GUILTY NY - Derrick Robie, 4, strangled, Savona, 1993

[Gardenkeep]

This case captured national headlines in 1993. Derrick's killer was Eric Smith, then 13 years old. It raised a major dialogue on children who murder children, and why.

Eric still remains incarcerated, and he is facing his 11th parole hearing.
Eric Smith, Steuben County child killer, up for parole next week

The Robie family remains committed to changing legislation regarding parole.
Derrick Robie's Parents Continue Fight for New Parole Legislation

Why children fatally attack other children still remains a significant discussion. Derrick's death should not be forgotten. With discussion, perhaps other children can be saved from the same fate as Derrick, and troubled children such as Eric can also be saved through intervention.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

And in a 2014 parole hearing, he claimed that he was bullied by own family and children for his appearance, telling the board that he took his rage out at Derrick.

He added that, despite his “horrendous” and “violent” attacks, he believed the boy would get up and report what happened.

Speaking in 2014, he reportedly said: “He didn't deserve anything that I did to him; no one deserved that kind of violence. What I did to him was brutal.”

“I took my anger and frustration and rage out on him.”

Where is Eric M Smith now?
At the time of writing, Smith is being housed at the medium-security Woodbourne Correctional Facility in the Catskills.

He has previously been housed in a number of adult facilities - having first made the move from juvenile facilities in 2001.

When will Eric M Smith be released from prison?
Eric M Smith was granted parole on October 5, 2021 with reports suggesting that it could be as early as November 17, 2021.
Who is Eric M Smith and where is he now?

 

[Elley Mae]

Discussed I am by his release. I don’t think he’ll be out long or he’ll be killed with his anger issues.

Even at thirteen he had the look of evil in him, and still does imo.

Jmo

...

"He didn't deserve anything that I did to him, no one deserved that kind of violence," the newspaper quoted him as saying in 2014.

"What I did to him was brutal."

Man who was 13 when he killed a four-year-old boy granted parole after decades behind bars

 

[borndem]

Well, I guess parole was bound to happen. I assume he will be assigned a Parole Officer and have to report to the PO on some frequent (let's hope) basis. Maybe he has grown up enuff to know what his limits are, etc., and what what is acceptable out in the real world.
What he did was a horrible, horrible thing. I hope that he will be among people who can help and support him in the real world.
I remember this happening and reading about it. That sweet little boy, walking to he park alone for the first time. It was only a block or so. Then he was gone forever.

 

[Filly]

My heart breaks for the Robie family but especially for Dalton.


People have no clue. None. Unless it happens to them. Time.

 

[borndem]

My heart breaks for the Robie family but especially for Dalton.


People have no clue. None. Unless it happens to them. Time.

I just cannot imagine that happening. Even after being here on WS all these years. SMH. But it happens to someone somewhere, every day.

Just hoping that Eric will keep a low profile; stay close to wherever home is; and cause no problems for anyone. That's at least what he owes to society.
Oh, that sweet little Derrick, taking his first "all by myself" walk down one block. Going to the park, one block away. SMH.

 

[Knitty]

Freckle-faced killer Eric Smith, now 42, freed on parole, says he's engaged

 

[borndem]

Thanks for the article, @Knitty. Hoping that Eric truly will do and live what/how he said he planned. Also hoping that he has received effective counseling, etc., while he was incarcerated. Having a fiancée, a place to live, and plans for classes/employment should help quite a bit.
Fingers crossed.

 

[borndem]

Just saw this --
CBS "48 Hours" at 10:00pm EDT, on Saturday, 03/26/2022, will present "Eric Smith: Gambling on a Killer."

 

[Elley Mae]

Freckle-faced killer Eric Smith, now 42, freed on parole, says he's engaged

I don’t have the same feelings as the Robie’s.

I would look forward to seeing him at the parole hearings knowing that he was still in prison.

He still has the look of evil.

Jmo

 

[ex-stat]

I just watched the TV show.

Don't envy the parole board.

What concerns me is if he did this through anger, is he still angry? All of that time spent in jail, what happened to him there? My concern would be not that he would harm a child but have thoughts towards successful adults who had what he did not - a stable childhood, nice career, married life and so on. Born with a silver spoon type people. Hope he can just ignore all of that. Life is not fair, but a lot of people have it worse.

What if life on the outside is not everything that was hoped? Life is life - break-ups, unemployment issues, housing issues. What if people recognise him and stupidly jeer etc. I hope that he was prepared for all of this.

Thirteen is so young. Didn't the sister say that she was abused? He was bullied in the extreme and took it out on someone else - someone completely innocent. What happens if someone bullies him in adulthood? He is staying in approved housing. So I would imagine there could be certain issues there. All have to be dealt with. It is not going to be easy but that does not mean it is not possible. I know they will have weighed all of this up.

I hope very much that it is all genuine, he does feel remorse and he just wants to quietly do the best he can. That would be the best outcome and proof that what he said was true.

At the end of the day, Derrick Robie, the little boy, he is gone . But I don't believe in an eye for an eye. The whole world would end up blind.

 

[borndem]

Time will tell, as always.
Eric was what they call a FLK (funny-looking kid). He was teased at school -- kids can be so mean sometimes. Apparently he didn't really have any school or neighborhood friends. And I think things were not that good at home, either.

He had lots of pent-up anger, and then he saw Derrick. Eric knew he could "take him," STS, and he did. I don't think Eric would have stopped there, had he not confessed essentially to LE. Please know that I am in no way excusing what Eric did -- absolutely not. SMH.
Did Eric's mom not see anything out of the ordinary with Eric? His teachers at school? If so, this angry, angry child apparently did not get any or enuff counseling, so he finally blew.
Hoping Eric had some serious and effective treatment, counseling, etc., while he was incarcerated. Of course it won't bring little Derrick back, but let's hope that Eric will handle himself they way he should.
We'll see.

 

[TwinkieDefense]

Dec 7, 2024 article

A Boy, 4, Vanished on Way to Summer Camp. Then a Family Friend's Teenage Son Started Asking Alarming Questions

More than 30 years after Derrick Robie's murder, his killer is now free and living in New York

people.com

[…]

While the nightmare appeared over for the village of 940 people, the trauma recurred every two years for Robie's family when Smith went up for parole. In 2021, Smith, by then 41-years-old, was granted parole and moved to Queens, New York, according to CBS.

[…]