220:
I know my actions have caused a terrible loss in the Robie family, and for that, I am truly sorry. I've tried to think as much as possible about what
Derrick will never experience: his 16th birthday, Christmas, anytime, owning his own house, graduating, going to college, getting married, his first
192:
state history. He was subjected to extensive medical testing from specialists on both sides. They examined brain function, hormone levels and found nothing to explain his violent behavior. According to court documents, Smith was a loner who was often tormented by bullies for his protruding low-set
271:
In
October 2021, Smith was granted parole after 27 years of incarceration. In that parole hearing, he revealed that he was engaged to a lawyer since 2019. He was scheduled to be released on November 17, 2021, but this was delayed due to Smith not having an approved residence. He was ultimately
174:
from Robie's lunch box and poured it into Robie's open wounds. The cause of death was determined to be blunt trauma to the head with contributing asphyxia. At around 11:00 a.m., Robie's mother went to the park to pick up her son, only to find that Robie had never arrived. After four hours of
263:
Smith was denied parole ten times from June 2002 to
January 2020. After the 2012 hearing, the parole board cited a concern for public safety in its decision, in addition to the opposition of Robie's parents to his release. At that hearing, he told a parole board he would not return to
170:. Four-year-old Derrick Robie was walking alone to that same camp. Smith saw Robie and lured him into a nearby wooded area. There, Smith strangled him until he passed out, then, he dropped a large rock on his head, and sodomized him with a small stick. Smith then took
216:. On November 7, 1994, he was sentenced to the maximum term then available for juvenile murderers: a minimum of nine years to life in prison. While in jail, Smith read out an apology letter to Robie's family on public television:
1073:
225:
At the end of this statement, Smith states that he cannot bear the thought of "walls, razor wire, and steel metal bars" for the rest of his life. He has also apologized to Robie in interviews.
1013:
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child. If I could go back in time, I would switch places with
Derrick and endure all the pain I've caused him. If it meant that he would go on living, I'd switch places, but I can't.
761:
731:
200:, a mental condition that causes violent and unpredictable behavior. However, the prosecution's expert said the disorder was rarely seen at Smith's age. He was diagnosed with
232:, a maximum security prison for juvenile inmates aged 13-17, for three years and was then transferred to an open prison for young adults. In 2001, he was transferred to the
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252:, a medium security prison which is co-located with Collins Correctional Facility. On November 30, 2019, he was listed as incarcerated at the
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On August 8, 1993, Smith confessed to his mother that he killed Robie. The Smith family informed law enforcement later that night.
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The murder case made national headlines in the United States, largely because of the ages of the killer (13) and his victim (4).
998:
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705:
240:, New York, a maximum security prison. On May 3, 2016, the NYS Department of Corrections website showed him incarcerated at
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142:(born January 22, 1980) is an American murderer who, at the age of thirteen, sexually abused and murdered four-year-old
1023:
802:
370:
158:. Smith was granted parole in October 2021, after 27 years in prison. He was officially released in February 2022.
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On August 2, 1993, when Eric Smith was thirteen years old, he was riding his bike to summer camp in a local park
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in 1994 and sentenced to the maximum term then available for juvenile murderers: nine years to
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371:"Where Is Eric Smith, Who At 13 sexually abused And Killed 4-Year-Old Derrick Robie, Now?"
155:
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843:"Freckle-faced killer Eric Smith, now 42, freed on parole, says he's engaged"
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706:"Eric Smith, man convicted of murder when he was 13, denied parole again"
506:
171:
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481:
825:"Eric Smith granted parole after 27 years in prison for killing child"
64:
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if released, and would go to a shelter or halfway house instead.
923:
407:"14-Year-Old Convicted in Murder of Preschooler in Upstate Town"
188:, making him the youngest murder defendant tried as an adult in
634:"Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Documents"
870:"Release delayed for Steuben County child killer Eric Smith"
633:
534:"Blame theories seemed to backfire in teen's murder trial"
196:
A defense psychiatrist testified to diagnosing Smith with
655:"NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision"
896:"Eric Smith released from prison after 27 years: DOCCS"
248:. On April 26, 2019, he was listed as incarcerated at
1074:
People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
732:"Family of victim relieved Eric Smith denied parole"
443:"Family of slain 4-year-old sees murderer sentenced"
480:from the original on December 13, 2021 – via
468:
466:
464:
121:
113:
105:
100:
88:
74:
59:
30:
23:
1014:American prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment
680:"MAN WHO KILLED AT AGE 13 LOSES PLEA FOR PAROLE"
474:"Too Young To Kill – 15 Shocking Crimes Part 14"
564:"19 years later, kid who killed faces us again"
244:, a medium security prison for male inmates in
218:
1059:People convicted of murder by New York (state)
762:"Parole Board Releases Eric Smith Transcripts"
228:Smith was held at Brookwood Secure Center in
193:ears, thick glasses, red hair and freckles.
8:
150:, on August 2, 1993. Smith was convicted of
557:
555:
212:On August 16, 1994, Smith was convicted of
964:Eric Smith parole interview, April 9, 2014
495:
493:
491:
272:released from prison on February 1, 2022.
20:
1084:Violence against men in the United States
364:
362:
202:attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
868:Weaver, Alexandra (November 16, 2021).
358:
175:investigation, Robie's body was found.
146:(October 2, 1988 – August 2, 1993), in
514:from the original on December 1, 2005
383:from the original on February 3, 2024
7:
1064:People from Steuben County, New York
793:"Smith: I wouldn't return to Savona"
500:Leung, Rebecca (February 11, 2009).
437:
435:
400:
398:
369:Bullard, Benjamin (April 14, 2023).
1009:American people convicted of murder
894:Aldinger, Carl (February 1, 2022).
597:Kids Who Murder: Ten American Cases
562:Andriatch, Bruce (April 17, 2012).
405:Nordheimer, Jon (August 17, 1994).
1039:Incidents of violence against boys
932:"Child killer Smith up for parole"
14:
1069:People paroled from life sentence
984:1993 murders in the United States
949:"Eric Smith denied parole again"
612:"Eric Smith denied parole again"
254:Woodbourne Correctional Facility
1034:Criminals from New York (state)
989:20th-century American criminals
198:intermittent explosive disorder
1004:American murderers of children
926:from The Malefactor's Register
768:. May 30, 2012. Archived from
738:. May 16, 2012. Archived from
256:, a medium security prison in
1:
924:What Childhood is Meant to Be
449:. November 8, 1994. p. 4
250:Gowanda Correctional Facility
242:Collins Correctional Facility
234:Clinton Correctional Facility
16:American murderer (born 1980)
947:Zick, John (June 13, 2008).
610:Zick, John (April 9, 2010).
208:Conviction and incarceration
109:Derrick Joseph Robie, aged 4
930:Zick, John (June 2, 2008).
791:Zick, John (June 4, 2012).
659:nysdoccslookup.doccs.ny.gov
1100:
1054:Minors convicted of murder
1079:Violence against children
1029:Crime in New York (state)
538:nyshistoricnewspapers.org
312:Murder of Elizabeth Olten
133:
70:
342:Parker–Hulme murder case
297:List of youngest killers
287:Josh Phillips (murderer)
148:Steuben County, New York
52:Steuben County, New York
999:American male criminals
332:Murder of Shanda Sharer
322:Murder of Michele Avila
327:Murder of Skylar Neese
317:Murder of James Bulger
307:Murder of Craig Sorger
282:Craig Price (murderer)
223:
942:on November 14, 2009.
595:Hayes, Ellie (2023).
302:Murder of Ana Kriégel
246:Erie County, New York
502:"Why Did Eric Kill?"
347:Slender Man stabbing
214:second-degree murder
152:second-degree murder
144:Derrick Joseph Robie
83:Second-degree murder
994:American kidnappers
831:. October 15, 2021.
805:on February 3, 2013
230:Claverack, New York
1024:American torturers
953:The Corning Leader
936:The Corning Leader
712:. January 22, 2020
616:The Corning Leader
411:The New York Times
959:on July 16, 2011.
847:Sandhills Express
622:on July 14, 2010.
576:on April 18, 2012
540:. August 18, 1994
376:Oxygen True Crime
186:tried as an adult
137:
136:
96:(paroled in 2022)
1091:
1019:American rapists
960:
955:. Archived from
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938:. Archived from
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874:WHEC News 10 NBC
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849:. March 18, 2022
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801:. Archived from
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572:. Archived from
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476:. July 2, 2010.
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128:Savona, New York
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89:Criminal penalty
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45:January 22, 1980
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772:on July 6, 2012
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686:. June 12, 2002
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60:Criminal status
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1049:Male murderers
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117:August 2, 1993
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94:life in prison
92:Nine years to
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599:. p. 34.
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77:Conviction(s)
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47:(age 44)
35:Eric M. Smith
33:
29:
22:
19:
957:the original
952:
940:the original
935:
903:. Retrieved
899:
889:
879:November 17,
877:. Retrieved
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863:
851:. Retrieved
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807:. Retrieved
803:the original
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774:. Retrieved
770:the original
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744:. Retrieved
740:the original
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714:. Retrieved
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688:. Retrieved
684:Buffalo News
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662:. Retrieved
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637:. Retrieved
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620:the original
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578:. Retrieved
574:the original
569:Buffalo News
567:
542:. Retrieved
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518:December 15,
516:. Retrieved
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451:. Retrieved
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385:. Retrieved
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63:Released on
18:
979:1980 births
905:February 1,
716:January 23,
639:October 23,
387:February 3,
123:Location(s)
973:Categories
766:13WHAM.com
710:13WHAM.com
447:News-Press
353:References
184:Smith was
41:1980-01-22
25:Eric Smith
664:April 26,
580:April 18,
419:0362-4331
337:Mary Bell
238:Dannemora
204:instead.
809:June 25,
776:June 25,
746:June 25,
690:June 12,
544:June 12,
512:Archived
507:CBS News
478:Archived
453:June 27,
381:Archived
276:See also
190:New York
172:Kool-Aid
168:day camp
853:May 18,
736:WHAM 13
482:YouTube
424:May 25,
106:Victims
101:Details
417:
266:Savona
162:Murder
65:parole
54:, U.S.
907:2022
881:2021
855:2024
829:WHAM
811:2012
778:2012
748:2012
718:2020
692:2024
666:2019
641:2012
582:2012
546:2024
520:2005
455:2020
426:2024
415:ISSN
389:2024
114:Date
31:Born
236:in
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