During testimony Thursday, Etute said he entered Smith's apartment alone -- both teammates waited outside and were not charged with a crime -- and engaged with Smith on a bed. Thats just wrong.. The student arrested is Isimemen Etute of Virginia Beach, Virginia, a freshman majoring in human development. Smith's family declined to comment after the bond hearing. The prosecuting attorney, Montgomery County Chief Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Patrick Jensen, declined comment and referred questions to his boss, Commonwealth's Attorney Mary Pettitt. page_type: 'article', Etute was arrested June 2, 2021, and charged with the May 31 murder of Jerry Smith, a local Blacksburg man who had posed as a woman online to meet straight, college-aged men. Atutee has been charged and is currently being held in Montgomery County Jail without bond. Hes going to get his life back, and Im hopeful, said Jimmy Turk to reporters. Listen ! env: 'prod', url: 'isimemen,etute,a,virginia,tech,recruit,beat,tinder,date,to,death,after,learning,he,was,a,man', Former Virginia Tech players Jalen Hampton and Jordan Brunson, who were called as witnesses in Etutes defense, were interviewed by federal authorities in September. But thankfully, a not guilty verdict was delivered in Etutes case, making him now a free man. kw: 'mandc,isimemen-etute', tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { Etute was accused of beating his Tinder date Jerry Smith to death after mistaking him for a woman last year. Duncans decision isnt without precedent. subcat: '', Jensen had maintained that Etute had not acted in self-defense. playerId: 'be5717b5-2a7b-4fde-8c19-21cbbff0cd95' If this is true, it is clearly murder IMHO. Dont target or lure anyone under that perception. Reaction continued to spread to the murder charge against former Hokie linebacker Isi Etute and to his attorney's saying that the victim was wrong to pose online as a woman. The Blacksburg (Va.) Police Department responded to a welfare check Monday night where officers discovered a deceased male victim, according to the citys website. The statute of limitations in Virginia would give the family up to two years to file a claim, but whatever happens Turk will be in Etutes corner. Etutes attorneys argued the beating was self-defense during a confrontation last year in which the mans true identity was revealed and Etute perceived that Smith was reaching for a weapon. Stevers was charged with second-degree murder in the death of her estranged husband back in 2017. Like seriously just be honest, there are plenty of men who dont mind, another wrote. A former Virginia Tech student and football player can now breathe the most enormous sigh of relief. The linebackers team profile was not active Thursday. And that clearly had a play in the decision of the jury. Women of Power TECH, PODCASTS Sales Partnership Solutions BLACK ENTERPRISE is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. Jensen said that while Etute was wearing flip-flops at the time of the encounter, those shoes were attached to a "big person" and a "strong person." That means hes been found not guilty.. The gay panic defense came into effect July 1 and quite frankly, I dont believe that it would have been applicable to the facts of this case anyway because thats not what led to the death, Turk said. The Virginia Beach native, who was out on bond while awaiting trial, was facing a second-degree murder charge that carried a prison sentence of from five to 40 years upon conviction. Cobb said he was heartbroken that Fridays verdict left him with a similar empty feeling. 21-22 Varsity Football. Im certainly appreciative that the verdict turned out the way that it did, defense attorney Jimmy Turk told Oxygen.com. Isimemen Etute, 21, entered a plea of not guilty at Thursday's arraignment for the 2021 murder of Jerry Smith, 40, according to NBC Roanoke affiliate WSLS. The order restricts Etute from returning to Montgomery County except to consult with his attorney or to attend court proceedings. "He has a tremendous amount riding on this trial," Jensen had said during his closing argument hours earlier Friday, The Roanoke Times reported. Recently unsealed court documents indicate Isimemen Etute and three other Virginia Tech football players were under investigation for a possible hate crime in relation to Etute's murder charge. Etute, according to court arguments, reportedly told police he had punched Smith five times in the face and stomped on him after discovering the person he thought was a woman was a man. The linebackers parents and sister attended Wednesdays hearing, as well as a dozen Virginia Tech football players, most of whom were wearing team gear, according to the report. Those who followed the story celebrated Isimemen Etutes freedom on social media, with many agreeing that Smith should not have been catfishing. One of the prosecutors said at closing arguments Friday that Etute gave different versions of events to police and the jury, and that the charge may have been enough for him to change his testimony. We are relieved and thankful that God has helped guide us through this extremely hard and punishing journey, the family said. Contact Montgomery County General District Court Judge Randal Duncan set a secured bond of $75,000 for Isimemen Etute, 18, of Virginia Beach, but he will remain in jail after prosecutors filed an expedited appeal, news outlets reported. Etute testified that Smith was still breathing when he left, and the state's forensic detective testified the entire attack likely took only a few seconds. Im truly sorry for my actions.. url: 'isimemen,etute,a,virginia,tech,recruit,beat,tinder,date,to,death,after,learning,he,was,a,man', Etute did not speak to reporters after the trial ended, but Turk said he hoped this case would provide a lesson for people using social media apps in the future. Isimemen Etute, his legal team, and his family were relieved when the not guilty verdict was revealed, which sent everyone into a happy emotional state. The Blacksburg (Va.) Police Department responded to a welfare check Monday night where officers discovered a deceased male victim, according to the city's website. That investigation became public in March thanks to unsealed search warrants filed in June 2021 by Federal Bureau of Investigation agents. A Virginia Tech football player has been arrested and charged with the murder of a Blacksburg resident, according to the Blacksburg Police Department and the university. During a police search of the apartment, a knife was found between Smith's mattress and box spring, but Etute testified he never saw the knife, and he did not mention any concerns for his own safety during his initial police interview on June 2, 2021. Duncan acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations, but in granting bail he said there was no evidence that Etute wouldnt appear for the trial or that he posed a danger to the community. I felt violated, Etute testified. Etute testified that he left the April 10 encounter still believing Smith was a woman, but teammates later began teasing him that his sexual partner could have been a man. Isimemen Etute faces traffic charges in Radford from the same day that he is accused of killing Jerry Paul Smith in Blacksburg. Please subscribe to keep reading. Im trying to stay strong for the people that support me, I feel like Ive let a lot of people down Im truly sorry for my actions.. He compared Etute, an "elite college athlete," to Smith, who weighed 153 pounds (just under 70 kilograms). She was eventually acquitted in 2018 on charges of voluntary manslaughter. Isimemen Etute, 19, stands accused of the 2021 murder of Jerry Paul Smith, 40, who Etute met under the name "Angie." (Smith's family has identified the victim as a gay man, according to ABC. With Isimemen Etutes fate held in the balance by a Virginia judge and jury, the young man began to feel support from family, friends, and former teammates. Since 1970, BLACK ENTERPRISE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. The last request came in December 2021. Etute then returned to the apartment on May 31 for another meet-up, at which point he discovered the person he had matched up with this time was male, according to Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Jason Morgan, citing details the now-suspended linebacker told cops. At the time, Etute was a freshman at Virginia Tech, where he also played football as their linebacker. Etute, with her voice barely above a whisper, said there is someone at home pretty much around the clock at the household with his sister requiring extra care. Etute and Hampton, along with a third teammate, Jordan Brunson, decided to return to Smith's apartment to determine Smith's gender. Isimemen Etute, 19, was found not guilty of second degree murder by a Montgomery County jury on Friday for the beating death of Jerry Smith, 40, according to the Roanoke Times. BE 100s Elder testified that he was disturbed by the circumstances of the meeting, in which Smith hid his face and kept his apartment nearly pitch dark. Former Virginia Tech linebacker Isimemen Etute will get a chance to play football this season following his acquittal on a second-degree murde. The university told CNN it cannot disclose if Etute has been suspended from the university as the information is a confidential part of the students record. } He has been suspended from the team, according to a statement from the university, which has authority to suspend any student charged in a felony arrest. Sept. 23, 2021 Etute appeared in court for a preliminary hearing on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. The warrants sought records from Etutes cellphone, a Tinder account associated with that number, and the cellphone records of three other then-Tech football team members. Isimemen Etute faces traffic charges in Radford from the same day that he is accused of killing Jerry Paul Smith in Blacksburg. The American Nigerian, Isimemen Etute, 19, was found not guilty of a charge of second-degree murder in the 2021 death of Jerry Smith, 40, of Blacksburg. tag: 'mandc,isimemen-etute', It has made us stronger and strengthened our faith., We will continue to include the Smith family in our prayers. Etute returned on May 31 and realized that Smith and Angie were the same person. Etute testified that he left the April 10 encounter still believing Smith was a woman, but teammates later began teasing him that his sexual partner could have been a man. Isimemen Etute also took the stand in the three-day trial, where he shared he felt violated and argued that the act was in self-defense. Eighteen-year-old Isimemen Etute was a 2021 recruit on the Virginia Tech Hokies football team. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', Etute was acquitted Friday evening of second-degree murder in the killing of Jerry Paul Smith, 40, a Blacksburg restaurant worker. Isimemen Etute, 18, was. Wiki, Biography, Age, Family, Arrested, Charge, Attempted Robbery. The judge in Etute's case ruled that the new legislation did not apply to this case, as it was enacted after the incident took place, though Turk argued it likely would not have altered the outcome of the trial. Etute said he went to Angies Blacksburg, Virginia apartment, where the pair engaged in oral sex for which his partner also paid Etute $50. Privacy Policy Isimemen Etute released on $75,000 bond; remains suspended from team A Virginia Tech freshman linebacker charged in the beating death of a man who he thought was a woman has been released on bail. A Virginia Tech football recruit is in jail facing murder charges for beating his Tinder date to death after learning he was a man and not the woman he met online. In closing arguments Friday, the prosecution said Etute's recollection of events did not include a reach toward the area where the knife was hidden until after he'd been charged with murder. Prosecutors stated the investigation was ongoing when they asked a U.S. magistrate judge to keep the documents under seal for 90 days on multiple occasions. Isimemen Etute was granted bond Wednesday on the charge of second-degree murder in the Montgomery County General District Court. Etute was ordered released on $75,000 secured bond under conditions of house arrest and electronic monitoring, the Roanoke Times reported, citing Commonwealths Attorney Mary Pettitt. Some have suggested Etute suspected Smith was a dude and went there intending to confront him and potentially retaliate. It will take time to decompress and feel relief from this gut-wrenching, frightening experience in life. This wasn't a first-time meeting. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-3', Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-3', He previously spent time with Angie and engaged in oral sex with them on April 10. Immediately after the verdict was announced, Smith's family quickly left the courtroom. In the case of a felony arrest, the university has the authority to place a student on immediate interim suspension, Virginia Tech said in the statement. In the case of a felony arrest, the university has the authority to place a student on immediate interim suspension, the university added. Etute said he "felt around" and used his cell phone's flashlight to determine Smith was not a woman. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Once inside, Etute followed "Angie" to the bedroom and initiated another sexual encounter, before grabbing at the victims privates and removing their sweatshirt hood, which is when he found that his sexual partner had mens facial hair. According to testimony, Etute first connected with Smith in April 2021 on the dating app Tinder, with Smith posing as a woman going by the name "Angie Renee." About Isimemen Etute is 18 years old. The suspended Hokie football player is accused of killing Jerry Paul Smith. Dont target or lure anyone under that perception. The Roanoke Times reports a jury acquitted Isimemen Etute on a second-degree murder charge for the death of 40-year-old Jerry Paul Smith.The jury reportedly deliberated for about three hours following the trial that lasted . However, this time he would be surprised to discover that Angie Renee was really a 40-year-old man restaurant employee named Jerry Smith. He, too, went to the apartment expecting a sexual encounter with a woman, but decided to leave after feeling uncomfortable. A jury found Isimemen Etute not guilty of murder, though he confessed to violently beating Jerry Smith in an attack that left every bone in the victim's face broken. Isi says this process gives him trust and faith again in life. Family handout Etute, who will stay with his parents in Virginia Beach, is due back in court on Sept. 23, WJZY reported.. CHRISTIANSBURG Former Virginia Tech football player Isimemen David Etute and his parents, Nichelle and David, issued a statement to The Roanoke Times on Saturday through his defense attorney Jimmy Turk. Hes been acquitted of a crime, Turk said. subcat: '', }).render('94bb55df4cdf465b83a6067603cd42e5'); Let this be a lesson, wrote one fan on Instagram. Teams. Turk was asked after the verdict came down if Etute should be allowed back at the university. On May 31, another Virginia Tech player, Jalen Hampton, also connected with "Angie Renee" on Tinder. tude.cmd.push(function() { Etute has three siblings including a younger sister, 15, with Down syndrome. He is required to live with his family and wear an ankle monitor. You have permission to edit this article. We ended up presenting a defense which included, to a great extent, completely self-defense. targeting: { According to the autopsy, all the bones in Blacksburg resident Jerry Paul Smiths face were broken, his teeth were missing and he had multiple cranial fractures. He referred questions to his boss, Commonwealths Attorney Mary Pettitt. Turk ended his arguments in tears, calling Etute "one of the finest young men I've ever had the experience of meeting" and noting that the entire situation came about only because of Smith's "deliberate, wicked sexual ruse.". UPDATE 6:14 p.m.: The Virginia Tech football player facing a second-degree murder charge, Isimemen Etute, will be allowed out on bond under a new agreement. Upon confronting Smith, Etute testified that Smith grabbed at Etute's genitals, causing Etute to strike Smith in the face with the back of his hand. The judge in Etute's case ruled that the new legislation did not apply to this case, as it was enacted after the incident took place, though Turk argued it likely would not have altered the outcome of the trial. Etute was 18 years old at the time. Jensen recalled the testimony of medical examiner Dr. Amy Tharp, who Jensen said testified Smith had been the victim of a "brutal beating.". Real hard, Etute said. Isimemen Etute was trapped in an online catfishing scheme, where he thought he was having oral sex with a woman named "Angie." He used his phone's flashlight in the no-light apartment and later . Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Yes. Etute testified that he then believed Smith reached for a weapon under his bed, causing Etute to strike Smith with a fist several more times. ABOUT Smith eventually died from blunt force injuries to the head. At that time Etute discovered Smith was male, commonwealth attorneys told the court, and assaulted Smith. Etute also told police that Smith did not assault him. Etute was in court Wednesday morning wearing an orange prison jumpsuit. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Ukraine's interior minister, at least 14 others killed in Kyiv helicopter crash, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder June 2, Business cycle: Ex-Burlington Coat Factory location considered by home decor company, Roanoke Wasena Bridge project update: log cabin to be removed, replaced by roundabout, Case of Radford child's many hospital visits ends with Alford plea, Former Blacksburg coach Mickey McGuigan remembered for his 'compassion', Christiansburg Marketplace to add second anchor with Academy Sports + Outdoors, Ford plant halted by Youngkin would have created 2,500 jobs in Southside, Roanoke woman charged in U.S. Capitol riots. First published on May 28, 2022 / 10:23 AM. (Matt Gentry/The Roanoke Times . kw: 'mandc,isimemen-etute', Isimemen Etute, 19, was found not . div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', It reminded of him of past incidents of discrimination he had witnessed, most notably a beating that left an interracial gay couple hospitalized shortly after he moved to Roanoke in 2001. The verdict elicited a mix of reactions from those in the courtrooms gallery, including Etute's father, who collapsed near his sobbing wife. Driver in Pulaski County fatal crash had long list of violations, CASEY: Roanoke election overseer thought Trump won the 2020 election 'by millions of votes', Roanoke road rage shooting case ends in manslaughter conviction, Here are the 5 Virginia Bed Bath & Beyond stores that are closing, A green comet will appear in the night sky for the first time in 50,000 years, Lisa Marie Presley dies at 54 after hospitalization, believes that discrimination was at the heart of the issue, Former Virginia Tech LB Isi Etute lands at Iowa Western Community College after acquittal, Etute traffic charges resolved in Radford, Former Virginia Tech football player Isimemen Etute found not guilty in beating death of Blacksburg man, Killing of Jerry Paul Smith called 'irrational,' Isi Etute defense called discriminatory, Federal search warrants point to hate crime investigation against Etute, Top Ukrainian officials among 18 killed in helicopter crash near Kyiv, The world'soldest known person, French nun Lucile Randon, dead at 118, French Guiana: The center of drug smuggling to Europe, Ducks replace pesticides at South Africa vineyard. Management Today, Isimemen David Etute was indicted by a grand jury on one count of Second-Degree murder. Charges - Arrested A freshman on the Virginia Tech Hokies football team has been charged in a homicide investigation. !function(n){if(!window.cnx){window.cnx={},window.cnx.cmd=[];var t=n.createElement('iframe');t.display='none',t.onload=function(){var n=t.contentWindow.document,c=n.createElement('script');c.src='//cd.connatix.com/connatix.player.js',c.setAttribute('async','1'),c.setAttribute('type','text/javascript'),n.body.appendChild(c)},n.head.appendChild(t)}}(document);