Cruz's 18th victim: Parkland high school shooting survivor, 19, who struggled with 'survivor's guilt' and losing her best friend, takes her own life
A student who survived the Parkland shooting has taken her own life. Sydney Aiello, 19, a recent graduate from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, committed suicide over the weekend, according to her mother Cara Aiello.
Cara Aiello told CBS Miami that her daughter had struggled with 'survivor's guilt and was recently diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Sydney was close friends with Meadow Pollack, one of the 17 students and staff killed in the mass shooting on February 14, 2018.
The youngest of her family, Pollack was one of four seniors gunned down at the high school on Valentine's Day. Meadow Pollack had been ready to go to Lynn University in Boca Raton.
Cara Aiello said her daughter Sydney was on campus when the shooter opened fire but was not in the Freshman Building.
She added that Sydney, who was studying at Florida Atlantic University, struggled to attend college classes because she was afraid of being in a classroom and was often sad but hadn't asked for help before she killed herself.
She took her own life on March 17. Her funeral took place Friday.
In the immediate aftermath of the tragedy the Broward school district opened several counseling centers. Grief counselors and comfort animals were also on site as students returned to school in the weeks following the shooting.
Nikolas Cruz, suspected of killing 17 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, appeared in court, Friday.
Cruz, 20, did not speak at the pre-trial status hearing in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where his public defender asked for prosecutors to hand over all body cam evidence.
But things became heated between defense lawyer Melissa McNeill and Judge Elizabeth Scherer as McNeill sought an order to force the prosecution to hand over the footage within 10 days.
This court has put us under a schedule, and we are not able to comply with that schedule because we are not receiving the information that we need to prepare this case for trial,' McNeil said, according to WPLG-TV.
'You're being disrespectful and I'm not going to be talked to in this way,' Scherer told the lawyer. After the hearing resumed, the judged eventually agreed to order prosecutors to turn over all of the body cam evidence within 10 days.
Cruz's trial is scheduled for early next year, no specific date has been set, as yet. Cruz's attorneys have said he will plead guilty in exchange for a life sentence.
The prosecution is seeking the death penalty. On Wednesday it was reported that the Principal of Stoneman Douglas High, Ty Thompson was reassigned amid an ongoing investigation into whether teachers could have prevented the killings.
In January, a commission report found that he was 'disengaged' with the school's threat assessment process and was unaware that shooter Nikolas Cruz's behavior was of concern.
Three other school employees who were in the school on the day of the shooting have also been reassigned. A GoFundMe page has been created 'In Loving Memory of Sydney Aiello', which has already raised more than $24,000.
'Sydney spent 19 years writing her story as a beloved daughter, sister and friend to many,' it reads. Tributes poured in on the page.
'I knew Sydney when she was a little girl, she was so beautiful, funny & very sweet. She was my granddaughters friend. My heart breaks for Sydney & her family,' one contributor wrote.
'Please accept this small token of my heart felt love for you. I will pray hard for you every day,' Grace Agostino wrote. 'So sorry for your loss - she was our children’s babysitter,' the Shear Family wrote.
Sydney is survived by her parents Cara and Joe, and her brother Nick. Sydney Aiello loved yoga. According to her mother, she wanted to dedicate her life towards helping others.
Meadow Pollack's father, Andrew Pollack, told the Miami Herald that his heart goes out to Sydney Aiello's parents. Pollack has become an outspoken advocate of increasing school security.
'It's terrible what happened. Meadow and Sydney were friends for a long, long time,' Pollack said. 'Killing yourself is not the answer,' he added. If you or someone you know is struggling you can call the National Suicide Prevention Line on 1-800-273-8255.
To speak to someone outside the U.S. visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention.