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 only a teenager at the time. His terrifying tale will now be told and examined in the forthcoming episode 22 of 48 Hours on ID Season 18. Eric Smith: Gambling on a Killer is the official title of the latest 48 Hours on ID. The official summary for the episode is as follows:
“Eric Smith served 28 years in jail for the murder of 4-year-old Derrick Robie in 1993; he was released in February 2022; Jim Axelrod investigates if he is a changed man.”
Without further ado, let’s dive right in to discover the five most important facts concerning Eric Smith before Episode 22 of Season 18 of the true-crime series airs on Investigation Discovery. Learn 5 interesting facts about Eric Smith ahead of the premiere of the new 48 Hours on ID show on Investigation Discovery.
Child killer Eric Smith then and now… pic.twitter.com/wFYZ889F8x
— Crime Viral (@CrimeViral) February 19, 2018
Who exactly is Eric Smith?
A terrible chain of events that started in August 2013 ruined Eric’s life forever. Smith was 13 years old at the time and lived in the little town of Steuben County, New York. Smith is now 42 years old. His fiancée studies law. Smith claimed to wish to marry and have children. He remarked at one of his plea trials:
“I’d want to get married and have a family. You know, keep a job, you know. Follow your American dream.” (Source: CBS News)
What exactly did Eric do?
On August 2, 1993, Eric, aged 13, savagely tortured and killed Derrick Robie, a four-year-old kid from the same village. Derrick was originally fooled into pursuing Eric into the woods, where he strangled and bludgeoned him to death. After his mother and father filed a missing person report for him, police found the boy’s beaten-up corpse in the forest, startling the whole little community of Steuben County, New York.
What occurred following the heinous crime?
Eric Smith was escorted to the case investigators by his mother and a family friend after the terrible episode, where he acknowledged his horrible conduct. In August 1994, Smith was sentenced to nine years in jail by the court. When he was 21, he was transported to a juvenile prison camp and eventually moved to jail.
Why did Eric conduct such a heinous crime?
According to sources, Eric committed the murder because he was fed up with being bullied. He was teased by other teens at school because of his freckles and red hair. He remained enraged against the youngsters even after murdering Derrick Robie. In response, he told CBS News:
“My rage wasn’t focused at Derrick at all, but rather at… all the other men who used to pick on me. And that’s what I saw in my brain while torturing and executing Derrick.”
What happened to Eric?
Eric went to Queens, New York, following his release from jail after 28 years, where he still resides. During his plea hearings in court, he showed guilt and regret, saying:
“I did murder Derrick… And, you know, I apologize… If I could trade places with him and dwell in his tomb, I would do it in a heartbeat.” (From CBS News)
