Photos of Miami cannibal victim revealed by doctors

Doctors at Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital have released photos of the grisly damage done to the face of Ronald Poppo, the victim of Miami's notorious "causeway cannibal," reports CBS Miami. Poppo was attacked by 31-year-old Rudy Eugene on May 26 alongside the MacArthur Parkway in a case that, due to its shocking nature, has become notorious worldwide.

Doctors say that Poppo is awake and alert. They describe him as "charming" and "positive," and say that he is able to speak and communicate with doctors. Jackson Memorial Hospital released a photo of Poppo walking in a hospital hallway, supported by two physicians. The photo on the front page of the CBS website is intentionally blurred, but a full, extremely graphic image (WARNING: Some readers may find this image disturbing.) of the damage can be seen here.

CBS said, "The photo shows the upper two-thirds of Poppo’s face covered in thick, bloody scabs. He’s missing his nose and both eye sockets are covered, one with gauze and one with what appears to be a skin graft." His left eye was gouged out in the attack, the right is injured, but healing. It is currently unknown whether Poppo will regain sight in that eye.

Toxicology reports are still pending, but it is believed that Rudy Eugene was under the influence of "bath salts," or mephedrone, a synthetic stimulant that produces unpredictable reactions in users when taken at toxic levels. Prior to the attack, it was reported that Eugene was seen running naked along the highway and swinging from a light pole.

Autopsy reports on Eugene, who police shot and killed at the scene of the attack, indicated that after tearing Poppo's flesh from his face with his teeth, he did not ingest it. According to Police One News, the only contents of Eugene's stomach were several undigested pills.

Poppo was homeless when he was attacked by Eugene. A support fund at Jackson Memorial Hospital has raised over $15,000 for his medical and personal expenses.