Modern Cannibal Crimes

Tyree Lincoln Smith

By: Mikh | 29/07/2025

The Case of Tyree Lincoln Smith: A Modern American Cannibal

Cannibalism is often associated with ancient rituals, survival stories, or infamous cases from the distant past. However, even in the modern era, shocking crimes emerge that defy rational explanation. One such case is that of Tyree Lincoln Smith, a man from Bridgeport, Connecticut, whose brutal killing of a friend in 2011 stunned the nation. His crime was not only a murder but also an act of cannibalism, involving the consumption of his victim’s brain and an eyeball. The story of Tyree Smith is one of violence, mental illness, and lingering controversy about justice, rehabilitation, and public safety.

Early Life and Struggles

Tyree Lincoln Smith was born in 1977 and grew up in Connecticut. While not much is publicly documented about his childhood, court records and psychiatric reports reveal that he struggled with severe mental health issues throughout his life. Smith reported hearing voices and experiencing hallucinations long before the killing. These symptoms, often linked to schizophrenia and psychotic disorders, would later play a central role in his legal defense.

By his thirties, Smith’s life was unstable. He was often homeless, drifting between acquaintances’ homes and living on the streets. His deteriorating mental state combined with poverty and lack of proper treatment created a dangerous mixture, leading him down a path that would culminate in one of the most shocking crimes in modern Connecticut history.

The Murder of Angel “Tun Tun” Gonzalez

On December 15, 2011, Smith committed the crime that made headlines around the world. His victim was Angel “Tun Tun” Gonzalez, a 43-year-old homeless man from Bridgeport. Gonzalez was known to the community as a quiet man, often seen wandering the streets. Unfortunately, his path crossed with Smith in the most tragic way.

According to police reports and trial testimony, Smith entered the vacant Lafayette Street apartment where Gonzalez had been staying. Inside, he used a hatchet/ax to attack Gonzalez, striking him multiple times in the face and head. The brutality of the assault left Gonzalez dead almost instantly.

But the horror did not stop there. Driven by hallucinations and dark impulses, Smith mutilated Gonzalez’s body. He removed part of the brain and one of the eyeballs, later admitting that he ate them at a local cemetery. He even described washing them down with sake, a Japanese rice wine. This gruesome act cemented Smith’s place among modern examples of cannibalistic killers.

Arrest and Confession

Smith fled the crime scene, but police quickly connected him to the killing. His arrest was not only based on forensic evidence but also on his own confession. Disturbingly, Smith spoke candidly about what he had done, describing how he consumed the remains of his victim.

This confession shocked both investigators and the public. While cannibalism has appeared in isolated criminal cases across the world, it is rare in the United States, especially in the 21st century. Smith’s calm and detailed admission made it clear that this was not an ordinary act of violence but a crime deeply intertwined with mental instability.

Trial and the Question of Insanity

Smith’s case quickly moved into the courts, where the central question was not whether he committed the crime—he clearly had—but whether he could be held legally responsible. His lawyers argued that Smith was suffering from severe psychosis at the time of the murder and was unable to distinguish between right and wrong.

In 2013, the court ruled that Smith was not guilty by reason of insanity. Instead of being sentenced to prison, he was committed to a maximum-security psychiatric hospital in Connecticut. The ruling sparked debate: Was justice truly served for Angel Gonzalez and his grieving family, or did Smith escape accountability by hiding behind a diagnosis?

Life in Psychiatric Confinement

Following his commitment, Smith lived under strict supervision in Connecticut Valley Hospital, a secure psychiatric facility. There, he received treatment for his mental illness, including medication and therapy. Psychiatric evaluations suggested that he responded to treatment, but the nature of his crime meant he was regarded as a severe threat to public safety.

Over the years, Smith’s case periodically returned to the headlines, especially when his doctors or attorneys petitioned for conditional release. Each time, Gonzalez’s family and state officials strongly opposed it, citing the extreme nature of his crime and the risk of relapse if Smith were freed.

Renewed Controversy in 2025

In 2025, Smith’s name resurfaced in Connecticut news when Republican lawmakers criticized local authorities for even considering his conditional release. State senators argued that the public could not be protected if a man who had committed cannibalistic murder was allowed outside the psychiatric facility.

Their opposition was rooted in both public safety and compassion for the victim’s family, who continued to live with the trauma of Gonzalez’s violent death. One senator described the case as “a grotesque crime against humanity” and warned that allowing Smith back into society would be reckless.

This controversy reignited the national debate over the balance between mental illness treatment and justice for victims of violent crimes. Should someone who committed such an act ever be allowed a second chance, no matter how much treatment they undergo? Or should the nature of the crime itself mean permanent confinement?

Psychological and Social Dimensions

The Tyree Lincoln Smith case touches on several larger themes:

1. Mental Illness and Crime – Smith’s crime highlights the dangers of untreated psychosis. Without early and effective intervention, individuals suffering from severe disorders can pose risks to themselves and others.

2. Cannibalism in the Modern Era – Cannibalism is often relegated to history books or survival stories, yet Smith’s act reminds us that such behavior can still occur today under extreme psychological breakdowns.

3. Justice vs. Rehabilitation – Smith’s insanity ruling raises ethical dilemmas. Should society focus on treating offenders like him, or should the priority remain punishment and protection of the public?

4. Impact on Families – For Angel Gonzalez’s relatives, the legal outcome meant they would never see the man who killed their loved one face traditional prison justice. Their pain was compounded each time news surfaced about Smith’s possible release.

Conclusion

The story of Tyree Lincoln Smith is a chilling reminder that some crimes defy comprehension. His brutal killing of Angel Gonzalez and subsequent cannibalism stand as one of the most disturbing acts in modern American criminal history. While his insanity defense spared him prison, the ongoing debate about his confinement reflects the deep tension between mental health treatment and justice.

Even more than a decade later, the case continues to provoke outrage, fear, and moral questioning. Whether Smith remains confined for life or someday walks free, his name will remain linked to one of the most shocking modern examples of cannibalistic crime.

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