On Friday, the Nutmeg State’s Psychiatric Security Review Board granted a conditional release to Tyree Smith, a convicted cannibal killer.

According to WFSB, Smith will remain under supervision and continue receiving mental health services as part of his release conditions.

Smith had been committed to Connecticut Valley Hospital in 2013 for a 60-year term after a three-judge panel found him not guilty by “reason of insanity” for the gruesome killing and cannibalization of Angel Gonzalez, 43.

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The Gruesome Crime

In 2011, Smith brutally murdered Gonzalez, a homeless man, inside an abandoned Bridgeport home. 

He used an ax to kill his victim before extracting parts of Gonzalez’s brain, an eyeball, and several organs. Smith then consumed the body parts at Lakeview Cemetery, using chopsticks and drinking sake during the act.

Psychiatrist: Smith is Rehabilitated

Smith’s doctor, forensic psychiatrist Caren Teitelbaum, testified that he has been rehabilitated and is effectively managing his psychosis through medication.

"To quote the director there, he is a joy. He is considered a support to the other people there," Teitelbaum stated. "Once he was stable, he was a really calming presence for other patients."

Teitelbaum further emphasized that Smith has "maintained clinical stability, adhered to the medications, and continued to engage in group and substance abuse treatment." She also noted that he has denied experiencing visual hallucinations or having any desire to harm himself or others.

Public and Political Backlash

Despite the board’s ruling, several local officials and members of the public voiced strong objections to Smith’s release. GOP state Sen. Paul Cicarella was among those who condemned the decision.

"Murder and cannibalism and release in the same sentence. That’s a problem. That’s concerning to me," Cicarella told WFSB.

Republican state Senators Henry Martin, Heather Somers, and Stephen Harding echoed these concerns in a joint statement, calling 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.

 "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?"

Victim’s Family: Cannibal Killer “Had No Remorse”

Gonzalez’s sister-in-law, Talitha Frazier, also spoke out against Smith’s release, urging the board to keep him in the hospital.

"How do we really know he's not going to do this again?" Frazier asked during Friday’s hearing, as reported by CTPost. "He had no remorse for killing Angel."

Frazier further shared that Gonzalez’s family remains fearful. "His grandkids are scared. His daughter is scared—she couldn’t come today, her sugar dropped to 52," she said, according to WFSB.

The Terms of Smith’s Release

Smith, who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, will initially receive day passes but will remain confined to the hospital’s grounds. Over time, he may gain additional freedoms, such as supervised off-site visits. His ultimate release depends on how he progresses.

Despite psychiatric assurances of his rehabilitation, many remain deeply concerned about the potential risk he poses to public safety.