New bill signed into law protects families from releasing crime scene photos to the public

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a new law last week to protect public record files in the killing of a minor. One of the cases this impact is the 2021 murder of 13-year-old Tristyn Bailey.

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The Bailey family attorney, Matthew Hinson, says they received multiple requests from media outlets and from the public to release the crime scene photos of Tristyn’s body. She was stabbed more than 100 times.

And up until last week, the law states -- the family had to release those photos. But not anymore.

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Hinson said they had to make a change.

“It’s the concern with the irresponsible, Twitter accounts, and YouTube accounts because anyone in Florida or anyone can request from Florida these public,” Hinson said.

When Action News Jax spoke with the Bailey family in April, Tristyn’s father, Forrest, told us losing his daughter to this heinous crime has devasted his family.

“The grieving process is very very difficult on a family,” Forrest Bailey said.

Read: Community coming together to remember Tristyn Bailey at Veterans Park

“I just you can’t imagine just waking up every day and she’s not there,” Tristyn’s mother, Stacey Bailey said through tears.

Hinson said if these photos were out in the public -- it would haunt the family forever.

“It’s so sad now in today’s world there just seems to be such a lack of respect for life,” Stacey said.

Senate Bill 404 already protected the killing of a law enforcement officer and a victim of mass violence. So, in January they began amending section 119 - to protect families involved in “the killing of a minor.”

“It would be a class three felony for those to be released to anyone without the permission of next of kin,” Hinson said.

This amendment was added alongside section 406, which is known as the “Rex and Brody Act” – to protect the reports of minor victims of domestic violence.

On April 27th, the House unanimously voted to pass this SB 404. Last Thursday -- Governor Ron DeSantis officially signed it into law.

But the First Amendment Foundation says denying access to public records does more damage than good by putting a hole in accountability.

Read: Remembering Tristyn Bailey: Family releases statement ahead of Fucci sentencing

“Some of these exemptions are not badly intended,” First Amendment Foundation Executive Director Bobby Block said. “The problem is that often in these kind of cases – by not having access to these records, we also don’t know about the abuses of power.”

The new law has exceptions-- the family can release the info or a third party can request it through a court order.

The goal of the Bailey family is to have Tristyn’s legacy live on in a positive way.

“Her bright light is not going to be forgotten,” Hinson said.

The Bailey Family Foundation is moving forward to help others through victim advocacy, scholarships for local teams, social media education, and self-defense classes.

Its first fundraiser is in November with a Tristyn Bailey Memorial Golf Tournament.

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