Tyree Smith

Case overview

Tyree Lincoln Smith, born January 11, 1977, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for the death of Angel “Tun Tun” Gonzalez. Smith was committed to a high-security psychiatric hospital for 60 years on September 11, 2013. In court, Smith apologized to Gonzalez’s relatives, saying: “I couldn’t be myself.” Smith stated that what he did “really had nothing to do with the other person.”

Timeline

• January 25, 2012 — A Connecticut murder suspect, Tyree Lincoln Smith, was arrested in Lynn Haven, Florida, after allegedly killing Angel “Tun Tun” Gonzalez with an axe and eating portions of the victim.
• July 8, 2013 — Yale University psychiatrist Dr. Reena Kapoor testified during Smith’s trial.
• July 9, 2013 — A three-judge panel found Smith not guilty by reason of insanity; judges deliberated about an hour before determining the insanity finding and assessing dangerousness.
• September 11, 2013 — Smith was committed to a high-security psychiatric hospital for 60 years.

The offence

Angel “Tun Tun” Gonzalez was hacked to death with an axe in an abandoned Brooks Street home in Bridgeport. Smith admitted he killed and partially ate Gonzalez, and prosecutors presented a videotaped statement to police in which Smith said he used a hatchet to kill Gonzalez and then took out Gonzalez’s eyes and part of his brain and ate them.

Smith was described as having used a small axe or hatchet, and he removed an eyeball and a portion of Gonzalez’s brain. Investigators said Gonzalez was killed on December 15, 2011, and his decomposed body was found more than a month later. His mutilated, decomposing body was found in a vacant apartment in Bridgeport, and it was later reported that police noticed one of the victim’s eyeballs and a piece of his brain missing when they found the body, initially attributing that to rats.

Smith allegedly carried parts of Gonzalez to Lakeview Cemetery and washed them down with sake.

Smith told his cousin he was awakened by Gonzalez and invited inside the abandoned apartment building, and he described hearing a voice: “This is your blood.” Smith told his cousin that he hacked Gonzalez to death, then cannibalized the body. When describing the cemetery meal, Smith said: “At the cemetery he said he ate the eyeball, which tasted like an oyster, and the brain matter,” as quoted from an arrest warrant affidavit. The affidavit was also quoted as describing the severity of the blows and the removal of an eye and pieces of brain matter.

Smith described his actions as driven by voices that ordered him to eat Gonzalez’s brain and eyes.

Investigation

A Bridgeport Superior Court case involved prosecutors presenting evidence including a videotaped statement to police in which Smith described killing Gonzalez and eating parts of him.

Smith came to the attention of authorities when his cousin, Nicole Rabb, contacted Bridgeport police about Gonzalez’s slaying. Rabb told detectives that Smith arrived at her house on December 15, 2011, and said he wanted “get blood on his hands” before going to the abandoned home, where he used to live. Rabb said that on the next day Smith returned to her cousin’s house with blood on his pants, hands and an ax, and she said Smith told her he killed Gonzalez with the ax. Court documents were described as stating that he then collected parts of his victim and consumed them in a nearby cemetery, washing them down with sake.

A building inspector found Gonzalez’s body in the Brooks Street apartment building more than a month after the killing. Police recovered a bloody hatchet and an empty bottle of sake in a stream bed off Boston Avenue.

Police were also reported to have been contacted by Smith’s mother, Cheryl Smith. After Rabb told Cheryl Smith about what Smith had recounted about the crime, Cheryl Smith called police to request a check on the welfare of Smith at 216 Brooks St. Police reported Cheryl Smith later told them she had spoken with Smith the day after he told his cousin he killed Gonzalez, and she said she had told Smith he needed help and to go to the hospital, according to court records. Police said Cheryl Smith told officers Smith had gone to Bridgeport Hospital but had left after not being treated. It was also stated that Smith checked into St. Vincent’s Medical Center and was discharged Jan. 9.

A psychiatrist testified that Smith heard voices that told him to eat Gonzalez’s brain “to better understand human behaviour” and to eat Gonzalez’s eyes “to gain vision into the ‘spiritual realm’.”

Arrest and custody

Smith was arrested in Lynn Haven, Florida. He was taken into custody without incident by local law enforcement and the U.S. Marshal Violent Crime Fugitive Task Force.

It was reported that federal, state and local law enforcement officers took him into custody at a woman’s apartment, and the woman was described as unaware of Smith’s alleged actions and as having fully cooperated with authorities. Smith was being sought on a murder warrant issued by Connecticut.

Smith’s arrest was described as following events where Rabb learned of the discovery of Gonzalez’s body and contacted police. Smith reportedly boarded a Greyhound bus for Florida after his alleged confession and arrived in Panama City on January 23, 2012. It was stated that Smith was taken into custody on the evening of January 23 or during a subsequent night after being located in Lynn Haven.

Smith appeared in court and was ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation. Superior Court Judge Earl Richards set Smith’s bond at $1 million at the urging of prosecutors and ordered him to remain in custody in lieu of bond. Judge Earl Richards also ordered Smith placed on suicide watch at the Bridgeport Correctional Center.

Smith later sat in custody in Bridgeport while he awaited further proceedings, and he was reported to have been medicated and on suicide watch.

At the time of the insanity finding and commitment proceedings, it was also stated that Smith would likely be transported to the Whiting Forensic Institute in Middletown pending evaluation for community safety.

Trial

Smith faced a charge of murder in the death of Angel “Tun Tun” Gonzalez. During trial proceedings, prosecutors presented evidence including a videotaped statement to police in which Smith admitted killing and cannibalizing Gonzalez.

Yale University psychiatrist Dr. Reena Kapoor testified. Kapoor testified that Smith heard voices that instructed him to kill certain people, including a pedophile priest and “a cop in Bridgeport he thought was involved in drugs,” and she said his behavior so frightened his family that they reported the incident to officials in California, where officials took his young son away from Smith. Kapoor’s testimony was described as being the crux of the defense to prove Smith was insane when he killed and cannibalized Gonzalez.

Kapoor testified that Smith had been writing a book titled “The Book of Michael.” The testimony included that: “The book is nonsensical. You can't discern any kind of meaning from it,” and Kapoor testified that Smith stated he was concerned about when he would get a chance to work on the book again and about “eating people.”

Kapoor testified that after Smith ate body parts, he went to a Subway sandwich shop on Main Street because he was apparently still hungry.

Kapoor was quoted as saying Smith told prison treatment providers in April 2012: “I want to eat others because I have already crossed that line,” and she said Smith told providers he had “even considered eating” her.

Smith’s defense was described as being handled by public defender Joseph Bruckmann, who handled the insanity defense. It was also reported that during the trial, Smith’s cousin Nicole Rabb testified. Rabb testified that Smith showed up at her door in December 2011 talking about Greek gods and ruminating about needing to go out and get blood. Rabb said that when she saw him the next evening she noticed specks of blood on his pants and that he was carrying chopsticks and a bloody hatchet. Rabb said she kicked Smith out after he told her he had killed a man with a hatchet and then eaten some of his body parts in Lakeview Cemetery, washing them down with sake.

Insanity verdict and commitment

A three-judge panel found Smith not guilty by reason of insanity in the death of Angel “Tun Tun” Gonzalez. It was reported that judges deliberated about an hour before finding that prosecutors had proven Smith killed and cannibalized Gonzalez, but that Smith was legally insane at the time.

Bridgeport Superior Court judges were urged by a prosecutor and social worker to protect society from Smith. Psychiatric social worker Julie Jacobs testified and said: “He poses a significant danger to himself and the community.” State attorney John Smriga stated: “I am concerned there is an expectation he would do this to other people if he was allowed to be free.”

A psychiatrist testified that Smith heard voices that told him to eat Gonzalez’s brain to better understand human behaviour and eat his eyes for vision into the “spiritual realm.”

One of the judges, John Kavanewsky, was quoted as saying from the bench:

“The defendant was unable, as a result of a mental disease, a psychosis attended by command hallucinations, to control his conduct within the requirements of the law,”

Smith’s lawyer Joseph Bruckmann urged the judges by stating:

“We have to look at the big picture,”
“We can't overlook that he ate part of the man's brain and his eyeballs in a cemetery.”

Bruckmann was quoted as saying:

“There have been two tragedies in this case,”
“The first was the senseless death of Mr. Gonzalez, and the second is that Tyree Smith has been a tortured soul for many years. He's been tortured by voices for decades and now that he is properly medicated he is horrified he caused Mr. Gonzalez's death.”

Following the verdict, it was stated that judges would determine on Sept. 9 whether Smith should be committed to a mental hospital. On September 11, 2013, Smith was committed to a high-security psychiatric hospital for 60 years.

Outcome and apologies in court

After the verdict, Smith apologized to Gonzalez’s relatives in court. Smith said: “I'm really sorry for what I did, that I couldn't be myself,” and he added: “It really had nothing to do with the other person.”

Talitha Frazier, who wore a T-shirt with Mr. Gonzalez’s photograph, was quoted: “We waited two years to hear Tyree say he was sorry,” and she stated: “What he said today caught me off-guard, but I feel he meant what he said.”

A sister-in-law of the victim, Talitcha Frazier, was quoted earlier as reacting to the verdict with:

“Justice has been served!”
“I don't care where he serves the rest of his life as long as it's behind locked doors.”

Other people and relationships

• Angel “Tun Tun” Gonzalez: the homeless man killed and partially eaten by Smith.
• Nicole Rabb: Smith’s cousin; she contacted Bridgeport police and later testified about Smith’s statements and behavior after the killing.
• Joseph Bruckmann: public defender who handled the insanity defense.
• Dr. Reena Kapoor: Yale University psychiatrist who testified for the defense.
• Julie Jacobs: psychiatric social worker who testified about dangerousness.
• John Smriga: state attorney who urged protection of society; he was quoted: “I am concerned there is an expectation he would do this to other people if he was allowed to be free.”
• John Kavanewsky, John Blawie, Maria Kahn: the three Superior Court judges who deliberated.
• Earl Richards: Superior Court judge who set bond and ordered psychiatric evaluation and suicide watch.
• Cheryl Smith: Smith’s mother; she called police regarding the welfare of her son and reported that she told him he needed help and to go to the hospital.
• Odalys Vazquez: step-daughter of Gonzalez; she said she wanted justice, and she was quoted:

  “Here it is that my dad was trying to help this guy, telling him to come inside from the cold,”
  “If my father was helping him stay warm, what kind of person is it who does this -- who repays him by swinging an axe at him and hitting him so hard it blows his brains out?”

• Talitha Frazier / Talitcha Frazier: sister-in-law of Gonzalez, quoted at court regarding the verdict and apology.
• Cynthia Martin: neighbor who called Smith “Black Jesus,” as reported.
• Sandra Turner Cassaday: widowed home health care aide who lived across the street from Smith’s apartment; she was quoted: “Always walking,” and stated: “He was always by himself. I always thought of him as a loner.”
• Louis Farias: neighbor who encountered Smith barefoot carrying a bottle of wine, complained about the incident, and later was quoted about Smith’s behavior and his unease.
• Michelle Renee Matisons: a girlfriend/companion who Smith stayed with in Lynn Haven; she was described as a women’s studies scholar and as having been an assistant professor at California State University in Sacramento in the past.
• Adolph Smith and Cheryl Rabb: Smith’s parents (Cheryl Rabb and Adolph Smith), with the report describing the ages and later marriage.
• Roshonda Young: Smith’s high school girlfriend; she posted comments after the allegations and wrote:

  “At a loss for words,”
  “I tried to be there and encourage him ... i keep askin myself what could i have possibly said to change the outcome of his actions?! I knew hell we knew something wasnt right just didnt think he would commit such a horrible crime. My high school sweetheart an axe murderer and canibal??!!”
  “... i just keep tellin myself that i shoulda been there more for him cause i knew he was disturbed and isolated just didnt want him to feel like he didn't have nobody. I told him i would always have love for him cause he felt unloved mistreated by all and alone.”

• Odorless relative of Smith: an unidentified man who shouted in the courtroom and stated: “Tyree, Tyree! I'm your blood, I'm your blood!” and then said: “I ain't saying he didn't do it, I know he did -- but I'm his blood,”.

Background and personal details

Smith grew up at Riverside Apartments, a three-story public housing project on Olson Drive, attended Ansonia High School, and dated Roshonda Young. He was described as completing three years of public high school before withdrawing on Sept. 8, 1994. He enrolled in Job Corps, a vocational training program administered by the U.S. Department of Labor.

In California, Smith fathered a son in the late 1990s and worked at coffee shops and as a manager of a videogame store. Kapoor testified Smith had psychotic incidents since childhood and heard voices telling him to kill people.

Kapoor testified that Smith’s behavior led to officials taking his young son away when his family reported incidents to officials in California.

Smith was described as having had a July 2011 move to Lynn Haven, Florida, where he lived with a girlfriend. He was also described as being treated and released from St. Vincent’s Medical Center’s Behavioral Health Services in Westport after being discovered in a pharmacy bleeding from his wrist, which police said he slashed with a box cutter.

Smith was reported to have been treated and discharged and returned to Florida, where he was arrested on January 23, 2012.

Other details

Smith was reported to have used sake. It was described that he wrote about devouring flesh and had posts about his fantasies, including: “Devouring your flesh. Smelling your bodies burn in a heap,” and “I hate the day they created you filthy humans. There. Thats whats been on my mind since a child. Happy?”

A tablet quote from a Facebook-style post was also included in the narrative: “Omw (On my way) to the shrinks now. Cya guys,” and “I drink ALOT,” and “Ok, im done being paranoid. Thanks again. I should stop playing so many wargames.”

Smith grew up in Bridgeport and Ansonia, later lived in California, and then moved to Lynn Haven, Florida, where he stayed with Michelle Renee Matisons.

A mental evaluation was ordered before any trial began, per a judge’s order. A pre-trial court appearance was set for March 5 in Bridgeport.

Smith was reported to sit now in the Garner Correctional Institute in Newtown on suicide watch and medicated after his arrest.