A man named Tyree Smith, aged 35, consumed parts of his friend’s brain and eyes, likening them to the taste of oysters. Prior to the gruesome incident in December 2011, Smith had been discussing Greek gods and had expressed a desire to commit violent acts. He proceeded to kill Angel ‘Tun Tun’ Gonzalez with a hatchet and consume parts of his body. Gonzalez’s mutilated remains were found in an abandoned flat in Bridgeport in January 2012, where Smith had lived as a child.
According to Smith’s cousin, Nicole Rabb, Smith had visited her the day before the incident, talking about Greek gods and his desire for violence. The following day, he returned covered in blood, admitting to eating Gonzalez’s organs while under the influence of Sake. Smith expressed regret for his actions during a court appearance in 2013, stating that he was sorry for what he had done.
Despite Smith’s remorse, Gonzalez’s sister-in-law, Talitha Frazier, raised concerns about his potential for future violence. Smith was allowed to leave a mental health facility in February after serving a 60-year sentence. He had been residing in a group home in Waterbury since being deemed stable by the Psychiatric Security Review Board.
While some professionals praised Smith’s progress and stability, others, including State Senator Paul Cicarella, expressed reservations about his release. Dr. Caren Teitelbaum highlighted that Smith had been a positive influence on other patients but acknowledged the risks associated with him going off his medication.
A forensic psychiatrist convinced the review board that Smith’s schizophrenia was under control, leading to his conditional release to a supervised communal setting. Despite being discharged from Whiting Forensic Hospital in February, concerns remain about Smith’s potential danger if he stops taking his medication.
In light of the decision to release Smith, several senators, including Heather Somers, Paul Cicarella, Henri Martin, and Stephen Harding, criticized the move, emphasizing the threat to public safety and the impact on crime victims and their families. They deemed the decision to allow Smith’s release as “outrageous” and “mind-boggling.”