Brade
Newly obtained prison documents reveal that TYREE SMITH, infamously known as the “Connecticut Cannibal,” exhibited violent behavior while incarcerated, raising concerns about his conditional release. SMITH, who confessed to the 2011 murder of homeless man ANGEL GONZALEZ and admitted to consuming parts of the victim’s body, was found not guilty by reason of insanity in 2013. Despite being committed to Connecticut Valley Hospital for 60 years, he was granted conditional release in February 2025 by the state’s Psychiatric Security Review Board.
SMITH has been residing at a community facility with strict supervision and ongoing mental health treatment. His psychiatrist, CAREN TEITELBAUM, described him as “a joy” and a calming presence for other patients. However, newly uncovered prison records, obtained by WTNH, paint a darker picture of SMITH‘s behavior during his incarceration. The documents detail multiple violent altercations, including a 2013 incident at Garner Correctional Facility where SMITH attacked another inmate unprovoked. Authorities deemed him too dangerous for the general prison population, labeling him a “serious threat to life.”
The victim’s family, including ANGEL GONZALEZ‘s sister-in-law, TALITHA FRAZIER, expressed outrage at SMITH‘s release. “He’s still doing something violent to another person while pleading insanity,” FRAZIER told WTNH. Critics, including Republican state Senator PAUL CICARELLA, have condemned the decision, calling it “outrageous” and a threat to public safety.
SMITH‘s case dates back to January 2012, when GONZALEZ‘s mutilated body was discovered in a Bridgeport apartment. SMITH‘s cousin, NICOLE RABB, testified that he admitted to eating parts of the victim’s brain and eye. Hours before the murder, SMITH reportedly warned RABB that he planned to kill someone.
The decision to release SMITH has sparked widespread condemnation, with lawmakers questioning the justice system’s priorities. “This terrible decision puts public safety in jeopardy,” CICARELLA and fellow Republicans stated. The Connecticut Department of Corrections has yet to comment on the matter.
[Sources: WTNH, CBS News, Associated Press, WFSB]
