The eric smith case
The Freckle-faced killer
Eric m. Smith
13 year-old turned murderer. Laws, consequences, and the actions that will take place after.
Eric Smith
Eric M. Smith is an American murderer who, at the age of thirteen, tortured and murdered a four-year-old child, Derrick Joseph Robie in Steuben County, New York, on August 2, 1993.
August 2, 1993
"Eric Smith spotted the child. Smith lured the child into a wooded area, promising to show him a shortcut. When they were alone, he strangled Derrick and beat him to death with rocks." -CBS NEWS
Cause of Death
Smith strangled him, dropped a large rock on his head. Smith took Kool-Aid from Robie's lunch box and poured it into Robie's open wounds before leaving him in the woods.
The Victim
Cause of death was determined to be blunt trauma to the head with contributing asphyxia. At around 11:00 a.m., Robie's mother, Doreen, went to the park to pick up her son, only to find that Robie had never arrived.
Smiths Conviction
On August 16, 1994, Smith was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to the maximum term then available for juvenile murderers: a minimum of nine years to life in prison.
Smiths Outcome
In October 2021, Smith was granted parole after 27 years of incarceration. 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.
Opinion of the case outcome
I think Smith deserved his sentencing and his charges. His actions are outrageous and he should be punished to the full extent of the law.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Smith_(murderer)
https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2022/03/18/child-killer-eric-smith-and-victim-derrick-robie-what-know/7089613001/
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/eric-smith-released-derrick-robie-murder-timeline/