Man who killed boy at 13 paroled at 41
Eric M. Smith, who was 13 when he killed a 4-year-old boy with a rock in western New
York, has been granted parole, corrections officials said on Saturday.
Smith, now 41, appeared for the 11th time before the Board of Parole on Oct. 5 and was granted release as early as Nov. 17, the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision said in an emailed statement.
Smith was convicted of second-degree murder in 1994 for luring Derrick Robie into woods near the younger boy’s home and striking his head with a rock. Derrick was walking alone to summer camp at a park in the Steuben County village of Savona in August 1993.
Smith’s lawyer unsuccessfully argued that he was mentally ill. Smith was sentenced to nine years to life in prison.