Connecticut Cannibal Killer Who Ate His Victim's Brain And Eyeball Is Released Via Psychiatric Review

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (WFSB) - A psychiatric review board has approved the conditional release for a man connected to a troubling murder case in Bridgeport.

Back in July of 2013 Tyree Smith was found not guilty by reason of insanity in the death of Angel Gonzalez.

Police say Smith admitted to killing Gonzalez, hacked him to pieces, and ate parts of his body.

Today in Middletown, members of the review board held a hearing on whether Smith should be given conditional release.

“To quote the director there, he is a joy. He is considered a support to the other people there,” Dr. Caren Teitelbaum, Forensic Psychiatrist. “Once he was stable he was a really calming presence for other patients.”

Some, like Senator Paul Cicarella, believe his place in the community should continue to be under close watch in a hospital.

“Murder and cannibalism and release in the same sentence. That’s a problem. That’s concerning to me,” he said.

His doctor says that Smith has been rehabilitated and is constantly taking medications to help with psychosis and voices in his head.

“He has maintained clinical stability. Adhered to the medications and continued to engage in group and substance abuse treatment,” said Dr. Caren Teitelbaum, a forensic psychiatrist. “He also denied visual hallucinations and a desire to harm others or himself.”

Despite that, Talitha Frazier, Gonzalez’s sister in law and spokesperson for the family, say that they constantly live in fear.

“His grandkids are scared. His daughter is scared she couldn’t come today, her sugar dropped to 52,” she said.

Doctors did acknowledge that, should he forget to take his medication, he could become a danger to society.

Smith will need to be under structured supervision and will continue to receive mental health services during his release.