José Dorángel Vargas Gomez, also known as Dorángel Vargas or the infamous “People Eater,” has gained notoriety as a criminal figure in Venezuela.
His background traces back to a troubled upbringing in rural Mérida, leading to gruesome killings in the streets and a shocking prison disturbance later on, resulting in fatalities and reports of cannibalistic acts.
Born in 1957 in the small village of Caño Zancudo, Mérida, Vargas grew up 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, and his education was limited to the sixth grade.
As he matured, Vargas distanced himself from his family and adopted a transient lifestyle, engaging in petty crimes like theft of animals, showing a trend of opportunistic criminal behavior.
In 1995, Vargas committed a significant crime by killing and consuming another transient, Baltazar Cruz Moreno, marking his first serious encounter with the law.
Following this incident, Vargas was confined to the Peribeca Psychiatric Rehabilitation Institute for two years, where he received treatment for paranoid schizophrenia. Despite concerns about his violent propensities, he was eventually released.
In the late 1990s, Vargas resurfaced in San Cristóbal, Táchira state, and embarked on a series of murders between November 1998 and January 1999 along the Torbes River and in Parque 12 de Febrero.
Targeting physically fit men, Vargas used weapons like a metal spear or rocks to bludgeon his victims to death, following specific guidelines about the quality of flesh he consumed.
After killing his victims, Vargas dismembered their bodies, consuming some parts and storing others in containers, burying some, or discarding them into the river. His gruesome activities were exposed in early 1999 when multiple bodies were discovered, revealing the extent of his crimes.
Upon his apprehension, Vargas garnered national attention, earning the moniker “The Hannibal Lecter of the Andes.” Psychological assessments diagnosed him with paranoid schizophrenia and psychopathic inclinations, leading to his placement in a secure prison to prevent further violence.
Despite being incarcerated, Vargas’s involvement in a prison riot in 2016 at the Táchira Detention Center highlighted his continued violent behavior. Reports suggested he was recruited by a gang to carry out brutal acts, including dismemberments and cannibalism, within the facility.
Vargas remains isolated in Táchira, under close observation due to his erratic and violent nature, as he continues to reflect on his past crimes and the consequences of his actions.