Florida Teen Aiden Fucci Pleads Not Guilty In Death Of 13-Year-Old Tristyn Bailey Who Was Stabbed More Than 100 Times

JACKSONVILLE (CBSMiami/AP) — A 14-year-old boy charged with first-degree murder in the death of classmate Tristyn Bailey has pleaded not guilty.

Aiden Fucci is being tried as an adult. He's being held in the Duval County Jail but is being separated from the adult population.

Bailey's family reported her missing on Mother's Day and her body was found in the woods, less than half a mile from Fucci's home, following a daylong search. Evidence, including video surveillance, led investigators to Fucci. He was originally charged with second-degree murder, but the charge was upgraded because of the severity of the crime.

R.J. Larizza, the state attorney for Florida's 7th Judicial Circuit, said the 13-year-old was stabbed 114 times.

"At least 49 of those stab wounds were to the hands, arms, and the head. They were defensive in nature," he said during a recent news conference.

Fucci is represented by the public defender's office after his parents were declared indigent by a judge.

A pretrial hearing for Fucci is scheduled for July 28 in neighboring St. Johns County where Fucci and Bailey lived and attended school.

If convicted, he faces up to life in prison.

(© Copyright 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)