Family of slain Florida cheerleader slams mom who allegedly cleaned killer’s bloody jeans

The heartbroken family of a Florida cheerleader who was fatally stabbed by a fellow teen released a statement this week slamming the killer’s mother for failing to “take responsibility” for her alleged role in the heinous crime.

Tristyn Bailey’s loved ones released a statement after attending a pre-trial hearing Tuesday for Crystal Smith, who faces felony evidence tampering charges for allegedly washing her son Aidan Fucci’s bloody jeans after he attacked the 13-year-old girl.

“On this extremely difficult day, the second anniversary of our daughter’s and sister’s death, we attended a court hearing on the case against Crystal Smith. It was antagonizing to say the least, and anger ridden as she has continuously failed to take responsibility,” the statement said, according to News4Jax.com.

Surveillance footage from Smith’s home in St. Augustine shows her retrieving Fucci’s stained jeans from his room and washing them in a bathroom sink, according to an arrest warrant.

Both the jeans and the sink drain later tested positive for blood.

Fucci, 16, was sentenced to life in prison earlier this year after he pleaded guilty to viciously stabbing Bailey 114 times before ditching her body in a wooded area on May 9, 2021.

During the Tuesday proceedings, Judge R. Lee Smith rejected Smith’s attorney’s argument that expert testimony about whether Smith could have damaged DNA evidence when she washed the pants was inadmissible, the outlet said. 

The judge also weighed the state’s request that the defense be prevented from arguing that the prosecutors must prove that Smith altered or destroyed genetic evidence in the case.

“What we’re charging is that she altered the jeans. Period. It doesn’t matter if she was successful or not successful,” assistant state attorney Jennifer Dunton argued. 

Lee Smith did not rule on the motion, and said he would continue to take it into advisement.

Jury selection for Smith’s trial is set for May 15. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of five years behind bars.

In their statement, Bailey’s family lamented that Smith did not accept a plea deal.

“This obviously would be a benefit to our family so that we can take our next step forward in focusing on the life and legacy of Tristyn. We also strongly feel this would benefit the community, particularly the children who have had to endure these years of lost innocence replay over and over in their mind,” they explained.

In the face of their disappointment, the grieving family held a remembrance gathering in Bailey’s honor on Tuesday, First Coast News reported.

The emotional event at St. Johns’ Veterans Park was attended by dozens of the teen’s friends and community members, many of whom carried aqua-colored balloons in her honor.

“We’re completely overwhelmed with the support we continue to get and how people are taking her spirit and taking it forward,” Bailey’s father, Forest, told the crowd.

“She was loud and, man, did she have a great laugh and she had a smile. I wish you could contain the power of smiles such as what she had.”