ST. JOHNS, Fla. – Remembering a St. Johns County teen whose smile captivated the world: May 9 will mark one year since the murder of 13-year-old Tristyn Bailey. It was Mother’s Day.
Deputies arrested her schoolmate and charged him with murder.
As the somber year mark approaches, Bailey’s family members are sharing a message with the community.
They call themselves the Bailey 7. Bailey’s mother, father and four siblings aren’t looking forward to this day. It’s more pain as they cope with losing her. But they say they’re able to support each other and the love from the community makes a big difference.
“As a family, we continue to be devastated and overcome with grief at the loss of Tristyn,” they wrote in a statement to News4JAX. “With time we are learning to deal with carrying this loss forward. We draw our greatest strength from our love of Tristyn and seek to honor her memory in line with her spirit.”
They spoke publicly at her Celebration of Life last May. Since then, they’ve remained silent so they don’t affect the pending criminal case against the teen charged in the killing.
The community has rallied behind the Bailey family with charity walks and ribbons throughout the neighborhood where she lived. Aqua was Bailey’s favorite color.
Now, loved ones say they want a youth mental health program, a community-focused gym that will also support defense classes and a scholarship program.
Bailey was the youngest of five. The teen loved to laugh and spent her free time as a competitive cheerleader.
“We have seen how Tristyn’s spirit, memory and kindness has grown around the world, from countless aqua bows tied up in her memory to painted rocks carried and hidden around the world to share her legacy,” her loved ones wrote.
On Monday, exactly a year after her death, the Durbin Creek community plans to come together for another vigil like these ones they held last year.
“As we take today to reflect upon Tristyn’s memory and the light her passing has inspired, we encourage everyone to find a moment each day to feed the good wolf,” her family wrote. “Through acts of kindness and love as a community we can drive out evil together.”
Bailey’s loved ones encourage everyone to talk about the positives of her life and not focus on her death.
Bailey’s schoolmate, 15-year-old Aiden Fucci, was in court Thursday for a pretrial hearing. He has pleaded not guilty to a first-degree murder charge. He’s set to go to trial in November.
Full statement:
As a family, we continue to be devastated and overcome with grief at the loss of Tristyn. With time we are learning to deal with carrying this loss forward. We draw our greatest strength from our love of Tristyn and seek to honor her memory in line with her spirit. Our Saint Johns and Jacksonville community, her teammates and classmates are simply incredible in the acts of kindness and encouragement for one another. It is in the day-to-day memories and expressions of love that we best carry Tristyn forward.
We are also working on many lasting ways in which Tristyn’s legacy will support the good. In the next year we look forward to formally announcing many of these efforts. Presently we are working to align with a youth mental health program, a community focused gym that will also support defense classes and a scholarship program. Tristyn’s dedication as a teammate continues to be honored. Saint Johns Middle School Cheer Association, Infinity Allstars Cheerleading, Zone Cheer All-Stars and the Episcopal Eagles Women’s Lacrosse are each recognizing someone within their respective program with a Tristyn Bailey award.
We are deeply appreciative of the many organizations and businesses that have had events to remember Tristyn. From the Aberdeen 5K, Kendra Scott event, POA homecoming game, Outlaws play-off game, Creekside/Episcopal Women’s Lacrosse game, POA Spring concert, to the businesses and individuals that show their teal and aqua in support and spread kindness each day, we’re immensely thankful. Going beyond our local community, we have seen how Tristyn’s spirit, memory, and kindness has grown around the world, from countless aqua bows tied up in her memory to painted rocks carried and hidden around the world to share her legacy.
As we take today to reflect upon Tristyn’s memory and the light her passing has inspired, we encourage everyone to find a moment each day to feed the good wolf. Through acts of kindness and love as a community we can drive out evil together.
With Love Always,
The Bailey 7