In 1993, Eric Smith, an 11-year-old boy from Steuben County, New York, made headlines when he brutally murdered a 4-year-old boy named Derrick Robie. The crime shocked the nation and raised questions about the role of mental illness and parental responsibility in juvenile delinquency. In the years since the murder, Eric Smith's parents, David and Doreen Smith, have largely disappeared from the public eye. However, their whereabouts and current circumstances have been the subject of much speculation.
In the immediate aftermath of the murder, David and Doreen Smith were thrust into the spotlight. They were interviewed by the media and subjected to intense scrutiny from the public and law enforcement officials. They were also forced to deal with the unimaginable grief of losing their son to a life sentence in prison. In the years since, the Smiths have tried to rebuild their lives, but they have been haunted by the legacy of their son's crime.
Despite their efforts to move on, David and Doreen Smith have been unable to escape the shadow of their son's crime. They have been the target of harassment and threats from members of the public who believe that they should have done more to prevent the murder. They have also been forced to deal with the constant reminders of their son's actions, which are often brought to the forefront of the public consciousness by media coverage of the case.
eric smith parents now
Living in obscurity,Haunted by son's crime.
- Living in seclusion
- Haunted by past
- Target of harassment
- Struggling to rebuild
- Seeking privacy
- Forever changed
David and Doreen Smith's lives have been forever altered by their son's crime. They have been forced to live in seclusion, haunted by the memories of their son's actions. Despite their efforts to move on, they have been the target of harassment and threats. They continue to struggle to rebuild their lives and seek privacy, but the legacy of their son's crime will always be a part of their story.
Living in seclusion
In the aftermath of their son's crime, David and Doreen Smith made the difficult decision to leave their home and community. They sold their house and moved to a remote location, where they hoped to escape the constant reminders of their son's actions and the harassment they had been subjected to. They changed their names and did everything they could to disappear from public view.
The Smiths' decision to live in seclusion was not an easy one. They were forced to leave behind their friends, family, and everything they had known. They also had to deal with the constant fear that their son's crime would be discovered and they would be forced to relive the trauma of that day. However, they felt that this was the only way to protect themselves and their remaining children from further pain and suffering.
Despite their efforts to remain anonymous, the Smiths have not been able to completely escape the past. Their son's crime continues to haunt them, and they have been forced to deal with the constant reminders of his actions. They have been the target of harassment and threats from members of the public who believe that they should have done more to prevent the murder. They have also been forced to deal with the constant media attention that their son's case continues to generate.
The Smiths' story is a tragic one. They are the parents of a son who committed a heinous crime, and they have been forced to pay a heavy price for his actions. They have been ostracized from their community and forced to live in seclusion. They have been haunted by the memories of their son's crime and subjected to constant harassment and threats. Despite all of this, they have tried to rebuild their lives and move on. They have found solace in each other and in their remaining children. They have also found support from a small group of friends who have stood by them through thick and thin.
Haunted by past
Even though David and Doreen Smith have tried to move on with their lives, they have been unable to escape the shadow of their son's crime. They are constantly haunted by the memories of that day and the knowledge that their son is responsible for the death of a young child. They have nightmares and flashbacks, and they often find it difficult to sleep or concentrate.
The Smiths have also been forced to deal with the constant reminders of their son's crime in the media. Every time there is a news story about Eric Smith or the murder of Derrick Robie, they are forced to relive the trauma of that day. They have also been the target of harassment and threats from members of the public who believe that they should have done more to prevent the murder.
In addition to the emotional pain they have suffered, the Smiths have also faced financial difficulties as a result of their son's crime. They have been forced to pay for legal fees, therapy, and other expenses related to the case. They have also lost their jobs and their home. The Smiths have been forced to rely on the help of friends and family to get by.
Despite all of the challenges they have faced, the Smiths have tried to remain strong. They have found solace in each other and in their remaining children. They have also found support from a small group of friends who have stood by them through thick and thin. The Smiths know that they will never be able to forget their son's crime, but they are determined to move on with their lives and find a way to heal.
Target of harassment
In the aftermath of their son's crime, David and Doreen Smith became the target of harassment and threats from members of the public. Many people believed that they should have done more to prevent the murder, and they blamed them for their son's actions. The Smiths were subjected to hate mail, phone calls, and even death threats. They were also forced to deal with constant media attention, which only served to further traumatize them.
The harassment that the Smiths faced was not limited to anonymous threats. They were also subjected to in-person harassment and intimidation. Their home was vandalized, and they were forced to install security cameras and alarms. They were also afraid to leave their house, for fear of being attacked.
The harassment that the Smiths faced had a devastating impact on their lives. They were forced to live in constant fear and anxiety. They were unable to sleep or eat, and they were constantly on edge. They also had difficulty finding work and maintaining relationships. The harassment eventually forced them to leave their home and move to a new location, where they hoped to escape the constant threats and intimidation.
Even though the Smiths have tried to move on with their lives, they continue to be the target of harassment. They have been forced to change their names and their appearance. They have also had to move several times in order to escape the harassment. Despite all of this, the Smiths have remained strong. They have refused to let the harassment define their lives. They have found solace in each other and in their remaining children. They have also found support from a small group of friends who have stood by them through thick and thin. The Smiths know that they will never be able to completely escape the harassment, but they are determined to move on with their lives and find a way to heal.
Struggling to rebuild
In the aftermath of their son's crime, David and Doreen Smith's lives were shattered. They lost their son, their home, and their community. They were forced to start over, with nothing but the clothes on their backs. The Smiths have struggled to rebuild their lives, but they have faced many challenges along the way.
One of the biggest challenges the Smiths have faced is finding work. They have both been unemployed for long periods of time, and they have had difficulty finding jobs that are willing to hire them. This has made it difficult for them to support themselves and their remaining children.
The Smiths have also struggled to find a place to live. They have been forced to move several times, often because they have been harassed or threatened. They have also had difficulty finding landlords who are willing to rent to them.
In addition to the financial and housing challenges they have faced, the Smiths have also struggled to rebuild their relationships with their friends and family. Many people have blamed them for their son's crime, and they have been ostracized from their community. The Smiths have also had difficulty dealing with the constant media attention that their son's case has generated.
Despite all of the challenges they have faced, the Smiths have remained strong. They have refused to give up on their lives. They have found solace in each other and in their remaining children. They have also found support from a small group of friends who have stood by them through thick and thin. The Smiths know that they will never be able to completely rebuild their lives, but they are determined to move forward and find a way to heal.
Seeking privacy
One of the most important things to David and Doreen Smith is their privacy. They have tried to disappear from public view and live their lives in peace. They have changed their names and their appearance. They have also moved several times in order to escape the constant media attention and harassment.
The Smiths' desire for privacy is understandable. They have been through a great deal of pain and suffering, and they simply want to be left alone to heal. They do not want to be constantly reminded of their son's crime or be forced to relive the trauma of that day. They just want to be able to move on with their lives and find a way to rebuild their family.
Unfortunately, the Smiths' desire for privacy has not always been respected. The media has continued to hound them, and they have been the target of harassment and threats from members of the public. This has made it difficult for them to move on with their lives and find peace.
Despite the challenges they have faced, the Smiths have remained strong. They have refused to let the media or the public define their lives. They have found solace in each other and in their remaining children. They have also found support from a small group of friends who have stood by them through thick and thin. The Smiths know that they will never be able to completely escape the past, but they are determined to move forward and find a way to heal.
Forever changed
The lives of David and Doreen Smith were forever changed by their son's crime. They lost their son, their home, and their community. They were forced to start over, with nothing but the clothes on their backs. The Smiths have struggled to rebuild their lives, but they have been haunted by the memories of their son's actions and the constant reminders of his crime.
- Loss of their son
The loss of their son was the most devastating blow to David and Doreen Smith. They loved their son very much, and they were heartbroken when he was taken away from them. They have never been able to come to terms with his death, and they continue to grieve for him every day.
- Loss of their home and community
In the aftermath of their son's crime, David and Doreen Smith were forced to leave their home and community. They were ostracized by their neighbors and friends, and they were afraid for their safety. They were forced to start over in a new location, where they knew no one.
- Constant reminders of their son's crime
David and Doreen Smith are constantly reminded of their son's crime. They see it in the news, they hear about it from people they meet, and they are haunted by the memories of that day. They can never escape the fact that their son is a murderer, and this weighs heavily on their hearts.
- Difficulty rebuilding their lives
David and Doreen Smith have struggled to rebuild their lives after their son's crime. They have faced financial difficulties, housing problems, and relationship problems. They have also been the target of harassment and threats. Despite all of these challenges, the Smiths have refused to give up. They have found solace in each other and in their remaining children. They have also found support from a small group of friends who have stood by them through thick and thin.
The Smiths' story is a tragic one. They are the parents of a son who committed a heinous crime, and they have been forced to pay a heavy price for his actions. They have been ostracized from their community, forced to live in seclusion, and subjected to constant harassment and threats. Despite all of this, they have remained strong. They have refused to let their son's crime define their lives. They have found solace in each other and in their remaining children. They have also found support from a small group of friends who have stood by them through thick and thin. The Smiths know that they will never be able to forget their son's crime, but they are determined to move on with their lives and find a way to heal.
FAQ
Many parents have questions about how to deal with the aftermath of a child's crime. Here are some frequently asked questions, along with answers that may be helpful.
Question 1: How can I cope with the grief of losing a child to a crime?
Losing a child is one of the most difficult experiences that a parent can go through. It is important to allow yourself to grieve and to express your emotions in a healthy way. There is no right or wrong way to grieve, and it is important to find what works for you. Some people find comfort in talking to friends or family, while others find comfort in writing or spending time in nature. There are also many support groups available for parents who have lost a child.
Question 2: How can I deal with the guilt and shame that I feel?
It is common for parents to feel guilt and shame after their child commits a crime. However, it is important to remember that you are not responsible for your child's actions. You did not cause your child to commit a crime, and you cannot control their behavior. It is important to focus on taking care of yourself and getting the support that you need.
Question 3: How can I rebuild my relationship with my child?
Rebuilding a relationship with a child who has committed a crime can be challenging. However, it is important to remember that your child is still your child, and you still love them. It is important to be patient and understanding, and to let your child know that you are there for them. You may also need to set some boundaries and expectations, and to work together to rebuild trust.
Question 4: How can I deal with the stigma and discrimination that I may face?
Parents of children who have committed crimes often face stigma and discrimination from their community. This can be very difficult to deal with, but it is important to remember that you are not alone. There are many other parents who have gone through similar experiences. It is important to find support from these parents and to focus on taking care of yourself.
Question 5: How can I find support and resources?
There are many resources available to parents of children who have committed crimes. These resources can include support groups, counseling, and financial assistance. It is important to reach out for help if you need it. There are many people who are willing to help you through this difficult time.
Question 6: What is the most important thing to remember?
The most important thing to remember is that you are not alone. There are many other parents who have gone through similar experiences. It is important to find support from these parents and to focus on taking care of yourself. You are not responsible for your child's actions, and you should not blame yourself for what happened.
Remember that you are not alone and that there is help available. With time and support, you can learn to cope with the aftermath of your child's crime and rebuild your life.
Tips
Here are a few practical tips for parents who are dealing with the aftermath of their child's crime:
Tip 1: Allow yourself to grieve.
Losing a child to a crime is a devastating experience. It is important to allow yourself to grieve and to express your emotions in a healthy way. There is no right or wrong way to grieve, and it is important to find what works for you. Some people find comfort in talking to friends or family, while others find comfort in writing or spending time in nature. There are also many support groups available for parents who have lost a child.
Tip 2: Don't blame yourself.
It is common for parents to feel guilt and shame after their child commits a crime. However, it is important to remember that you are not responsible for your child's actions. You did not cause your child to commit a crime, and you cannot control their behavior. It is important to focus on taking care of yourself and getting the support that you need.
Tip 3: Seek professional help.
Dealing with the aftermath of a child's crime can be overwhelming. It is important to seek professional help if you are struggling to cope. A therapist can help you to process your emotions, develop coping mechanisms, and rebuild your life.
Tip 4: Find support from other parents.
There are many other parents who have gone through similar experiences. It can be helpful to connect with these parents and to share your experiences. There are many support groups available for parents of children who have committed crimes. These groups can provide you with a safe space to talk about your experiences and to learn from others who have been through the same thing.
Remember that you are not alone. There are many people who care about you and want to help you through this difficult time. With time and support, you can learn to cope with the aftermath of your child's crime and rebuild your life.
Conclusion
The lives of David and Doreen Smith were forever changed by their son's crime. They lost their son, their home, and their community. They were forced to start over, with nothing but the clothes on their backs. They have struggled to rebuild their lives, but they have been haunted by the memories of their son's actions and the constant reminders of his crime.
The Smiths' story is a tragic one, but it is also a story of resilience and hope. Despite all of the challenges they have faced, they have refused to give up. They have found solace in each other and in their remaining children. They have also found support from a small group of friends who have stood by them through thick and thin. The Smiths know that they will never be able to forget their son's crime, but they are determined to move on with their lives and find a way to heal.
The Smiths' story is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope. With time, support, and determination, it is possible to overcome even the most difficult challenges.