14-year-old boy accused of killing 13-year-old classmate, Florida officials say
A 14-year-old from St. Johns County, Florida, who is accused of killing his classmate made his first court appearance on Tuesday.
Authorities say 14-year-old Aiden Fucci stabbed 13-year-old Tristyn Bailey to death.
Fucci is being held at the Regional Juvenile Detention Center in Volusia County, Florida. He is charged with second-degree murder in the death of the beloved cheerleader.
During a Zoom hearing that included Fucci, his parents, and attorneys, Juvenile Court Judge Michael Orfinger found probable cause to believe that an act of delinquency occurred and that Fucci is the person who committed it.
The teen allegedly killed Bailey, who was reported missing in St. Johns County early on Sunday. Her body was discovered Sunday night.
The victim and her accused killer attended the same school and lived in the same Durbin Crossing community.
Sheriff's detectives now say Bailey was stabbed to death and that evidence was discovered in the suspect's home.
Her death has devastated the community. Hundreds of people attended a vigil in Bailey's memory on Monday night.
Fucci is charged with second-degree murder, but that could change, officials said.
State Attorney's Office spokesman Bryan Shorstein wrote, "our office will continue to investigate the case to determine both the appropriate charges going forward, and whether or not he will be charged as an adult."
In the meantime, the 14-year-old murder suspect will remain in juvenile detention based on the probable cause finding.
During that detention hearing, an assistant state attorney indicated a filing decision will be made in that 21-day time frame.
The 21-day secure detention ends May 31.