In a chilling revelation that has sent shockwaves through Venezuela, the notorious cannibal José Dorángel Vargas Gómez, known for his gruesome acts of murder and cannibalism, remains a haunting figure more than two decades after his initial capture. The 67-year-old has spent 25 years behind bars without a trial, his history of violence and mental illness casting a long shadow over the nation’s justice system.
Born into poverty and suffering from undiagnosed paranoid schizophrenia, José’s descent into madness began in his youth, marked by disturbing behaviors toward animals. By the mid-1990s, he had escalated to human victims, killing and consuming fellow homeless men in the streets of San Cristóbal. His first known murder in 1995 involved the brutal killing of a companion, after which he infamously feasted on the remains. This gruesome act was only the beginning.
In 1998, after a series of disappearances, authorities discovered a horrifying scene at José’s makeshift shack near the Tobs River—pots of human flesh and severed body parts littered the area. He confessed to targeting muscular men, claiming their meat was particularly appealing. The public was horrified, and despite the evidence, the Venezuelan courts declared him mentally unfit for trial, committing him to a psychiatric facility instead of a prison.
As time wore on, José’s violent tendencies seemingly persisted. In 2016, during a chaotic prison riot, rumors surfaced of cannibalism among inmates, with reports suggesting that José was involved in dismembering and distributing the flesh of fellow prisoners. Yet, despite these allegations, he has never faced trial for these heinous acts.
As of 2024, human rights organizations are raising alarms about the legal uncertainties surrounding José’s indefinite detention, with many questioning whether his continued confinement truly makes society safer. With no clear timeline for resolution, the families of his victims continue to seek justice, haunted by the specter of a man whose appetite for violence remains disturbingly insatiable.