A man identified as the Connecticut Cannibal, Tyree Smith, brutally murdered a homeless individual named Angel Gonzalez in 2011 by using a hatchet to kill him and consuming parts of his brain and eyeball. Smith, who was later found not guilty of murder due to insanity, was confined to Whiting Forensic Hospital for 60 years in 2013. Recently, the state’s Psychiatric Security Review Board granted Smith conditional release from the hospital after determining that his schizophrenia and substance abuse disorders were effectively managed through medication and treatment.
Smith has been transitioned to a community setting under supervision with strict conditions, including ongoing treatment. Despite some past altercations with other inmates, Smith has shown clinical stability and compliance with treatment. However, Gonzalez’s sister-in-law remains concerned about Smith’s potential danger to society, expressing skepticism about his remorse and past violent behavior. Smith previously apologized for his actions in court, claiming that his actions were not reflective of his true self.
The decision to release Smith has sparked mixed reactions, with some expressing doubts about his rehabilitation and others acknowledging his apparent progress and remorse. Smith’s journey from a shocking act of violence to conditional release has raised questions about the effectiveness of mental health treatment in the criminal justice system.