Eric M Smith: Eric Smith imprisoned for killing Derrick Robie (photo)
By Clarencia Cynrae on March 30th, 2009Eric M Smith was born on January 22, 1980. Smith was convicted and sentenced for sex abuse, murder and mutilation of Derrick Robie, 4. Smith committed his crimes in Steuben County, New York. Smith was 13 in August 2, 1993, when he killed Robie.
Eric Smith wrote a letter of apology to Derrick Robie’s family. Smith received a sentence of 9 years to life imprisonment. Smith was denied parole in 2006 and 2008. Eric Smith remains jailed in Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York. Smith’s current age is 29.
Eric Smith’s family blamed his mental health for his behaviors. Smith’s mother said she took drugs for epilepsy while she was pregnant with Eric. She said Eric was born with learning challenges and exhibited some difficulties during his childhood. Smith himself could not explain why he killed Derrick Robie.
Smith hated bananas. Robie had a banana in his lunch box on the day he was abducted and killed by Smith. The killer quashed the banana with vehemence and that gave a clue to investigators who guessed the suspect did not like bananas and was probably a child. An adult would not destroy a banana at the scene of the crime in such a way. Someone tested Smith by offering to buy him an ice cream with a banana in it (maybe a banana slit).Smith voiced his dislike for the fruit.
Every two years, Smith’s case will be reviewed by a parole board.
Derrick Robie’s family has released the details of how their son died. The Smiths want people to remember Derrick, who was battered with rocks, sodomized and strangled. Robie’s family thinks Eric Smith may not be released into society because of the potential danger he poses.
Eric Smithat CBS news and photo.
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April 26th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
I watched a show the other night about what happeneed and I saw a very frightened and toubled boy.I was picked on when I was in school .I feel for him.I think this man could be a good mentor and counseler to help out troubled kids.He deserves a chance to do good.Good Luck Eric and God bless and keep you. Chris P.S I will be praying for you.
April 27th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
How could someone say that this guys deserves a chance? The little boy that was murdered deserved a chance and Eric Smith stole that from him and his family. I hope he never gets out.
June 13th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
You feel sorry for the CRIMINAL? Have you read what he did to that boy’s body? He SODOMIZED it with a STICK. I also hope he never gets out. The victim’s poor family.
June 13th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
To Chris H.,Good luck Eric? If Derrick was your little boy, I doubt you would have any sympathy or feel Eric deserves anything other than to spend his life in prison. Pray for Derricks family. If Eric is ever let out of prison, would you be so sure he wouldn’t murder again?
June 13th, 2009 at 11:37 pm
I think that he should serve out his entire term of “life” in prison.
It’s called justice.
June 15th, 2009 at 8:22 am
No question that this is a gruesome, senseless crime. My question is, doesn’t the mom have any responsibity in this? Once that 4 year old left his house, whose responsibity was he?
July 18th, 2009 at 4:18 pm
You all are a bunch of dumb ass’s.My oldest boy was 4 years old at the time in 1993.Don’t tell me any of that because God is willing to forgive Eric so until you know the facts shut the crap up.I’ve been writing back and forth to Eric in prison and I can say he is a good and honest man full of love.I’ve been bullied myself so if you don’t know everything about Eric you have no right to say anything.And by the way my Pastor is behind me on what I’m doing with Eric.Get off his back he has suffered enough himself.
July 22nd, 2009 at 9:13 am
Chris H – YOU SHUT THE CRAP UP! Everyone has the right to their opinion, and just because their opinion differs from yours, who are you to call them dumb asses????? You don’t everything about Eric, I don’t care if you moved into his cell and lived with him! What you “know” is what he has told you, but you sympathize with that crap, because you were bullied. There are a whole lot of people that were bullied as a child, that did not go out and commit murder, so you need to deliver that load of crap somewhere else!!! I don’t care if your Pastor is behind you on this (as if that is some “endorsement” of some kind), I stand behind everyone on this board, that agrees that he should remain behind bars. God does forgive, and if he has asked for foregiveness (which I doubt), then he is forgiven, but that does not mean that he should be released. Release from incarceration has absolutely NOTHING to do with whether someone has been forgiven by God, those are two totally separate issues altogether. Where is your (and your Pastor’s) compassion for the REAL VICTIM, Derrick? Eric is not the victim here, let’s not get it twisted. Eric’s head was not bashed in with a rock, Eric was not sodomized with a stick, HOW DARE YOU shift victim status from Derrick to Eric!!!! If you know so much, then you also know that Eric said he “enjoyed it”, so if you don’t know everything (and you don’t) about Eric, then by your words, you don’t have the right to say anything either. I will not get off his back, and yours either for condoning this travesty!!! HE HAS NOT SUFFERED ENOUGH! LET HIM SUFFER AS LONG AS DERRICK’S MOTHER, FATHER AND BROTHER SUFFER BECAUSE OF HIS ABSENCE, at the hands of this MURDERER!!!!!!
July 30th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
I dont’ know when this blog started, so I’m probably coming into late in the game, but I have been so disturbed by it over the years and looking for a reason, I surfed again and found this article and blog. I watched the latest show about this crime on TV about a week ago. Eric claims he now better undersands the gravity of what he did. I still don’t think so. The mere fact that he seeks release and advocates for his freedom tells me he does not understand the gravity of what he did, not is he truly sorry. If he understood the agony of Derrick’s family, or how pervese we normal people view his crime, he would not seek freedom and he would be content to serve his sentence. Begging a parole board to release you does not imply ownership of the crime or a guilty conscience. He says what he says because he knows he stands of better chance of forgiveness if he speaks remorsefully, but someone truly remorseful would see they do not deserve freedom or any other chance to be part of society. Kids unfortunately are bullied every day but they don’t all kill. Those that do, don’t sodomize and mutilate the body. He is sadistic and I don’t beleive there is any cure for or rehabiliation of that. He is what he is. However he got that way is a moot point. We deal with what we have and what we have is a sadistic predator who needs to stop talking “sorry” and just pay the price for what he did. I feel no sorrow for him. He is where he should be.
August 16th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
OMG YOU people sound like you need to be closely watched yourselfs…This kid killed the little boy sexually sodimized him poured koolaide on his woulds that he inflicted with a large rock. Now as a mom I have a 5 yr old son who will be starting school this year and there is NO WAY IN HELL I would let my son ride to the bus stop or school by his self. But HE IS RIGHT WHERE HE NEEDS TO BE ! He is a crazy his mom even says he has problems ! He WILL kill again !
If it were YOUR child and he did the horrible things he did to this poor 4 yr old lets see how you feel then ! The kid said he wanted to hurt things n people to his father.
August 16th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
I wonder why we don’t practice an eye-for-an-eye. We should strangle Eric, bash his head in with a rock, then sodomoze him with a stick, then see how he feels. And he should still spend the rest of his miserable life behind bars. He should be on his knees every night thanking his god that he still HAS a life. I’d rather see him dead than have my tax dollars go to providing him even life’s basic needs. There’s a very special place in hell for Eric. I hope he sees it soon. Chris H – it’s so sad, all you people who hide behind religion. Sarah is right. Just because he asks for, and recieves forgiveness, doesn’t take away the fact that he still needs to deal with the consequences of his actions.
August 16th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
Derrick Robie was five minutes from home when he was lured into a bush, halfway to his house and the park where he was heading, by Eric Smith. Smith strangled the younger boy, beat his head in with rocks, and sexually mutilated him.
While it is distressing that one so young would kill another young child, it is more disturbing that he would care to spend so much time with the body after death, not only mutilating the corpse but arranging it, displaying it in a specific fashion for discovery. Eric Smith would later describe the sense of empowerment he felt by killing the boy. If he had not been caught and confessed, there is no doubt in my mind that he would have killed again. This is how serial killers get their start.
It is my belief that it is a tragic misfortune that such a young boy could find the means to kill A BABY… and there are reasons why we must examine this case very closely to determine exactly why it happened, I am struggling greatly trying to believe that he could be reformed. But deep in my heart I know that it doesn’t very much matter if he can, because of the nature of what he did, and the young life that was snuffed out so meaninglessly, I don’t think he should be allowed out. Why should he have a chance at a second life, while his victim gets nothing?
August 16th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
no one has the right to kill someone for any reason. he got bullied. so what?? thats doesnt give him the right as to what he did. what if that happened to ur 4 year old boy? what would you want done with the killer of ur child? he has not been punished enough. taking the life of an innocent, sweet boy is tragic. he needs more punishment.
August 16th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
no doubt in my mind this was a serial killer in the making, and if he were to be released, in no time he would kill again, and again, until he would be caught. it was never brought out on ” 48 hrs.” but i read on a news article, that a year before killing derrick, smith had strangled a neighbors cat,just wondering but isn’t that how dahmer got started, by killing animals? i’m hoping and praying, smith is never released.
September 4th, 2009 at 7:12 am
Hey…I say let his ass out. Somebody out there crazier than him would prob gladly return the favor of what he did to poor derrick. That’s justice. Not 3 squares and a comfy bed provided by my tax dollars. What a waste of space. U can bet that if there were serious punishments like an eye 4 an eye MANY more people would think twice about all the heinous stuff they do. Doesn’t he realize he’s safer in prison than out in the open for someone to recognize him and serve him some cold justice? Let him rot for his own protection.
September 4th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
Mom of Two and Cupcake Diva, you two are sick. Eye for an Eye? This is 21st century America, we dont do that stuff. So you wanna beat and sodomize Eric? I’m sure that will make things a hell of alot better. How about someone tries to rehabilitate him and give him the second chance that he deserves. It amazes me that there are people like you out there. People as stupid as you don’t deserve children.
September 21st, 2009 at 3:13 pm
I saw the story of derrick robie last night and never has anything ever bothered me so bad in all my life, my heart goes out to his family and the family of eric smith, this is such a tragedy , erics family is suffering as well as the robies but i have to say as bad as i feel for the smith family i dont believe justice has been done for the robies,and i know it wasnt if they ever let mr smith out of prison
October 16th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
Yes indead this is how serial killers start out the law was lucky to find this sick fuckin retard before he killed more. Damn! Who knows how many kids this freak would have mutilated by now. My belief is that he would have graduated to teenagers and women and children once he was strong enough. Anyone backing his release should be looked at closely because no one normal would ever think this maniac is normal or rehabilitated enough to be released. Maybe they not only have the same feelings and feel justified in defending this animal. They probably have acted on those feelings. Let’s check the unsolved murders around the time Chris H was 13. He is just like Eric.
October 28th, 2009 at 6:13 pm
Hey secondchance,your probably his stupid pro-bono lawyer. And you can kiss my a** you tree hugging cu*nt. I hope they let Eric out so her can take out your children and you too. (You’re a complete waste of oxygen.) Then you might have a little compassion for the REAL victims…The Robie family and sweet Derick. I hope they let him out, i hope he is stupid enough to go back to Savona, and someone kills him in a horribly painful fashion. I would actually pay to watch. He is useless to society, as well as you and your children are. And let me tell you, if i ever heard you say something like that out in public, i would knock the living sh*t out of you, and happily so. And if you don’t have children, please don’t ever consider procreating.
November 2nd, 2009 at 11:07 am
Calm down there buddy, seems like you have a bit of an anger problem. I’m not a lawyer and do not have any kids. You’d pay to watch someone be killed? Sounds like you have a twisted mind pal, might wanna seek help about that. Eric was only 13 and needed help before the killig but was neglected. He deserves another chance, he was just a kid still. And what kind of parent lets their 4 year old child walk around town by themselves?
December 14th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
I’ve seen this story twice on tv and i’ve never been more distured and pissed off. How anyone could kill that darling little boy is beyond me! He was about the kutest thing i’ve ever seen in mi life and i hope tht SOB never gets tha death penalty cuz rotting in prision is a far worse punishment. I hope his evil ass is getting sodomized and rapped harshly in prision. Even all of tht is still NOT ENOUGH PUNISHMENT FOR WUT HE DID TU THT POOR BABY BOY. fuker! i cant wait till u die so u can rot in hell and get sodomized by the devil for eternity. SHIT HEAD! Mi love goes out tu tha family of Derrick. Hes in heaven, no doubt about tht. God is taking care of him, i promise.
December 14th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
Even tho mi heart goes out tu tha family, I still agree with tha person above m comment.
Seriously?
how could u let a 4 year old roam the streets alone without parental guidence?
You really should have cared about him more. He’d probly still be alive if u never let him out of yur sight.
December 14th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
On the other hand, i think SecondChance and Chris H needs a serious reality check, if u could defent a brutal killer like Eric then u must have sum killer instinct in yurself. Only a person who has the potential tu murder would defend him.
and tu “SARAH”, good for u, i completly agree with you!
January 12th, 2010 at 4:28 pm
i believe he should be tied up and stone to death, get the same rock that he used to killed the little boy n do the same thing to him also shove a carrot up his behing, so he knows hows the feeling…on the other hand if he gets out, u know what is going to happen!! someone is going to killed him..that boy does not have a soul u could see it threw his glasses..i hope he never gets out….died in jail thats what he deserved!!!!!
January 13th, 2010 at 7:20 pm
I THINK ITS REALLY SAD THAT ANYONE CAN LOOK AT THIS PAGE INCLUDING THE MOTHER OF A BEAUTIFUL FOUR YEAR OLD BOY WHO WAS TAKEN FROM HER SO VIOLENTLY AND READ THE HORRIBLE THINGS ALOT OF YOU ARE SAYING. I FEEL SAD FOR YOU AND MOSTLY FOR THE BABIES FAMILY. IT IS A TERRIBLE THING THAT HAPPENED AND I FOR ONE DO NOT THINK ANY PERSON HAS THE RIGHT TO POINT FINGERS OR BLAME ANYONE FOR WHAT HAPPENED. IT IS NOBODYS FAULT BUT THE PERSON WHO COMMITED THE CRIME. IT IS OUT OF EVERYONES HAND NOW SO WHY CONTINUE TO INFLICT MORE PAIN. THATS THE PROBLEM. PEOPLE JUST DONT KNOW WHEN TO STOP. REST IN PEACE DERRICK.
January 15th, 2010 at 1:42 am
i agree with you sad and nobody should judge unless they know what happened. my husband was in the search for derrick and saw the whole thing unfold, i have a six yr old son and my thoughts go out for that little boy and his family. RIP Derrick
February 3rd, 2010 at 11:16 pm
I watched the E! show that told of what happened to Derrick and showed an interview with Eric. I do believe that Eric truly is sorry. While I agree what he did was horrific and I hope no one else has to go through that, I also think that it is not our place to judge. God will decide Eric’s fate. Eric is sorry for what he has done; I’m not saying that it makes it okay because he apologized but it is out of our hands. There is no use in discussing what can’t be fixed. The system has done what they believe is fair. I feel sorry for Eric, he was obviously in a mental state to do what he did. My heart also goes out to Derrick’s family. I can only imagine what they are going through.
February 8th, 2010 at 10:28 pm
Yes, neglect, alone, bullied, abused, Eric was a child as we define is a ’child.’ Discouragement from the environment of such a small town denial grew. In such an advanced society behind the walls of a home maltreatment of Eric took place. Yes, he does appear blank. All human beings want to feel loved. We seek validation yearning for love. No matter how distorted the act is. It’s this distortion why everyone is frightened about Eric. The abuse killed Eric’s spirit. He is who he is, a serial killer. As every serial killer, they blossom into the killers they are. We live in a society that is moving so fast we forget. We are the most dangerous animals.
February 10th, 2010 at 6:40 pm
There’s also laws of the land! There’s something called judgement day we have not reached that point in our lives! Eric is a sick individual we need to conduct order here while on earth! An eye for an eye will prevent alot of crimes! You’ll be forced to think before you act! I don’t just blame Eric, Derrick’s mom should be held accountable for neglect! Who let’s their four year wonder off as if he know’s sense of direction and has knowledge of right and wrong! Shame on you! As a mother you should of protected your baby from those similiar to Eric and also petaphilers! Everyone wants someone to blame, blame yourself! I fight with my murdering demons everyday! Feeling of neglect, abusement, being on my own since 13, but my mother’s a evangelist and my father is God! I know they misused and abused Jesus! Everything you go through is a life lesson thank God for everything that happens good or bad! Because, Jesus is the reason for the season! I also know by Eric’s incarceration for so long has cause him to have the mind frame of a convict! Leave him where he is! Until God calls him home or if judgement partakes before hand! He does not deserve fot society to take a risk with anyone else’s life child or adult! May God have mercy on you! You need to be crying out to God every night for mercy on your soul than to be begging and trying to manipulate the board for a second chance!
March 8th, 2010 at 3:06 pm
I believe Smith did need help. I also believe that Robbie shouldn’t have been left alone to leave at age 4..common sense. However, Smith didn’t have to mutilize him like that. How sad.
March 19th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
Well, since some of you are so knowledgable on the topic…there are some things you need to know. Derrick was a very independent well-adjusted, smart child, two months from turning 5 years old. Our little dead end street, about 150 yards ended up at the elemetary school on one side and the park on the other. Dozens of children walked that same road everyday to get to the summer program, without parents. Derrick had walked that sidewalk all summer with me & friends and back home again with the group. No streets to cross, everyone on the street knew him and us and in a few weeks he would be starting school and walking with all the other neighborhood kids to school. He was late that morning, I had a baby that was fussy and sick and I wasn’t going to let him go, he pleaded with me that they needed him to play kick ball and didn’t want to stay home. I finally let him go, yes call me a stupid mother or whatever you want, believe me I’m still paying for it! I love my boys with all my heart and I too was bullied in school to the point that a few girls wrote a letter to me saying they would find my body in a garage that we had to walk by everyday to get to and from school. That didn’t make me kill anyone. Eric killed Derrick because he was JEALOUS of him, he was well-liked and cute, all the things Eric wanted to be. He also admitted that if he didn’t get him that day, he would have at some point, even during recess at school!!!! I cannot believe how many rotten nasty people are out there and get a charge out of leaving judgemental cruel notes, you’re all cowards to do that! Just be damn glad that you don’t have to walk in my shoes! I’m sick to death of defending my actions but will not have people saying I didn’t love my son. My husband and I will fight every year to keep Eric Smith behind bars, I don’t care if you like it or not. I’m not a coward, I am Derrick’s mother and proud to be! It’s been 17 years so maybe some of you need a hobby and let it go.