Family Disappearance Linked to 'Mad Honey' Psychosis

The Cirigliano Family's Mysterious Disappearance

• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The Cirigliano family, including parents Tony and Suzette and their teen sons Brandon and Noah, vanished from their Michigan home in October 2022.
• 🚨 The disappearance began with a bizarre 911 call from Tony, who believed a meteor strike was imminent and feared for his family's safety.
• 🔍 After six days and traveling 600 miles, the family was found safe in Wisconsin, but the circumstances remained puzzling.

The 'Mad Honey' Hypothesis

• 🍯 Tony Cirigliano believes a jar of "mad honey" he purchased online is responsible for his psychotic break and the family's subsequent flight.
• 🐝 Mad honey is produced when bees feed on toxic nectar from rhododendron plants, primarily in Turkey and Nepal, known for its intoxicating effects.
• ⚠️ Tony experienced symptoms including heart palpitations, confusion, and the belief the world was ending, which he attributes to consuming the honey daily.

Investigation and Diagnosis

• 🏥 Following their discovery, Tony was institutionalized for three weeks and underwent outpatient counseling, with one hospital diagnosing bipolar disorder.
• 🔬 Noo County Community Mental Health reported Tony had suffered a psychotic break triggered by mad honey consumption containing neurotoxins, but he no longer meets criteria for severe mental illness.
• 🧪 The family dumped the honey, as toxin testing would be prohibitively expensive and uncertain, and they could not definitively prove the honey was the cause.

Family's Motivation for Sharing

• 🗣️ The Ciriglianos decided to share their story to set the record straight, raise awareness about mental health, and inform others about the potential dangers of mad honey.
• 💡 They aim to normalize conversations around mental health and highlight the importance of seeking help.
• ✅ The family is now doing well, with Tony back to work and Suzette's mother, who has dementia, also being cared for.