Additional Coverage:
- Connecticut cannibal killer given conditional release after 2011 murder in which he ate victim’s brain, eye (foxnews.com)
A Connecticut man found not guilty by reason of insanity for a 2011 killing and cannibalism case has been granted conditional release from a state psychiatric hospital.
Tyree Smith was committed to Connecticut Valley Hospital in Middletown after the 2011 death of Angel Gonzalez. Smith admitted to killing Gonzalez with an axe and consuming some of his body parts.
A panel of judges found Smith not guilty by reason of insanity in 2013. He received a 60-year commitment to the hospital.
Smith’s psychiatrist testified that he’s been rehabilitated, is taking medication, and is a positive influence on other patients.
The decision has sparked outrage from some state lawmakers and Gonzalez’s family. Several Republican senators called the release “outrageous” and questioned the safety of the public.
Gonzalez’s family expressed fear and disbelief at the decision. They questioned whether Smith truly poses no further threat.
Smith’s release will be gradual. He will begin with day passes on hospital grounds, with increasing freedoms as he progresses. He will remain under supervision and continue mental health treatment.