Latest news with #PsychiatricSecurityReviewBoard
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Connecticut cannibal killer given conditional release after 2011 murder in which he ate victim's brain, eye
An institutionalized man who confessed to the 2011 killing of a homeless man in Connecticut in which he also ate the victim's body parts in a cemetery was granted a conditional release. Tyree Smith was granted a conditional release by the Nutmeg State's Psychiatric Security Review Board on Friday, allowing him to leave Connecticut Valley Hospital in Middletown, although he will remain under supervision and will continue to receive mental health services, according to WFSB. Smith's doctor said the cannibal killer has been rehabilitated and is taking medications to help with psychosis and voices in his head, the outlet reported. "To quote the director there, he is a joy. He is considered a support to the other people there," forensic psychiatrist Caren Teitelbaum said. "Once he was stable, he was a really calming presence for other patients." Connecticut To Award Nearly $6 Million To Family Of Disabled Man Wrongfully Imprisoned For Murder Conviction "He has maintained clinical stability. Adhered to the medications and continued to engage in group and substance abuse treatment," Teitelbaum added. "He also denied visual hallucinations and a desire to harm others or himself." Read On The Fox News App But others, including GOP state Sen. Paul Cicarella, contested that Smith should remain 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 told WFSB. Cicarella and fellow Republican state Sens. Henry Martin, Heather Somers and Stephen Harding called the decision "outrageous" and "mind-boggling." "This individual killed and ate part of his victim and was found not guilty by reason of insanity," the lawmakers said in a statement. "His victim's family raised objections about his release. What about THEM? Where is the justice for THEM? This terrible decision puts public safety in jeopardy and is yet another terrible message to send to CT violent crime victims and their families. This person should never be out. We are dumbfounded at this injustice. In what universe is this ok?" In 2013, a three-judge panel found Smith not guilty by reason of insanity in the 2011 death of Angel Gonzalez. He was committed to Connecticut Valley Hospital for 60 years. Smith confessed to killing the homeless man with an ax inside an abandoned home in Bridgeport before removing parts of his brain, an eye and several organs that he subsequently consumed at Lakeview Cemetery. Gonzalez's sister-in-law, Talitha Frazier, called on the board to continue holding Smith inside the hospital. Uconn Becomes First In The State To Put Emergency Contraception Plan B On Campus "How do we really know he's not going to do this again?" Frazier asked at the hearing on Friday, according to CTPost. "He had no remorse for killing Angel." "His grandkids are scared. His daughter is scared she couldn't come today, her sugar dropped to 52," she said, according to WFSB. A diagnosed schizophrenic, Smith will first receive day passes but will be confined to the hospital's grounds. As he makes progress, he will receive additional freedoms, such as supervised off-site article source: Connecticut cannibal killer given conditional release after 2011 murder in which he ate victim's brain, eye
Fox News
23-02-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Connecticut cannibal killer given conditional release after 2011 murder in which he ate victim's brain, eye
An institutionalized man who confessed to the 2011 killing of a homeless man in Connecticut in which he also ate the victim's body parts in a cemetery was granted a conditional release. Tyree Smith was granted a conditional release by the Nutmeg State's Psychiatric Security Review Board on Friday, allowing him to leave Connecticut Valley Hospital in Middletown, although he will remain under supervision and will continue to receive mental health services, according to WFSB. Smith's doctor said the cannibal killer has been rehabilitated and is taking medications to help with psychosis and voices in his head, the outlet reported. "To quote the director there, he is a joy. He is considered a support to the other people there," forensic psychiatrist Caren Teitelbaum said. "Once he was stable, he was a really calming presence for other patients." "He has maintained clinical stability. Adhered to the medications and continued to engage in group and substance abuse treatment," Teitelbaum added. "He also denied visual hallucinations and a desire to harm others or himself." But others, including GOP state Sen. Paul Cicarella, contested that Smith should remain 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 told WFSB. Cicarella and fellow Republican state Sens. Henry Martin, Heather Somers and Stephen Harding called the decision "outrageous" and "mind-boggling." "This individual killed and ate part of his victim and was found not guilty by reason of insanity," the lawmakers said in a statement. "His victim's family raised objections about his release. What about THEM? Where is the justice for THEM? This terrible decision puts public safety in jeopardy and is yet another terrible message to send to CT violent crime victims and their families. This person should never be out. We are dumbfounded at this injustice. In what universe is this ok?" In 2013, a three-judge panel found Smith not guilty by reason of insanity in the 2011 death of Angel Gonzalez. He was committed to Connecticut Valley Hospital for 60 years. Smith confessed to killing the homeless man with an ax inside an abandoned home in Bridgeport before removing parts of his brain, an eye and several organs that he subsequently consumed at Lakeview Cemetery. Gonzalez's sister-in-law, Talitha Frazier, called on the board to continue holding Smith inside the hospital. "How do we really know he's not going to do this again?" Frazier asked at the hearing on Friday, according to CTPost. "He had no remorse for killing Angel." "His grandkids are scared. His daughter is scared she couldn't come today, her sugar dropped to 52," she said, according to WFSB. A diagnosed schizophrenic, Smith will first receive day passes but will be confined to the hospital's grounds. As he makes progress, he will receive additional freedoms, such as supervised off-site visits.
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Connecticut ‘Cannibal Killer' granted conditional release decade after eating homeless victim's eye, brain
A confessed killer institutionalized after murdering a homeless man and eating parts of his body in a Connecticut cemetery could soon be walking among us once again — and local politicians are none too happy about it. Tyree Smith, dubbed the 'Cannibal Killer' by local journalists, was granted a 'conditional release' Friday by the Nutmeg State's Psychiatric Security Review Board — meaning he'll be allowed to leave Connecticut Valley Hospital in Middletown for supervised jaunts, WFSB reported. The decision was made after doctors who've been treating Smith said he's been fully rehabilitated, thanks to medications that quelled the voices in his head. 'To quote the director there, he is a joy. He is considered a support to the other people there,' forensic psychiatrist Dr. Caren Teitelbaum said. 'Once he was stable, he was a really calming presence for other patients.' However, Republican state Sen. Paul Cicarella said he doesn't buy it — and that Smith should not be allowed out into the community. 'Murder and cannibalism and release in the same sentence … that's a problem,' he said in a statement to WFSB. 'That's concerning to me.' In 2013, Smith was committed to Connecticut Valley Hospital for 60 years, after a three-judge panel found him not guilty by reason of insanity in the 2011 killing and cannibalization of Angel Gonzalez, 43. Smith admitted to killing Gonzalez — who was homeless — with an ax inside an abandoned home in Bridgeport before removing parts of his brain, one of his eyeballs and several organs. He then consumed the body parts at Lakeview Cemetery, washing them down with sake. Gonzalez's sister-in-law, Talitha Frazier, spoke during Friday's hearing and urged the board to keep Smith inside the hospital. 'How do we really know he's not going to do this again?' Frazier asked, according to CTPost. 'He had no remorse for killing Angel.' Smith, who is a diagnosed schizophrenic, will first receive day passes but will be confined to the hospital's grounds. As he continues to make progress, he'll receive more privileges, like supervised off-site visits. Connecticut politicians, like Cicarella and State Sens. Henry Martin, Heather Somers, and Stephen Harding said they fear Smith could pose a public threat should he stop taking his medications. 'This terrible decision puts public safety in jeopardy and is yet another terrible message to send to CT violent crime victims and their families. This person should never be out,' they said in a statement. 'We are dumbfounded at this injustice. In what universe is this OK?'
CBS News
22-02-2025
- CBS News
Man who ate part of his victim's brain granted supervised release from Connecticut psychiatric hospital
A Connecticut man who was found not guilty by reason of insanity of killing a victim with a hatchet and eating body parts has been granted conditional release from the state's only maximum-security psychiatric hospital, despite concerns expressed by the victim's family and state lawmakers. Tyree Smith was ordered confined to Whiting Forensic Hospital for 60 years in 2013 in connection with the killing of Angel Gonzalez, whose mutilated body was found in a vacant apartment in Bridgeport in January 2012 a month after he was hacked to death. Smith's cousin had testified that Smith told her he ate part of Gonzalez's brain and an eyeball while drinking sake. The state's Psychiatric Security Review Board granted Smith conditional release from the hospital on Friday after hearing from a psychiatrist, who said Smith's schizophrenia and alcohol and drug disorders were in full remission as a result of medication and other treatment. A conditional release means Smith will be placed in a community setting, but under supervision with strict conditions including continuing treatment. Smith already has been staying full-time at a community facility with around-the-clock supervision for the past nine months, with Friday's decision formally discharging him from the hospital, officials said. During a hearing before the board ruled, Gonzalez's sister-in-law, Talitha Frazier, said she was concerned Smith was now hiding his mental illness. "How do we really know he's not going to do this again?" she asked. State Sens. Heather Somers, Paul Cicarella, Henri Martin and Stephen Harding called the decision "outrageous" and "mind-boggling" in a statement Friday afternoon. "This terrible decision puts public safety in jeopardy and is yet another terrible message to send to CT violent crime victims and their families. This person should never be out," the Republican lawmakers said. Smith attended the hearing virtually with his lawyer, but was not shown on video screens because of safety concerns stemming from media coverage, his lawyer said.
Associated Press
22-02-2025
- Associated Press
Killer who ate part of his victim's brain granted supervised release from psychiatric hospital
MIDDLETOWN, Conn. (AP) — A Connecticut man who was found not guilty by reason of insanity of killing a victim with a hatchet and eating body parts has been granted conditional release from the state's only maximum-security psychiatric hospital, despite concerns expressed by the victim's family and state lawmakers. Tyree Smith was ordered confined to Whiting Forensic Hospital for 60 years in 2013 in connection with the killing of Angel Gonzalez, whose mutilated body was found in a vacant apartment in Bridgeport in January 2012 a month after he was hacked to death. Smith's cousin had testified that Smith told her he ate part of Gonzalez's brain and an eyeball while drinking sake. The state's Psychiatric Security Review Board granted Smith conditional release from the hospital on Friday after hearing from a psychiatrist, who said Smith's schizophrenia and alcohol and drug disorders were in full remission as a result of medication and other treatment. A conditional release means Smith will be placed in a community setting, but under supervision with strict conditions including continuing treatment. Smith already has been staying full-time at a community facility with around-the-clock supervision for the past nine months, with Friday's decision formally discharging him from the hospital, officials said. During a hearing before the board ruled, Gonzalez's sister-in-law, Talitha Frazier, said she was concerned Smith was now hiding his mental illness. 'How do we really know he's not going to do this again?' she asked. State Sens. Heather Somers, Paul Cicarella, Henri Martin and Stephen Harding called the decision 'outrageous' and 'mind-boggling' in a statement Friday afternoon. 'This terrible decision puts public safety in jeopardy and is yet another terrible message to send to CT violent crime victims and their families. This person should never be out,' the Republican lawmakers said. Smith attended the hearing virtually with his lawyer, but was not shown on video screens because of safety concerns stemming from media coverage, his lawyer said.
