State Supreme Court determines Robert Smith III is eligible for parole
Smith, 20, and his cousin, were convicted of the kidnapping, robbery, and murder of Elvia Fragstein, 72, after a trial in November 2020. He was sentenced to a total of life, followed by 90 additional years of imprisonment. The pair had been “hunting” for a victim and found Fragstein. Her body was found by a farmer near Pine Bluff.
Smith has been arguing that there were numerous points of error or abuse in his trial, including prejudicial errors which, after an investigation, were not found to exist.
The argument which has born fruit for Smith is a law which requires life sentences given to youth to allow for parole after 30 years of imprisonment. The Arkansas Supreme Court ruled that since Smith was 16 when he murdered Fragstein, he will be eligible for parole after 30 years of incarceration.
