Child killer gets parole after 28 years behind bars | Forensic Files

[Music] You hear the 9 years to life. And I think back then everybody was focusing
on the life side of it. We were still trying to get over our loss. Then I think we almost got settled in
for a year or two. Then it hit us. They could decide that well, he's done his time and we're going to
let him go. That scares the hell out of me. [Music] It upsets me the fact that we have to
beg to keep this killer behind bars. [Music] I know my actions have caused a terrible
loss in the Robie family and for that I'm truly sorry. [Music] I don't see Eric Smith at all as a kid
who snapped. I see him as a kid who escalated. And he escalated from hurting animals
starting at around age 11 and who eventually progressed to hurting a child. 2004
was really the most frightening. This is somebody who goes into a tremendous amount of detail in terms of what he
did. [Music] [Music] When you were doing that, was that something that gave you a good feeling?
Answer. At the moment it did, yes. Question. Why do you think that was? Answer. Because of instead of me being
hurt, I was hurting somebody else. Growing up, I was always picked on, disrespected, made fun of.
Eric was tired of being the victim in his mind. And he wanted to see what it felt like to be the victimizer.
There's a question, Mr. Smith. If you had not admitted to someone that you had done this, do you think it would have
been a fair statement that you probably would have done it again? Answer. Yes. [Music]
We always got a letter about three or four months prior to that. Ours always fell around Christmas.
You know, here putting the Christmas tree up and we're reading this letter that here we go again.
It just made me angry. [Music] The only thing that I can say to them is I'm not the same person.
There's not a day that goes by in some way, shape or form that I'm like forced to remember what I did. I'm
automatically thinking I killed Derrick and the pain that I caused Dale and Doreen Robie.
The problem is how sincere is it versus how contrived or calculated it is. I certainly can't tell as I sit here. You
can't? No. For us to have any real hope, he has to be accurate when he says, you know, I'm different, I'm self-aware,
and I have every reason in the world to behave. [Music] You're starting to see some compassion
from him for other people. So I'm seeing a little bit of hope from him. [Music] 2012.
Parole denied. 2014, 2016, 2018, denied, denied, denied. [Music] Eric Smith at 13 is not the same person
that he is at 31 or at 41. He has changed. We all change. You kind of go, what else can he do
to prove that he is no longer a danger to society. Now we're at the point where it becomes is this about punishment or
about rehabilitation? [Music] I understand why after so many years they decided to give him a chance.
And that's fine. You know, for him and his family. [Music] I want to, you know, get married,
raise a family, you know, hold down like, you know, a job, pursue the American dream.
[Music] You know, he's been released, but in a way so have we. No more parole. I can get on with
our lives. Now the true healing can begin.

Eric Smith was convicted of murder at age 14, after killing 4-year-old Derrick Robie. After his 11th parole hearing, he was released.

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Brief Summary

Eric Smith's case raises questions about justice and rehabilitation as he seeks parole after years of denial, impacting the Robie family profoundly.

Key points

The Fear of Release. The fear of a killer's potential release looms large, causing deep emotional turmoil.
A Journey of Change. Eric Smith reflects on his transformation from a troubled youth to a changed man.
Parole Denied. Eric Smith's repeated denials for parole raise questions about rehabilitation.
Healing Begins. With the end of parole, a sense of healing emerges for the victims' families.

Episode highlights

Episode quotes

That scares the hell out of me.

Fear of release of a killer.

0:55WatchMar 27, 2022

Tension

65/ 100Some tension

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