Latest news with #TyreeSmith
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
22-02-2025
- Yahoo
Board approves conditional release of Birdgeport cannibal killer
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (WTNH) — The Connecticut Psychiatric Security Review Board Friday voted to grant the conditional release of a man who admitted to killing another man and then eating his eyeball and part of his brain. Tyree Smith killed Angel 'Tun Tun' Gonzalez with an ax in a cemetery on Dec. 15, 2011. He then removed an eyeball and part of the man's brain and took them to Lakeview Cemetery, where he ate them over his cousin's grave. Smith was found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity in July 2013. He was sentenced to 60 years in a psychiatric hospital. In 2023, he transitioned to a group home. Los Angeles DA gives update in Menendez brothers' resentencing case The board determined Smith has 'demonstrated long-term stability, remained engaged in all recommended treatments, and consistently followed his care plan.' The conditions of his release include structured supervision and continued mental health services, the board said. The board said people being considered for conditional release first go through a temporary leave process, during which they remain under hospital supervision while slowly increasing their time in the community. They said the goal of conditional release is 'rehabilitation, not punishment' for those found not guilty by reason of insanity. Republicans Sen. Heather Somers, Sen. Paul Cicarella, Sen Henri Martin and Sen. Stephen Harding issued a joint statement, calling the board's decision 'outrageous.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
