Eric Smith, 42, of Steuben County, New York, was arrested and convicted in 1993 for the brutal murder of 4-year-old Derrick Robie. Smith was just a teenager at the time. His scary story will now be told and reviewed in the upcoming 22nd episode of season 18 in 48 Hours on ID. Eric Smith: Gambling with a Killer is the official headline of the latest 48 Hours on ID. The official synopsis for the episode is as follows:
“Eric Smith served 28 years in prison for killing 4-year-old Derrick Robie in 1993; it was released in February 2022; Jim Axelrod investigates whether the man has changed.”
Without further ado, let’s dive into the top five facts about Eric Smith before episode 22 of season 18 of the true crime series airs on Investigative Discovery. Learn 5 fun facts about Eric Smith ahead of the premiere of the new show 48 Hours on ID on Investigative Discovery.
Child killer Eric Smith then and now… pic.twitter.com/wFYZ889F8x
– Crime virus (@CrimeViral) February 19, 2018
Contents
Who is Eric Smith really?
A terrible chain of events that began in August 2013 ruined Eric’s life forever. Smith was 13 years old then and lived in a small town in Steuben County, New York. Smith is 42 years old this year. His fiancée is studying law. Smith stated he wanted to get married and have children. At one of the guilty pleas, he said:
“I want to get married and have a family. You know, keep your job, you know. Follow your American Dream.” (Source: CBS News)
What exactly did Eric do?
On August 2, 1993, 13-year-old Eric brutally tortured and killed Derrick Robie, a four-year-old boy from the same village. Derrick was initially tricked into following Eric into the woods, where he strangled and beat him to death with a baton. After his parents filed a missing person report for him, police found the boy’s battered body in the woods, surprising the entire small community of Steuben County, New York.
What happened after the heinous crime?
After that horrific episode, Eric Smith was accompanied by his mother and a family friend with the case investigator, where he confessed to his gruesome behavior. In August 1994, Smith was sentenced to nine years in prison. At the age of 21, he was transferred to a juvenile detention center and eventually transferred to a prison.
Why would Eric commit such a heinous crime?
According to sources, Eric committed the murder because he was tired of being bullied. He is teased by other teenagers at school for having freckles and red hair. He remained angry with the youth even after Derrick Robie was killed. In response, he told CBS News:
“My anger is not directed at Derrick at all, but at… all the other men messing with me. And that’s what I saw in my brain when I tortured and killed Derrick.”
What happened to Eric?
After being released from prison after 28 years, Eric went to Queens, New York, where he still lives to this day. When he confessed in court, he showed remorse and repentance, saying:
“I killed Derrick… And, you know, I’m sorry… If I could swap with him and live in his tomb, I’d do it in a heartbeat.” (From CBS News)
Categories: Entertaintment
Source: vcmp.edu.vn