Recent reports indicate that Tyree Smith, infamously dubbed the Connecticut Cannibal, had displayed violent behavior and was deemed a “serious threat to life” before his release.
Smith admitted to murdering Angel Gonzalez, a homeless individual in Connecticut back in 2011, even confessing to consuming parts of the victim’s body in a cemetery.
In 2013, a panel of judges ruled Smith to be not guilty by reason of insanity in connection with Gonzalez’s death.
Despite this ruling, Smith was committed to Connecticut Valley Hospital for a substantial 60 years.
In February 2025, he was granted conditional release by the Nutmeg State Psychiatric Security Review Board, enabling him to leave the hospital in Middletown.
Smith remains under supervision and continues to receive mental health services, according to reports from WTNH.
He has been residing full-time in a community facility with strict conditions and around-the-clock supervision since his release.
According to Smith’s doctor, he has been undergoing rehabilitation and is on medication to manage mental health issues and cope with hallucinations.
Forensic psychiatrist Karen Teitelbaum noted, “He is delighted with the supervision and has become a supportive presence for others.” She emphasized that he has maintained stability and continues to engage actively in treatment.
However, new documents from the Connecticut Department of Corrections reveal a different story. They suggest that violent tendencies still linger, detailing altercations Smith had with other inmates during his incarceration.
A report from April 2013 indicates Smith was at the Garner Correctional Facility when he faced murder charges. After an incident where he physically assaulted another inmate, authorities determined he posed a significant risk to others.
Gonzalez’s sister-in-law, Talisa Frazier, expressed her anger and concern, pointing out Smith’s continued violent behavior despite his claims of madness during his imprisonment.
As a result of the incident, Smith has been isolated, with notes in his file indicating that he poses a “serious threat to the security of life, property, and other inmates.”
In January 2012, just a month after the murder, Gonzalez’s dismembered body was discovered in Bridgeport, Connecticut, roughly 65 miles from New York City.
Testimony from one of Smith’s cousins indicated that he claimed to have eaten parts of Gonzalez, including his brain and eyes, prior to the murder.
After announcing Smith’s release in February, critics, including Republican state Senator Paul Cicarella, expressed their concerns, arguing that someone with such a background should remain under tight scrutiny in a hospital setting.
Cicarella described the combination of release, murder, and cannibalism as troubling, stating that the safety of the public should be a priority.
Other Republican senators also voiced objections, deeming the decision “outrageous” and a disservice to the families of victims.
Concerns linger regarding the implications of this decision on public safety and the message it sends to victims of violent crimes.
The Connecticut Department of Corrections has yet to provide a comment on these matters.
