Freckle-faced killer Eric Smith freed after 28 years behind bars | 48 Hours

What do you think is going to happen for you to find the defendant guilty of second degree murder? Yes, it is unanimous. Yes, Eric Smith was only 14

years

old when he was given a sentence of nine

years

to life in prison. Smith had been convicted of murdering four-year-old Derrick Roby, but before his arrest, many residents in Savona, New York, thought it might have been the work of an evil adult. Late in the afternoon Derek Roby's body was found, it was just a brutal murder when the police found him. Derek discovered that they had lured him to a wooded area not far from his house, strangled him and hit him with rocks.

Something so terrible was done. I think everyone, including me, who was an adult, how could someone do something so terrible? But Smith had entered. The police command center, four days after the murder, offered to help police solve the crime. Smith said he had seen Derrick that day wearing a white t-shirt holding a bag lunch. Investigators felt Smith knew something but didn't realize the

killer

was Sitting right in front of them, two days after the black

smith

at Derrick Roby's funeral confessed, I was there, I was there when my grandson confessed it was terrible . Investigators and community members tried to understand why a 13-year-old boy would do such a thing and learned that Smith had a history of being bullied as a child; his bright red hair and

freckle

s made him a target for bullies. .

I don't know why he did it. I asked him why he did it. His words almost word for word. Don't know. I just saw this kid, this blind kid, and I wanted to hurt him after he was convicted and sentenced. Smith was sent to the Brookwood Juvenile Detention Center when Eric Smith was sentenced. Was there a feeling that now we can get on with our lives? Do you hear the nine years up to? Life and I think back then everyone was focused on the life side because Derek Roby's parents. Smith's prison sentence did not give them the closure they hoped for.

They were forced to deal with the harsh reality that their son's

killer

would be eligible for parole from the start. in 2002. I decided that, well, now he's done his time and we're going to let him go. It scares me a lot. In 2002, Smith was denied parole, but every two years, Smith appeared before the parole board in hopes of proving that he had changed and was no longer a danger to society. The frequent hearings took a toll on Smith's parents. Derek, who were forced to relive the horrors of his son's murder, must have felt like a weight hanging over your head, yes, there are all these really happy moments that are supposed to happen throughout your life, but it always happens that In 2009, when Smith was approaching thirty, he said what had changed in an interview with Weny TV Data is that I'm not the same person, there isn't a day that goes by somehow or so that I'm forced to remember what I did, I automatically think I killed Derek and the pain I caused Dale and my daughter in 2010, the parole board rejected him again, but as the years went by, forensic clinical psychologist Joni Johnston says he seemed to be changing his passion for other people, so I see a little hope in him.

Years passed and the parole board did not relent until October 2021, when he was granted parole, but Smith still could not be released. approved housing still needs to be found rick

smith

, who gained national attention nearly three decades ago for killing a four-year-old boy, was released on february 1, 2022 after spending 28 years behind

bars

eric

smith released from prison why after so many years I decided to give him a chance and that's fine, you know, for him and his family. Smith has moved to Queens, New York, and says he has plans for his future. I want to know, get married, start a family, you know, wait, you know, look for a job.

The Am

eric

an Dream Smith says he wants to counsel kids who have been bullied just like him. The question is whether Eric Smith will be a success story or someone we point to and say the system screwed up with that one who is exactly right. I keep going. Back to my hope time will tell