of cool.

[Jeff Valen]

We heard that she was linked with potentially this boy Trey, a boy Trent and a boy Aiden. There was also another boy, Joshua, but from everything I've heard that Joshua didn't pan out. At one point I also left, I left with my daughter because we heard there's this place called the tunnel where kids sometimes go and use drugs.

[Mike Boudet]

Here's one of the other parents talking about the notorious tunnels.

[Jeff Valen]

They were hanging out at the north. They snuck out sometime in the middle of the night and were hanging out at the north. And then the two boys went home and they said gonna go home, but she was gonna meet this 22 year old guy that I guess he buys babe stuff from or it's a 22 year old dealer or 22 year old plug, whatever that means. But I don't know who that guy was.

[Mike Boudet]

Sneaking out into those tunnels wasn't uncommon, especially for teens looking for an escape from the ordinary or the watchful eyes of their parents. And the numerous, Numerous security cameras. I mean, I really should buy some ring stock.

[Jeff Valen]

Describe to me what takes place at the back of these trails as far as your understanding of it.

[Mike Boudet]

What are these?

[Jeff Valen]

People do drugs, they come out high. What kind of drugs? All I know of, or I've seen with my own eyes is marijuana. And I've seen vapes. Okay. 95% of the time when I go to North, I do not see people coming in or out or even if I go in there. People in there, okay, it's normally like 1:30 in the morning, people go back there. What's her relationship with Trey and Aiden? Do you know? I mean, I have no idea. I personally didn't even know they knew each other. You didn't know who knew each other? I didn't know. Aiden, Trey, them two, I didn't know they knew. Okay, what do you know about. I mean, how is she? Describe her to me. She. I just know she did. She played cheer. I knew she was friends with. She's normally friends with older kids. At lunch she'd normally come sit up with like the older kids because she was in sixth when I was in eighth. So she would always be up with like the seventh or eighth graders. And I just know she was kind of one of the popular people. Okay, describe Trey and Aiden for me. What do you know about them? I know first with Trey, I used to. I would help volunteer and coach the POA volleyball team for boys. And he used to play and he got kicked off for punching this kid named Josh in the face and like hurting him pretty badly. And I just know that he has a bad background. I've heard things from people about his family and just not to mess with him in general. I just know he's one of the bigger kids that just is one of the bullies of this school. Okay. He's had problems. And then Aiden, he's. I've. I've had problems. He has in the past, I think maybe three or four months ago, jumped one of my friends named Henrik in my grade. Okay. And that's how I know he's not a very good person. Trey has been held back. He's 15, he's in the eighth grade. And Aiden, I'm pretty sure he's 14 and in the eighth grade.

[Mike Boudet]

Rumors were starting to spread fast. Group chats lit up with speculation, quickly adding new names to the mix from.

[Jeff Valen]

Everyone talking about It. I just heard that she was missing, and then I thought she just like snuck out or something. But it turned out people talking about what they thought happened or what happened and one of the kids that was supposed to be involved. Mm. And who was that? Afton Abrahini. I think you say his last name. How old is he?

[Mike Boudet]

He is 14.

[Jeff Valen]

He's in my grade. And he had said some things in a. Was it a private chat and someone screenshotted it and put it on? Do you know who he was talking to? It's his. His name is on it. And he says, Aiden. Trey just snuck out with her. Trey and Chalkin. So they went in the woods. He raped her when she was all up on him. She tried running away and he hit her and she fell and she bled out literally 30 seconds away from my house. Aiden tried to get me to go with them. Do you know who got the screen grab of this? That kid that's right there. And he sent it to you? It was in a group chat. It got reposted everywhere. I'm okay. Do you know Aiden? He went to my school last year. He was in my math class. He was really bad kid. He was always getting into trouble with girls at school, and I was all over them. Yeah, I'm pretty sure he got expelled from our school. That's why he goes to poa. Okay. What about Trey? I have no clue. I just. My boyfriend was. He sits at the lunch table with him and he was like, I would never suspect him to do that. Like, he's not a very good kid, but he was like. I would have never thought he would do that. Gotcha. You said that there was another conversation too that had been deleted. Oh, yeah, they. Someone posted on their story, but I don't think anybody even had time to screenshot it because they deleted it like that. He was like. It was like a group chat that they had like planned to do this between Trey and Aiden or. Yeah. Who was on that group chat? Afton? Trey and Aiden. That's the reason. Yeah. My understanding is that I know both kids decently well and had problems with both of them in the past. And that their area or all the kids area around here that do drugs or just don't do good things hang out at this spot by north, just way back there in the woods. And I know that just sounds like an era they would take people to do things like that.

[Mike Boudet]

As Trey Absher and Aiden Fucci sat in the back of a cop car broadcasting themselves on Snapchat, rumors continued to Circulate. The leading theory was that the two boys had lured Tristan into the woods, assaulting her and killing her. Allegedly, they had even tried to involve a third boy, who backed out. Even more suspicious, Tristan allegedly had an ongoing sexual relationship with Trey. Keep in mind, folks, These kids are 13 and 14 years old. Prior to Tristan's disappearance, a video had been circulating around the school that depicted the teens were in a sexual act. Dre had secretly recorded the encounter and shared it with other boys, which, by the way, can stick your kid with charges in the realm of possession, production, and distribution of child pornography, even if they're minor, in case you didn't know. So if you're parenting via iPad, I would suggest you get off your ass. So, anyway, the night before Tristan went missing, Trey had been badgering a different girl from their school to come meet them out in the woods that night. Her name is Lola.

[Jeff Valen]

And, you know, I don't know how you pronounce his name. Adrian. Aiden. Aiden Fucci. Yeah. Do you know him? Well, I didn't know him personally, but I heard about him a lot. In the fifth grade, he got. He got sent home because he broke a kid's nose. And then he's been getting in a lot of trouble and stuff because. And, like, I didn't know him personally. I stayed away from people like him. And then earlier today, he posted something in the back of the cop car saying, yo, anyone seen and traded the same thing? And everybody's been reposting that and saying about how messed up that is. Right. He asked me to sneak out earlier that morning, and I said, yeah, because, like, live a little. Have fun. What time do you think? Around 10:30. He asked me first, and then he kept snapping me throughout the whole entire day, which he was like, are you still going? Are you still going? Which I felt a little bit weird. And so then that was at 10:30am or p.m. that was a.m. and so that would have been Saturday morning yesterday. So what my main theory was is that after Trey got mad at me and I got mad at him, he asked her to sneak out. And then. So I know that, like, at food trucks, she would always talk about the times when she sneaked. Sneaks out and stuff. And I know that she's not exactly like, you know, like, ideal daughter, and everybody just wants to sneak out and have fun.

[Mike Boudet]

Tristan had actually told one of her friends about her plans to hang out with Trey and Aiden. Tristan was the only one who thought that sneaking out and hanging out with these boys was a good idea, even her fellow 13 year olds told her not to go.

[Jeff Valen]

She was like, I'm supposed to meet up with them sometime this weekend. So I guess it was like after school. I didn't really know when. It was like I had this like, really bad feeling because, like, she was like, we're gonna go hang out. And I was like. Like, it just didn't sit right with me. And I got very agitated. And then she asked me, what's wrong? And I told her, like, I didn't really know. Like, it just like I didn't really want her to go. And I mean, I guess she went anyways.

[Mike Boudet]

But despite the warnings, though, Tristan followed through with her plan, walking straight into the unknown. But while everyone was busy pointing fingers, there was one side of the story that no one had heard yet. The boys. As afternoon turned to evening On Mother's Day 2021, the peaceful St. John's community had become the epicenter of a frantic and investigation. What began as a simple search for a missing teenage girl had quickly morphed into something dark and strange. All eyes were on three teenage boys. Doffis Sapscher, known by everyone as Trey, Aiden Fucci, and a third boy, Abton. The rumor mill was an overdrive, and no one knew what to believe. So it's around 4pm And St. John's county cops have Trey and Aiden in the back of a squad car. They have to get a statement from each of them before they decide what their next move is. Meanwhile, another deputy drives over to Abdin's house to get statements from him and his family.

[Jeff Valen]

Hey, are you Aiden? Yes, ma'am. Hey, I'm detective police officer here at the sheriff's office. We're trying to figure out where Christian's at. And I'm not trying to get you in trouble or anything like that. Obviously, I'm more concerned now about her safety and what she's doing, where she could be hanging out. You're telling him that there may be another path that he's maybe staying at or she's staying at. What's the path? It's. There's like a trail that goes super deep down there down in the woods. Okay. Have you heard from her at all? No. Okay. All right. So are you willing to kind of give me a statement about what's going on with her? Yeah. So we were at Trey's house and I stayed there until probably like 1:50am and then I was really late to be home, so I just had to leave or else my mom would like, seriously just kill me. Okay. So we started walking home. And then next to like, where that brick wall starts up there. Okay. Is where like, she touched my dick and I, like, pushed her off me real hard. And then I just kind of like got. I want. Kind of walked away with anger. So why did. Why did she do that though? Was she like. Were y'all talking about, like. Oh, she's a hug is what you're saying? Okay. All right. She's ready for like. She has a guy who usually sells machines. She says she bangs and he's like painting something. She. She's told you about this before? Yes.

[Mike Boudet]

The other classmates had mentioned this elusive 21, 22 year old guy too. Apparently, Tristan was, quote, banging him and was being provided cases of White claw along with vapes and whatever drugs she wanted. Lsd, shrooms, weed, you name it. Both Trey and Aiden told police they thought she might have been picked up by this guy after she and Aiden had their little fight and parted ways in the middle of the night. They weren't the only ones with this theory. As these stories unfolded, the police were working behind the scenes, gathering hard evidence. All of the kids houses were within walking distance, but the streets were densely packed, meaning officers would have to knock on a lot of doors. Then, after scanning hours of security and doorbell camera footage, someone finds a clip. The truth is about to surface one frame at a time, and it's far more chilling than anyone imagined. You see, when law enforcement first located Aiden, he gave his side of the story. He said that after leaving Trey's house on Telford drive at around 1am he and Tristan walked along North Durban Parkway. He claimed that about a quarter out of the way into their walk, she parted ways and made a left onto Cloisterbane Drive, her street. Aiden said he kept walking toward his home on Castledale Court and got home at around 3am but the detective quickly picked up on a problem. Why had it taken Aiden two hours to get home? The distance from Trey's house to Aidan's home was just under 2 miles. A walk like that shouldn't have taken more than 40 minutes, tops. Aidan, sensing the shift in tone, tried to adjust his story a bit. He told the officer he'd been walking around by himself for a while, for whatever reason. This inconsistency raised red flags, of course. To get a clearer picture, the detective asked Aidan if he'd be willing to ride in the back of a patrol car and retrace the path they had walked together. Aidan agreed, and his dad followed behind him in his golf cart. As they Drove up North Durban Parkway. Aidan's story shifted once again. This time, he admitted that he had an argument during the walk. He claimed Tristan had tried to make a move on him, and because he didn't want to cheat on his girlfriend, he pushed her. Does that sound believable, ladies? I didn't think so. Anyway, he said she fell and he even got out of the car to demonstrate the push, saying he thought maybe she hit her head. But he walked away and didn't look back. But something still didn't add up. Surveillance footage obtained from a home on Saddlestone Drive up near Castledale Court, where Aiden lived, showed something entirely different. At approximately 1:45am two figures were captured walking east along the road. One was wearing a light colored hoodie and wearing Nike shoes, and the other was dressed in black. But by 3:27am the same camera captured only one figure wearing a light colored hoodie running west. The footage even captured the sound of his feet slapping against the sidewalk. He was shoeless, carrying his white Nikes. This raised a question. Why had Aiden and Tristan been spotted together way past Tristan street on Saddlestone Drive if he had claimed she parted from him much earlier and headed home? After seeing this footage, investigators knew they had to bring in Aidan one more time for questioning. They now had proof that he wasn't telling the full story. Aidan was the last person to see Tristan. No one else was involved. Once he's put in the back of a squad car, Aiden's behavior turns desperate.

[Jeff Valen]

When you're done over there, bring the.

[Mike Boudet]

Canines over to Leith hall and North.

[Jeff Valen]

Durban to get a scent from over here. Yeah, no, yeah, he's with me in the car. Okay, bye.

[Mike Boudet]

As soon as the door shuts and the cop walks away, he tries to FaceTime his girlfriend, whom he has in his phone as, quote, dream Girl. I mean, I can't even make this up. Guys.

[Jeff Valen]

Let me see your phone. Thank you.

[Mike Boudet]

Take his phone, too.

[Jeff Valen]

For now, we're gonna be holding on to your phones, all right, buddy?

[Mike Boudet]

These kids are much more technically savvy than the cops that are dealing with them. Did he really think that just putting Aiden's phone in the front seat would keep them from using it?

[Jeff Valen]

Hey, Siri. Tax Dream Girl. They took my phone. I'm using Siri and I love you. Bye. Your message to Dream Girl says, they took my phone. I'm using Siri and I love you. Bye. Ready to send it? Yes. Okay, it's sent. Hey, Siri, text Dream Girl. I'm talking through the glass. I cannot see your Text your message to dream girl says, I'm talking through the glass. I cannot see your text. Ready to send it? Yes. Okay, it's sent. Hey, Siri, Text green. Dream girl, please stick with me through this. Sorry I missed that. Could you say it again, please? Please stick with me through this. I'm sorry.

[Mike Boudet]

While Aiden was being driven to the police station, he lashed out in frustration, kicking the seat in front of him and complaining. I'm gonna get arrested for bullshit, he said. At the same time, across town, detectives were at the Bailey residence, trying to gather more information about Tristan, hoping to understand what kind of girl she really was.

[Jeff Valen]

So obviously we're here because went missing and we're trying to figure out where she could be at. And I just want to ask you some questions about, like, the last time you had maybe seen her or, you know, what's been going on with her, anything like that. From your knowledge, when was the last time you saw her talk? It was sometime after 12, so I think it was probably around 12:15. She came downstairs, she talked about something that I couldn't remember. Okay. And then she went out to the garage to take a call. And then when I went to see what she. She was on FaceTime with a boy, and I think it was Trey. Now, have you tried calling her or texting her or anything like that? Have you had any luck? Yeah, I've called her a few times, but it just gets straight to voicemail. Okay. Has this ever happened with her before that you're aware of? No. No. You've never heard of her sneaking out until today or. No. Okay.

[Mike Boudet]

Now, at this point, the Baileys knew nothing of Aiden's story. They were still trying to investigate their mysterious 22 year old drug dealer lead. The officer following up with them instructed Tristan's younger sister to call a girl named Sam. You see, apparently Sam and her sister Lena were closer to Tristan and had more information about this guy. Ultimately, this would end up being a fruitless pursuit. But Tristan's mother was desperate.

[Jeff Valen]

Trey and Aiden were like. She said she was gonna go meet with her 22 year old plug. Okay. Plug like means like dealer, I guess. Okay. And so when like she said that, I was like, oh my God, like I know someone. Like, I don't associate with him whatsoever, but I know of him and I really hope everything's okay. Thank you, Sam. If you guys need anything else, just let me know. Okay? I'll let you know, Sam. Okay. All right. Sammy. What? Please, just. Please just be honest with me. I don't think you're not being honest, but somebody just sent me a message and it said that Lena didn't tell the police everything that she knows. Sam, does Lena know anything else? How can we if she doesn't know anything? Can you get it out of her?

[Mike Boudet]

As Tristan's mother and sister talked with a detective in the kitchen, someone was walking near Saddlestone Drive where Aiden and Tristan had been caught on camera the night before. As Tristan's family speculated about different possibilities, holding out hope that she may be found alive, this person had just come upon her body.

[Jeff Valen]

Hello? Hi, this is operator Hartselle Sheriff's office. Your phone call 911. Is everything okay? No. I found the missing girl. There's a. At the end of the street, there's a retention pond. On the other piece of property. Yeah, at the end of that. If you come back to the pond at the southern end of it, she's about 25ft in the woods. In the woods, not in the pond. She's in the woods back here behind the pond. Yes, sir. She's. She looks like she's wearing black shorts and a black shirt.

[Mike Boudet]

Okay.

[Jeff Valen]

Don't touch her. Flu. Sir, she's wearing what color? It looks like black shorts, black Nike shorts and a black shirt. And she's not moving, correct? No, there's bugs flying all over. I don't think she's Alive.

[Mike Boudet]

As a 911 caller hung up the phone, Tristan's family was ending their call with Sam. Tristan's father was in another room at the time. He was the first of them to hear the news. And I gotta say, brace yourselves.

[Jeff Valen]

Alright, thanks. Okay, I love you. Love you too. Okay, bye. Sam. This is like coming through overcome. Call you guys back soon, okay? Okay. Thank you. Of course. Bye. Bye. Okay. No, no, no.

[Mike Boudet]

Well, one family faced the unthinkable loss of their daughter. Another parent just a few miles away was already trying to protect their own child, no matter the cost. But as the truth started to unravel, it became clear not every parent was grieving. In fact, some were already covering their tracks. During the night and into the early morning hours, Aiden and his family were being kept in an interview room. Holding them in a room together was intentional. But this flew right over their heads.

[Jeff Valen]

What's this wish? It's a holding arm. It's a holding room. They're gonna send two detectives in here and start talking to you. Whatever. You know, you need to talk to your lawyer first. Do I have a lawyer? Yeah, you do. Hey.

[Mike Boudet]

That's the sound of Aiden's mother, Crystal Entering the room. You're gonna love her.

[Jeff Valen]

You know you don't speak until Andy comes. You have to speak in the cop car. You don't have to speak anywhere until your attorney comes, which is Andy.

[Mike Boudet]

You knew it.

[Jeff Valen]

Andy, we know. Yes. So you did not have to speak in none of the cop cars. You had to speak anywhere until he was present. You just see, I'm not speaking as my Tony's here. That was it. Are they asking questions? Well, they asked like what color is my hair and what color my eyes and all that. That's all I am. And then where you live? You know they found this girl, right? Where? In our neighborhood, down our main street. Is she good? No, she's not. She's dead. That's why this is very important. It's all on you right now. Oh, my problem? You were the last one seen with her. So right now, it's a lot of is facing you right now, son. So however you talk, you breathe, you think, then you respond. This is very serious, Aiden. You can't act like I don't know. I don't. I don't. I don't know. You can't and you can't. This is serious. Clearly. You understand, right? Everything you say will affect you.

[Mike Boudet]

Everything you say will affect you. She says right after. You can't act like I don't know. Hmm. What'd she mean by that?

[Jeff Valen]

That Snapchat that you did was not very smart. Not good at all. Now we have people wanting to burn our house out in our car sound because of that Snapchat thing you did. It's all over. You're all over the Internet and everywhere. Social media. It is on social media. You'll probably come stay with me after we get done with this. Just for your world's safe being. When you did the Snapchat, it fired up. Hannah heard about it, and it just doesn't look right. So everyone thinks that you did you and another kid killed or raped her. And that's going around social media pretty fast right now.

[Mike Boudet]

Before we play the next clip, remember what Crystal had told her son when she came into the room? She basically scolded him for talking to the cops before his lawyer was present, but not realizing there are cameras in every room. She nonchalantly goes on to ask him all the same questions a detective would ask in an interrogation. She does their work for them.

[Jeff Valen]

Did you tell them anything different? The concord that we don't know about? No. Do you know if this girl got picked up, Told him about her dealer? You Think she got picked up by him? Probably. She said she wasn't coming home. She said she's gonna find somebody to see. After you left her there walking like. You think she got picked up after that, she just kept walking? Probably. I don't know. Do you know if she turned the other direction or if she was just still walking behind you? So you pushed her down and then you walked away? We shouldn't be talking. I'm just asking what you told the cops. I didn't understand. I was just asking what you told them as you. You walked away. You came straight home. You didn't turn back around, see what you went. What were you doing outside that late at night, Tree's house? Hanging out with them. Did you kiss or do anything with this girl? Be honest as you can to them. To Andy, your lawyer? Yes. Yeah, I kissed her. Any further. Mm. So your DNA's gonna be on her.

[Mike Boudet]

I remind you that these people are allowed to vote.

[Jeff Valen]

You saw your. Your shoes were off on the camera while your shoes off. Because my feet were hurting. You know, she's giving you blisters. This is serious. It's very serious. This isn't no joke. This is your whole life. Your whole life. And ours. And ours. And your brothers and sister. Did she really grab you and you just really pushed her, or was that. No, she did. Okay. You don't know what happened to her after you pushed her. Did she say ow or get mad? She said Aiden. She was like, aiden. I think I pushed her, but I just told her iPhone and she walked up. Do you know what direction she rolled up? Probably the other way because she wasn't next to me anymore. You didn't look back or nothing? Mm. They're searching her house right now.

[Mike Boudet]

Crystal sounds really nervous. Doesn't she try to keep up here. I know it's a lot. The lawyer she mentioned hiring for Aiden is actually a family member. Crystal isn't married to Aidan's dad. She remarried. And her new husband's brother in law is a lawyer. So we're talking about that level of lawyering. The lawyer's wife's name is Victoria, and she knows Crystal did something very bad.

[Jeff Valen]

First off, if you could just tell us, what is your relationship to Aiden Fucci's family and how do you know them and what's the relationship there? Through marriage. My husband and Aiden, Fuji's mother's husband, are first cousins. Well, that morning we decided to go on a golf cart ride to go see their construction that's being taken in their home. We got There, and we're looking at their kitchen and light pendants. And officers showed up needing to speak to Aiden and his parents. I soon followed after just to see what was going on. And the officer was asking questions about where the last place Aiden had seen the girl and were there any drugs involved, etc. The officer asked if he could take Aiden so Aiden can show him where the underground tunnels are in the neighborhood. And his mom agreed to that. So Aiden left with the officer in his patrol car and they went to the North Amenity Center. Crystal and I were outside with the children, and I had asked her had she looked in his room to see if she'd seen anything that would be beneficial or strange. And she said no and said that she was going to. So she went up to his room and I stayed outside with the children. She had came back down and she had said that his jeans were damp. And I had asked her if they are wet or damp, and she said damp. And I said, okay. Like, her face looked kind of pale. And I said, what else? And she said there was like a discoloration on the jeans. And I said, I don't remember exactly what I said, to be honest. I had asked her where the jeans were, I believe, and she brought me inside. Okay, when she brought you inside, did she show you the jeans? Yes. And how did she show you the jeans, or did she say anything while she was showing you the jeans? She brought the jeans out of her room and handed them to me, and I held them up, and I didn't see anything on the jeans. And if I don't see anything. And she said, yes, you do. And I looked at them, and it was like on the back butt pocket, there was a discoloration underneath the pocket of the jeans. And I said, it looks yellow. And she said that she had washed it. When she had said she had washed it, I said, why would you wash it? And I don't recall what she said to me at that point. There was something else. You said, why would you wash those jeans? Oh, you could get in trouble. Okay. Yeah, I'm sorry. Well, I just knew that there was a missing girl at that point, and he was the last person seen with her. And in my mind, I wouldn't have touched anything in his bedroom. I mean, if it was my child, I would have went up there and looked to see what was going on, but I wouldn't have messed with anything in his room just because I know they probably would come with a search warrant to search the home. SA.

[Mike Boudet]

By dinner time. On May 9, 13 year old Tristan Bailey's body had been found. And 14 year old Aiden Fucci's guilt seemed undeniable. The home security footage showed him walking to his house in the early morning wearing the same jeans as mother Crystal later admitted to washing. But it wasn't just a simple wash. Crystal was doing more than laundry. She was rewriting the truth. And as investigators circled closer to the Fuchi family, Crystal wasn't just hiding evidence. She was actively trying to reshape the narrative. Attempting to coach her son into saying he wore a different pair of pants that night. This wasn't just a mother protecting her child. This was something much more calculating.

[Jeff Valen]

I gotta go home and get your clothes. More clothes. The clothes you were in. There'd be nothing on those clothes, right? Mm. You want khakis or clothing? Sure. There's no. We looked on the camera. You were. Yeah. Yes. Right.

[Mike Boudet]

Aiden tries to tell the truth, that he was wearing blue jeans that night. But his mother says, are you sure? When we checked the security camera, you were wearing khakis. When police checked Crystal's security camera footage, they found something very different. Not only was Aidan seen entering the house in the blue jeans, cameras inside the home caught Crystal scrubbing them by hand in the sink. Now, she was working overtime to cover both of their asses. Soon, Aidan had to be swabbed for DNA samples. And after that, they're all moved to a different room than the one they were in before.

[Jeff Valen]

Jen. Yes. Everything said is recorded. The other room was not.

[Mike Boudet]

What a fucking idiot.

[Jeff Valen]

Don't say nothing. Don't take nothing from anybody. Keep your head down. Don't look up your. No, just keep your head down. It's gonna be rough. Yeah. You'll be fine though. I taunt you. You say there's a chance of miracle. Yes. They're gonna search my house first. And if there's any kind of thing that links. But now he's gonna go home to. There's always a chance. You're right. There is. I just want to get his hopes up. Hopes up? Mom, I know. I'm standing here. Nothing alter like mess with your mind to do anything. You're supposed to say, it was cbd. It was cbd, not thc. THC gets you high. CBD don't do judge. I'm just trying to think if you did something stupid, maybe something made you do it so that'll justify it.

[Mike Boudet]

Even if he had been high, nothing could have justified what Aiden did to Tristan. Nothing. Nada. His parents babied him Comforted him and even assured him that they'd put money on his books. Aiden was no victim, though. He was not a child. He was a monster. A cold hearted killer. Someone with absolutely no conscience.

[Jeff Valen]

Today, the St. Johns county grand jury convened and issued an indictment against Aiden Fucci for first degree murder involving our victim, Tristan Bailey. Aiden Fuchi will be tried as an adult. To say that it was horrific could arguably be made as an understatement. The medical examiner completed an autopsy on our victim and identified confidently that there were 114 stab wounds. 114. At least 49 of those stab wounds were to the hands, arms and the head and were defensive in nature. The bottom line is that premeditation could be inferred certainly from just the sheer number of stab wounds that Tristan Bailey had to suffer. Every time that arm went back and every time that arm went down, that was premeditation. And it happened if you times 114 by 2, that's 228. But it's not just the fact that she was stabbed 14 times. 114 times. It's also information that we were able to gleaned from witnesses. The defendant made statements to several people that he intended to kill someone. He didn't say who that was, but he indicated to witnesses that he was going to kill someone by taking them in the woods and stabbing them. Which are certainly the facts of this case.

[Mike Boudet]

Remember dream girl, Aiden's girlfriend? Well, here she is.

[Jeff Valen]

Did you ever hear Aiden discuss having a certain plan that he wanted to carry out and not maybe specifically to a certain person, but did he ever discuss in detail like, this is how I would do something or this is what I want to do? Yeah, he did. Can you tell me about that? They were sitting on my roof and the topic was brought up again about. He asked me, like, what I would do if he murdered someone. I don't know what my answer really was, but he would say that if he was going to murder someone, it was gonna be planned. He said that he would just walk at night or something and find like a random person walking to and just drag them in the woods and stab them. Okay. He said that he thinks it's gonna happen soon. He said I should expect it within the month. And when was that that he said this? I think this month. The defendant had a knife that he carried with him. A knife was found in the pond very close in proximity to our victim's body. That knife had a tip that was broken off. That tip was located by the medical examiner in the scalp of Our victim, Aiden, kept knives for protection. He always had a knife on him. If he wasn't at school, he would keep his AirPods. He listened to music to try and calm him down. He said that helped him with his anger. Well, there was mainly two that he would have on him, and it was one that his stepdad gave him. It was like a. It was like a kind of gray, black, like army looking one that had a skull on it, maybe like an orange skull on it or something. And he called it Picker. Okay. Because it had, I guess, teeth the knife had. You mean like it. Like it had a serrated edge? Yeah. Okay. There was another one. It was like yellow and it was like it was made out of wood. I think he called that one. He called one picker and then he called that one poker. The statements that the defendant made to his friends made it clear that he was considering a homicide. And I got to tell you this, it's disturbing and concerning that those statements were not, let's say, adequately or appropriately or not taken seriously by the folks that heard them. I'm not saying that this could have been avoided, but I'm saying that it was never reported beforehand.

[Mike Boudet]

Along with a series of violent drawings, investigators found blood stains on clothing and shoes Aiden had hidden in his bedroom. The samples matched Tristan's DNA profile. Slam dunk. All the while, Aiden's parents took extreme measures to protect their sweet little angel from a big scary thing called consequences.

[Jeff Valen]

I'll always have her back. Always. We hug you, we tell you we love you. Because we do on the outside. Can you take a moment? Are they taking me away? I don't know what they want to do.

[Mike Boudet]

They were in fact going to take him away. It was 1am by this point, he was dressed in an orange jumpsuit and he was destined for a jail cell.

[Jeff Valen]

Come here, buddy. Stand out for me. Turn around.

[Mike Boudet]

Being arrested, this guy Aiden pleaded not guilty to his charges. Even without the support of his family lawyer and under the guidance of a public defender, he was confident enough to take his case all the way to trial. In February of 2020, three jurors were selected. But before that could begin, Aidan changed his plea to guilty. And that's a good thing that he did because someone at the county jail had already snitched on him. This guy came forward with no promises made in his own case. Aiden had apparently told him the whole story of what happened that night. I know it's gonna be really hard to understand this guy, but he's a. Well, he's a criminal. He's a jailhouse informant, a snitch, a rat, not a public speaker, so there's that.

[Jeff Valen]

At some point in time, the defendant in our investigation, Aiden Fucci, was transported to the Duval County Jail and he was placed somewhere in the vicinity of you, correct? Yes, sir. Okay. And where were you located at whenever Aiden Fuji was transported and housed? In the Jacksonville County Jail? I mean, I block segregation. I block segregation. Yeah, he and I block segregation. Okay. One man cell. So if you could explain to me kind of how these cells are arranged or situated. They're right next to each other. They're one man cell. They got a shower, a toilet, and a bunk in each one of them. Okay. The only way you could talk is through the vent. Okay. And see, I don't get no newspaper. I only get to make one phone call. I don't come out for no wreck. I can't see nobody. Paperwork. Do you have a television? I have no television. Have none of that. Okay. I have no Internet access. I have none of that. Okay. Before Aiden Fucci was transported and housed in the Jacksonville County Jail, did you have any knowledge of this case that we're investigating in St. John's County? No, sir. Okay, so how did you become aware of this investigation that we're working in St. John's County? He told me. He said, me and Trey. This is my right. He said, me and Trey was at Trey house and he wanted Christian to come over. She snuck out her house and it was like 12am when we left. Seeing him and Trey, I mean, him and Christian. We left her house and went into the woods. I made sure I had my knife. We walked on the streets a little bit first, and the camera got us going in together, then me leaving by myself. But once we got into the woods, we had to get past this barbed wire fence to get to the pond. We got on these floaters and we had sex. She act like she ain't want to, but I made her. It was good. I came inside her a little bit and that shit was on my mind. So I said to myself, she got a die, man. I just snapped and I stabbed her. A lot of times she was yelling my name, excuse me, I ain't care. Then I threw the weapon in the gun and I left. I got home, it was like 2am Trey called me the next day and asked, have I seen her? I said, no, it's crazy because that's one of the things in my head that I planned out. He said there was no witness, that a neighbor camera had him and her going in the woods, but only him coming out. He said he told the police he was walking around. He said he told the police she was running away and she could sleep there. He said she was straight girlfriend. That's his homeboy and she was 13. He said it was by his house. He said it was a pun. It's a big. It's a big. It got floaters on it. He said he smoked some weed and he been planning to have sex with her. He said he ice her. Can. Can they have sex? She said no and he raped her.

[Mike Boudet]

Though there were no sexual assault charges pursued, this one witness says that Aiden confessed to raping Tristan before killing her. It just gets worse and worse, doesn't it? Aiden's sentencing hearing occurred over the course of three days. His mother faced charges for her involvement as well. Thank goodness with her sentencing to occur right after her sons.

[Jeff Valen]

I have considered all of the evidence that has been presented for the last during this week, the testimony that was presented, the victim impact statements, the the evidence that was submitted, the filings and I have analyzed each and every one of those factors as well as any other factors that may be relevant to these proceedings in order to determine an appropriate sentence for this case. I would say that the defendant has shown some ability to modify his behavior that was shown in school through the Dean of students. However, as Dr. Pritchard noted, this crime is extraordinary. His behavior was so unusual compared to individuals his age that there is a poor prognosis for rehabilitation. The effect of this crime that has had on the victim's family and on the community is significant. There is no greater loss than the loss of one's own child. The nature and circumstances of her death have caused an even greater trauma on her loved one ones. Her siblings, parents and extended family members all provided compelling victim impact statements relating their personal struggles with coping with her death. It has caused them deep and emotional and mental health problems. They are no longer able to function as the family they once were. It has also had a tremendous impact and effect on this community. This court has reviewed all of the letters that were submitted by her friends, teachers, coaches and others. Approximately 150 letters were received. I have read all of them and all of them strike a similar chord. This was a devastating crime. It was devastating to the children of this community. It materially changed an entire community. Some of the letters indicated and discussed children who were teenage children who could not sleep in their beds alone and had to sleep in between their parents for fear of what happened in this case. I would submit that this case is probably the most difficult and shocking case that this county in St. John's county has, has dealt with. 114 stab wounds, 49 defensive wounds, 35 wounds to the head and neck, 29 to the back and shoulder, and six fatal wounds. This court has reviewed and seen more than its fair share of autopsy photos. The autopsy photos in this particular case were particularly difficult. The 49 defensive wounds indicate that Tristan Bailey was conscious, that she was aware, and that she was doing everything she could to fend off this attack. She suffered a painful, horrifying death from someone that she trusted. Her screams were most likely stifled by her own suffocating lungs. He lured her into a secluded place in the woods near his home, a person that she trusted, and he led her there under false pretenses. There was a heightened level of premeditation in this case based on the prior statements that he made to his girlfriend and his friend. He indicated that he was going to kill someone, at which point he determined that it was going to be Tristan Bailey. I don't know, but there was going to be a victim. He indicated that he was going how he was going to do it, that he would take them into a wooded place, that he would stab them, he would kill them and then run away so that he could keep on killing. He told his best friend that he wanted to kill someone to see what it felt like and he wanted to watch them bleed out. This particular crime was committed with the weapon of choice as a knife, which he nicknamed poker. That required a up close, personal type of murder that is rare, it's unique. What is also very troubling is that this crime had no motive. This was not done out of greed. It was not done in retaliation, retribution or revenge. It was not a crime of passion. It was not a crime that was committed because he felt rejected by her. It was not done in a fit of uncontrollable anger. There was no reason, there was no purpose. It was done for no other reason than to satisfy this defendant's internal desire to feel what it was like to kill someone. It is for this reason and all of the reasons previously stated that leads this court to the conclusion that there is only one appropriate sentence in this case. Mr. Fucci, if you and your attorneys would please rise. Counsel, is there any legal reason why this court cannot impose sentence at this time? No, sir. Mr. Fucci, having entered a plea of guilty to this crime of first degree murder, I adjudicate you guilty of the premeditated first degree murder of Tristan Bailey. I Sentence you to life in prison. Because of your age, you are eligible for review of the sentence. In 25 years, you will be taken back to the Saint or to the Duval County Jail and then transported into the Florida State prison system. We are adjourned.

[Mike Boudet]

This sentence means that Aiden Fucci could get out of prison before his 40th birthday birthday if he behaves well, if he's a good boy. So far he's not really made a name for himself as an obedient inmate. His mother, on the other hand, only spent 30 days in jail for tampering with evidence and will be on probation for five years. This murder not only shattered a family, but it made everyone in the community leery of each other. As I would argue you should be in any community, especially small ones. The fact that an adult was involved in the COVID up made it all the more shocking. Parents were slammed right into the face of reality when it came to what their teenagers were doing behind their backs. But no one expected a crime so brutal, let alone a cover up so close to home. After the sentencing, Tristan's father spoke outside the courthouse.

[Jeff Valen]

As part of this investigation, the amount of kids sneaking out in our community and the frequency of how often they are doing so had us completely dumbfounded with regard to Crystal Smith and her apology. As I mentioned before, there's an open case with her, so it's difficult to comment. The fact that we are continuing to have to go through the legal process makes the apology questionable. You've seen the videos from the home, you've seen the videos from the interrogation room. I would say if she's sorry, she can start by accepting responsibility to Aiden's family. I would remind them that he is still here. They can still see him. They can encourage him to change his behavior of bragging about his brutality and threatening the corrections officers and their families that keep him from harm and setting out on a better road.

[Mike Boudet]

In a tight knit community like St. John's everyone thought they knew each other. Neighbors trusted one another. Families felt safe and parents believed they understood their children. But this case and cases like it shatter those illusions. It wasn't just about sneaking out or the dangers of lurking online. It was about realizing how much of their kids lives parents were missing. As Tristan's father put it, they didn't even know what their own kids were truly capable of. But this case wasn't just about the actions of teenagers. It was also about the choices made by full grown adults that should know better. Crystal Fucci's desperate attempt to protect her son to cover up for him in his darkest moment taught us all a painful lesson. When someone is drowning in their own choices, sometimes trying to save them without thinking can pull you under two Sometimes the instinct to shield a loved one from consequences only drags you down with them. This crime took more than just Tristan's life. It shattered a family and forced a community to confront the uncomfortable truth. Sometimes the darkness we fear most isn't lurking out there. It's right in front of us, hidden beneath the choices we make. And when someone is drowning in their own sins, jumping in after them only ensures you both sink. This episode was written and produced by Elena Thomas, one of our senior writers. We're gonna start giving our producers a lot more credit in the future, something we should have done a long time ago. If you enjoyed that show, head on over to swordndscale.com consider signing up for plus and getting a whole lot more content commercial free and Also check out store.swingscale.com Stay safe.

[Jeff Valen]

SA.