José Dorángel Vargas Gomez, also known as Dorángel Vargas or the infamous “People Eater,” is a well-known criminal figure in Venezuela. His dark history begins in rural Mérida, where he faced a troubled upbringing before escalating to gruesome murders and a shocking prison disturbance that resulted in fatalities and reports of cannibalism.
Born on May 14, 1957, in Caño Zancudo, Mérida, Vargas was raised in a family of impoverished farmers with ties to the Venezuelan Liberation Forces. Locals believed he was influenced by malevolent forces from an early age, with minimal formal education as he dropped out after sixth grade.
As a young adult, Vargas drifted away from his family, leading a transient lifestyle and engaging in petty criminal activities like theft of livestock. His criminal tendencies took a serious turn in 1995 when he murdered a fellow transient, Baltazar Cruz Moreno, and consumed his flesh.
After this heinous act, Vargas was confined to the Peribeca Psychiatric Rehabilitation Institute for two years due to a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. Despite concerns about his violent nature, he was eventually released.
In the late 1990s, Vargas resurfaced in San Cristóbal, Táchira, where he embarked on a killing spree targeting healthy men using brutal methods. His crimes involved bludgeoning victims to death with a spear-like metal tube or rocks, with a preference for specific body parts for consumption while avoiding others based on his disturbing criteria.
The magnitude of Vargas’s atrocities came to light in early 1999 when the remains of multiple victims were discovered near a park, leading to the revelation of his cannibalistic acts. Captured and dubbed “The Hannibal Lecter of the Andes” by the media, Vargas was found legally insane and placed in a secure prison to prevent further harm.
Despite confinement, Vargas’s involvement in a violent prison riot in October 2016 raised concerns. The riot resulted in the brutal murders of two inmates, with reports of dismemberment and cannibalism within the overcrowded and chaotic detention center.
Vargas’s involvement in the disturbing events during the riot suggested a continuation of his violent tendencies. While the government refrained from confirming the cannibalism allegations officially, testimonies from witnesses and families supported the claims.
Presently, Vargas remains isolated and closely monitored in Táchira due to his unpredictable behavior. Despite his chilling crimes, he remains unapologetic, openly discussing his gruesome acts and showing no remorse for his actions.
