José Dorángel Vargas Gomez, also known as Dorángel Vargas or the “People Eater,” is a well-known criminal figure in Venezuela. His dark history began in rural Mérida, where he faced a troubled childhood before escalating to gruesome murders and a harrowing prison riot years later.
Born on May 14, 1957, in Caño Zancudo, Mérida, Vargas grew up in poverty, with his parents involved in militant activities. Locals believed he was influenced by evil spirits from a young age, as he had minimal formal education, only attending school until sixth grade.
As he reached adulthood, Vargas drifted away from his family, becoming a transient and engaging in petty crimes like theft. His criminal record escalated in 1995 when he killed and cannibalized another transient, Baltazar Cruz Moreno.
Following this heinous act, Vargas was placed in a psychiatric institution for two years due to paranoid schizophrenia. Despite concerns about his violent tendencies, he was eventually released. In the late 1990s, he resumed his criminal activities in San Cristóbal, committing a series of murders along the Torbes River and in Parque 12 de Febrero.
Vargas targeted specific victims, predominantly healthy men, using various weapons to bludgeon them to death. He had peculiar rules regarding the quality of flesh, avoiding certain individuals based on his preferences.
After killing his victims, Vargas dismembered their bodies, consuming some parts and disposing of others. The extent of his crimes came to light in February 1999 when multiple bodies were discovered, along with human flesh and body parts in his living quarters.
Following his capture, Vargas gained national attention and was labeled “The Hannibal Lecter of the Andes” by the media. Despite being diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and psychopathic tendencies, he was placed in a secure prison in Táchira due to the lack of appropriate psychiatric facilities.
In 2016, a riot erupted at the Táchira Detention Center, resulting in the brutal murders of two inmates. Shockingly, parts of their bodies were reportedly fed to other prisoners during the chaos. Vargas, infamous for his past acts of cannibalism, was allegedly involved in the dismemberments.
Despite the government’s reluctance to confirm the cannibalism claims, testimonies from witnesses and families supported the grim allegations. Vargas remains isolated in Táchira, closely monitored due to his unpredictable and violent nature.
He has openly discussed his crimes in interviews, admitting to his gruesome actions without remorse. Vargas’s chilling words and disturbing past continue to haunt those familiar with his dark legacy.
