Eric Smith (murderer)

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox murderer Eric M. Smith (born January 22, 1980) is an American murderer who, at the age of thirteen, sexually abused and murdered four-year-old Derrick Joseph Robie (October 2, 1988 – August 2, 1993), in Savona, New York, on August 2, 1993. Smith was convicted of second-degree murder on August 16, 1994 and sentenced to the maximum term then available for juvenile murderers: nine years to life in prison. Smith was granted parole in October 2021, after 27 years in prison. He was officially released from prison on February 1, 2022.

Murder

On August 2, 1993, when Eric Smith was thirteen years old, he was riding his bike to summer camp in a local park day camp. 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 Kool-Aid 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 investigation, Robie's body was found.

On August 8, 1993, Smith confessed to his mother that he killed Robie. The Smith family informed law enforcement later that night.

The murder case made national headlines in the United States, largely because of the ages of the killer (13) and his victim (4).

Smith was tried as an adult, making him the youngest murder defendant tried as an adult in New York 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 ears, thick glasses, red hair and freckles.

A defense psychiatrist testified to diagnosing Smith with intermittent explosive disorder. However, the prosecution's expert said the disorder was rarely seen at Smith's age. He was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder instead. He was also diagnosed with depression.

Conviction and incarceration

On August 16, 1994, Smith was convicted of second-degree murder. 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.

Smith was held at Brookwood Secure Center in Claverack, New York, a maximum security prison for juvenile inmates aged 13–17, for three years, and he was then transferred to an open prison for young adults. In 2001, he was transferred to the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York, a maximum security prison. On May 3, 2016, the NYS Department of Corrections website showed him incarcerated at Collins Correctional Facility, a medium security prison for male inmates in Erie County, New York. On April 26, 2019, he was listed as incarcerated at Gowanda Correctional Facility, a medium security prison which is co-located with Collins Correctional Facility. On November 30, 2019, he was listed as incarcerated at the Woodbourne Correctional Facility, a medium security prison in Sullivan County.

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 Savona if released, and would go to a shelter or halfway house instead.

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 released from prison on February 1, 2022. On April 16, 2025, Smith was discharged from parole supervision.

See also

• Craig Price (murderer)
• Curtis Jones (murderer)
• Josh Phillips (murderer)
• Jesse Pomeroy
• Kristen Pittman
• Lionel Tate
• Murder of Ana Kriégel
• Murder of Craig Sorger
• Murder of Elizabeth Olten
• Murder of James Bulger
• Murder of Maryann Measles
• Murder of Michele Avila
• Murder of Skylar Neese
• Murder of Shanda Sharer
• Mary Bell
• Parker–Hulme murder case
• Slender Man stabbing