Tristyn Bailey, 13, Stabbed 114 Times While Trying To Defend Herself

7th Judicial Circuit State Attorney R.J. Larizza revealed that 13-year-old Tristyn Bailey, who was stabbed to death earlier this month, suffered 114 stab wounds. Her suspected killer was a classmate of Bailey’s, 14-year-old Aidan Fucci. Due to the gruesome and excessive nature of the crime, he will be tried as an adult for first-degree murder. That charge was originally second-degree murder, but new evidence shows premeditation.

Larizza made a statement explaining the decision to try Fucci as an adult. He said, “The executive team and I reviewed all the facts, all the circumstances, the applicable law and it was not a difficult decision to make that he should be charged as an adult. It’s a sad decision and a sad state of affairs, but it was clear to us after we looked at what happened that it was not only appropriate to charge the defendant as an adult, but it was really the only choice that we could make.”

The sheer number of stab wounds is enough to prove premeditation. Larizza said, “Every time that arm went back, and every time that arm went down, that’s premeditation.”

Of the 114 stab wounds, 49 were on Bailey’s hands, arms and head. They were defensive in nature.

Bailey’s body was found on May 9, near a retention pond at the end of a cul-de-sac. She was located less than half a mile away from Fucci’s home. Video footage showed two people that are now believed to be Bailey and Fucci, walking in the neighborhood after 1 a.m. Only one person returned around 3 a.m. A buck knife linked to Fucci by witnesses was found in the retention pond by the body. It matched the wounds on Bailey’s body. The tip of the knife was recovered from her scalp.

Larizza also said that DNA evidence was found on Fucci’s person, as well as on a shirt in his room.

Classmates said that they heard Fucci say he was going to kill a random person.

Even though Fucci will be tried as an adult, the U.S. Supreme Court case Roper v. Simmons states that minors cannot be sentenced to death no matter how heinous the crime is. If he is found guilty, he could receive life in prison without parole.