Tyree Smith in court on Feb. 1, 2012. Photo: Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media via AP
A Connecticut man known as the “Bridgeport Cannibal Killer” has been granted a conditional release, a decision that has left many stunned and outraged.
In 2013, Tyree Smith was found not guilty by reason of insanity for the brutal 2012 murder of Angel Gonzalez in Bridgeport. Authorities say Smith killed Gonzalez in an abandoned apartment, then admitted to eating parts of his body. His cousin even testified that Smith spoke about consuming one of Gonzalez’s eyeballs and part of his brain.
After spending years in Connecticut Valley Hospital in Middletown, Smith has now been conditionally released. This means he will technically leave the hospital but must follow strict supervision and continue mental health treatment.
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According to Dr. Caren Teitelbaum, a forensic psychiatrist, Smith has shown stability, kept up with his medications, and participated in therapy. “He has been a calming presence for other patients,” she said during the review hearing.
But not everyone agrees with the decision. Several Connecticut lawmakers have slammed the ruling, calling it “outrageous” and a “threat to public safety.” In a joint statement, four Republican state senators said, “This person should never be out. We are dumbfounded at this injustice.”
Gonzalez’s family also expressed concerns. His sister-in-law, Talitha Frazier, questioned the board directly: “How do we really know he’s not going to do this again?”
The controversial ruling has reignited debates about mental health, the justice system, and public safety. As Smith transitions back into the community under strict supervision, many are left wondering—can true rehabilitation ever be guaranteed?
