Release Of Accused Bridgeport Cannibal Killer Draws Criticism

BRIDGEPORT, CT — The recent conditional release of Tyree Smith, who killed and admitted to eating parts of Angel "Tun Tun" Gonzalez in 2011, has drawn sharp criticism from four Connecticut Senate Republicans.

In a joint statement, state Sens. Heather Somers, Paul Cicarella, Henri Martin and Stephen Harding called the decision by the state Psychiatric Security Review Board to release Smith was

"Outrageous. Mind-boggling," the four Republicans wrote. "This individual killed and ate part of his victim and was found not guilty by reason of insanity. His victim’s family raised objections about his release. What about THEM? Where is the justice for THEM?"

Relatives of Gonzalez still live in Bridgeport, where the killing occurred, but they were not notified ahead of Smith's release, the Connecticut Post reported.

Two years after the killing, Smith was reportedly found not guilty by reason of insanity in the murder of Gonzalez, who Smith killed with an axe. Smith admitted to eating part of Gonzalez's brain and an eye, the New York Post reported.

Smith was reportedly sentenced to 60 years in the Connecticut Valley Hospital, where doctors said that he was rehabilitated through the taking of psychiatric medications.

Now Smith lives in a group home, where trained staff is on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. He has reportedly been barred from entering Bridgeport, and he must remain on his psychiatric medications and wear a GPS monitoring device on his ankle.

The state senators are not buying that Smith is rehabilitated. WFSB-TV reported that if Smith goes off of his medications, he could possibly be a danger.

The review board reportedly voted unanimously in favor of Smith's conditional release, arguing that there has been a "zero percent recidivism rate" for violent criminals who have received conditional releases.

"This terrible decision puts public safety in jeopardy and is yet another terrible message to send to CT violent crime victims and their families," the senators wrote. "This person should never be out. We are dumbfounded at this injustice. In what universe is this ok?"