In 1994, Eric Smith was tried as an adult in Steuben County Court and convicted of second-degree murder.
He was sentenced to nine years to life in prison and was kept in a juvenile facility until 2001, when he was transferred to state prison, primarily the Woodbourne Correctional Facility. The following year, he became eligible for parole for the first time.
Smith was denied parole ten times before being granted release in October 2021 after a hearing before the Board of Parole.
The board also noted that Smith had only been cited for three disciplinary issues during his confinement, the most recent of which occurred in 2005.
Smith also told the board that he learned a lot during his time in prison, including how to control his anger and value human life.
As per the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, Smith was released from Woodbourne Correctional Facility in February and planned to relocate to Queens County.
Smith informed the Parole Board that he is engaged to be married to a woman who first contacted him while studying to be a lawyer and conducting research on the juvenile justice system.
