A Killer's Freedom: A Controversial Release

A man from Connecticut, Tyree Smith, has been given the green light to leave a high-security psychiatric hospital. This decision came after he was found not guilty by reason of insanity for a brutal murder in 2012. Smith was confined to Whiting Forensic Hospital for 60 years. He was accused of killing Angel Gonzalez with a hatchet and eating parts of his body. The victim's family and some state lawmakers are worried about this decision. Smith's cousin had previously testified that Smith confessed to eating part of Gonzalez's brain and an eyeball while drinking sake. The state’s Psychiatric Security Review Board made the decision to release Smith after hearing from a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist said that Smith's schizophrenia and his alcohol and drug disorders were fully under control thanks to medication and treatment. A conditional release means Smith will be placed in a community setting, but under strict supervision. He will have to continue his treatment. He has already been living in a community facility with constant supervision for the past nine months. The decision to release him formally discharges him from the hospital.

During the hearing, Gonzalez’s sister-in-law, Talitha Frazier, expressed her concerns. She worried that Smith might be hiding his mental illness. She asked, "How do we really know he won’t do this again? " State Sens. Heather Somers, Paul Cicarella, Henri Martin and Stephen Harding called the decision "outrageous" and "mind-boggling. " They said it puts public safety at risk and sends a terrible message to victims of violent crime and their families. Smith attended the hearing virtually with his lawyer. He was not shown on video screens because of safety concerns related to media coverage. The release of Smith raises questions about the effectiveness of psychiatric treatment and the balance between public safety and the rights of the mentally ill. It also highlights the challenges faced by families of victims in such cases.

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