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Aiden Fucci's mom, Crystal Smith, expected to appear in court on evidence tampering charge in Tristyn Bailey murder

Deputies say surveillance video shows her washing blood out of her son’s jeans after he stabbed his St. Johns County classmate over 100 times.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Crystal Smith, the mother of convicted killer Aiden Fucci, is expected to have her final pretrial hearing Tuesday.

She’s charged with evidence tampering in the stabbing death of 13-year-old Tristyn Bailey. Smith has pleaded not guilty. Deputies say surveillance video shows her washing blood out of her son’s jeans after he stabbed the child over 100 times.

According to deputies’ reports, when Smith was with Fucci in the Sheriff’s Office interrogation room, she advised him to “find his story and stick with it.” 

Reports say she also “attempted to convince him” he was wearing khakis the night of the murder, rather than the allegedly bloody blue jeans. 

The reports say Smith whispered the word “blood” to him as if to remind him the pants were not clean.

Fucci was booked into prison last month following an emotional sentencing hearing. The teen was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his classmate Tristyn Bailey.

Fucci was booked into the Suwannee Correctional Institution which is located at 5964 U.S. Highway 90 in Live Oak, Florida. 

The life sentence came after the 16-year-old pleaded guilty to murder prior to jury selection in February.

Credit: St. Johns County Sheriff's Office
Crystal Smith (left), is charged with tampering with evidence in the death of 13-year-old Tristyn Bailey. Fucci (right) is serving a life sentence in the child's death.

RELATED: Ayana Belton, Tristyn Bailey |Two senseless tragedies. One you've heard of. One you likely haven't

Credit: Belton and Bailey families
Ayana Belton, 16, of Palatka was killed after being stabbed 124 times by her boyfriend March 24, 2020. About 30 miles away, 409 days later Tristyn Bailey was killed.

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