Etute and his parents headed home for Virginia Beach on Saturday morning to take a deep breath.. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { Etute was a three-star linebacker recruit from Frank W. Cox High School in Virginia Beach and signed his letter of intent in December before enrolling at Virginia Tech the next month. A judge gave Etute a $75,000 secured bond due to him meeting all the requirements to prove hes neither a flight risk nor a danger to society. Isimemen Etute is 18 years old. The suspended Hokie football player is accused of killing Jerry Paul Smith. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', Etute also told police that Smith did not assault him. I do not know a finer 19 year old that Ive ever come into contact with.. Dont target or lure anyone under that perception. The medical examiners office had previously revealed that Smith had died from blunt force trauma to the head. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', Etute confessed to then punching and kicking Smith, breaking every bone in the victims face, knocking out teeth and causing cranial fractures. Its sad All the way around. 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. 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. Virginia Tech football player charged with second-degree murder of local man Management 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.. Some have suggested Etute suspected Smith was a dude and went there intending to confront him and potentially retaliate. Etute told the police he punched the victim five times in the face and continued punching the victim when the person hit the ground and stomped on him. His attorney, Jimmy Turk, told a judge the case was more than someone just showing up to an apartment and punching someone.. ABOUT "I think he's earned the right to go back to school and further his academic and sports career," Turk said. Etute was accused of beating his Tinder date Jerry Smith to death after mistaking him for a woman last year. ]); Etute attended middle school at TS Great Neck Middle School in Virginia Bech. Former Virginia Tech linebacker Isimemen Etute will get a chance to play football this season following his acquittal on a second-degree murde. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. On July 1, 2021 -- just more than a month after Smith's death -- Virginia passed a bill restricting the use of the so-called gay panic defense, in which a defendant accused of homicide could receive a lesser sentence by saying they panicked after finding out the victim's sexual orientation or gender identity. In his testimony Thursday, Etute had testified that Smith reached for what Etute thought was a gun. An autopsy report by the medical examiner showed nearly all the bones in Smith's face were broken, he suffered bleeding of the brain, and had teeth fragments missing. url: 'isimemen,etute,a,virginia,tech,recruit,beat,tinder,date,to,death,after,learning,he,was,a,man', Isimemen David Etute his hugged by his father David Etute at conclusion of the trail in Montgomery County Circuit Court in Christiansburg, Va., Friday, May 27, 2022. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. And you let people CHOOSE to love it or not.. In April 2021, Etute matched with who he believed was a woman named "Angie" (whose legal name was Jerry Smith) on the dating app Tinder. The three-day trial might not have done much to pique their interest. The Commonwealth exercised its statutory right to appeal that . Turks response to Morgan outlining the circumstances of the case was to emphasize that the victim solicited Etute for sexual activity. Etute collapsed in tears as the verdict was read, with cheers erupting from a contingent of about 30 family members, supporters and former teammates. Today's top videos STORY CONTINUES BELOW Etute has three siblings including a younger sister, 15, with Down syndrome. There are different standards, and they can determine that this case violates federal law.. Relatives of Smith, meanwhile, reportedly declined to comment after the hearing. He added that Smith had "demanded that it be dark" and had hidden a knife under his mattress "in case there was something awry.". 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. 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. aid: '724714', Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! If this is true, it is clearly murder IMHO. Graduated in 2021. Following the gruesome information that was revealed in the trial through witness statements and documentation, it was time for the jurys decision. Former Virginia Tech football player Isimemen Etute was found not guilty of all charges Friday in the beating death of a Blacksburg resident following an online catfishing scheme. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The college student had no prior criminal history. 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." It had to.. Etute collapsed in tears as the verdict was read, with cheers erupting from a contingent of about 30 family members, supporters and former teammates. The best insights from the ultimate insiders. Jensen recalled the testimony of medical examiner Dr. Amy Tharp, who Jensen said testified Smith had been the victim of a "brutal beating.". Virginia Tech announced that Isimemen Etute has been suspended from the football team immediately, and the university will aid police as they carry out their investigation into the suspected homicide. Entrepreneurs Summit playerId: 'be5717b5-2a7b-4fde-8c19-21cbbff0cd95' Michelle Etute was the first witness called and Turk led her through a series of questions about her sons background, his relationship with his family and their living situation. If theres ever been a time for someone to be considered for bail, this is it.. Isimemen Etute, a former Virginia Tech football player accused of fatally beating a man who he claims he thought was a woman from Tinder, has . subcat: '', 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. In 2021, 18-year-old Isimemen Etute thought he met a 21-year-old woman named Angie Renee, posing as an emergency room physician, according toThe Roanoake Times. 2022 The Associated Press. Real hard, Etute said. 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A judge also granted Etute a $75,000 bond, which prosecutors originally appealed, but that was dropped Wednesday afternoon. He was the number 36 prospect in Virginia and 45 inside linebacker in the country, according to 247sports. Etutes parents and sister attended the hearing in a packed courtroom that also included members of the Hokies football team, according to reports. Isimemen "Isi" David Etute is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Jerry Paul Smith, a restaurant worker. Police said the investigation has revealed Smith and Etute were acquaintances. According to testimony given in court, 18-year-old Isimemen David Etute said he went to a Blacksburg apartment to meet Angie, a woman he connected with on Tinder. Nobody deserves to die, but I dont mind saying, dont pretend you are something that you are not, Etutes attorney, Jimmy Turk, told reporters, according to The Richmond Times Dispatch. Isimemen Etute celebrates in Montgomery County Circuit Court Friday, May 27, 2022 in Christiansburg Va. Matt Gentry/The Roanoke Times via AP, Pool, Illinois woman's remains found over 5 years after she disappeared. kw: 'mandc,isimemen-etute', His body was discovered in an unrecognizable state the next day, reports the Post. Investigators ruled the death a homicide and identified Isimemen Etude as a person of interest. Smith did not own a gun, but police reported finding a knife between the man's mattress and box spring. Etute attended middle, Rapper Gangsta Boo Laid To Rest, Brother Released From Hospital, 90s R&B Singer Jaguar Wright Taken Into Custody Days After Calling Out Jay-Z, Boosie Badazz Daughter Shows Off Her New Girlfriend, Now The Rapper Is Being Dragged Across Twitter, Malcolm Jamal Warner Reveals He Makes Pennies From Cosby Show Residuals, Cost More To Send Check Out, Jason Lee Drops First Interview On New Show, Reveals He Was Once Smacked By Rihanna. He further says it has only helped him become much smarter, wiser, and stronger, with a new outlook on life in his journey moving forward.. A suspended Virginia Tech football player charged with second-degree murder was granted bond during a hearing Wednesday morning in Montgomery County General District Court in Christiansburg, Va., as reportedly sordid details emerged surrounding the case. He heard bubbling and gurgling as he left the apartment, but didnt call the police. tude.cmd.push(function() { 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 affiliate WSET, and Smith is not listed on the Human Rights Campaign's compendium of transgender and non-conforming people killed in 2021 .) CHRISTIANSBURG A now suspended Virginia Tech football player told police he punched a sexual partner five times in the face and stomped on him after discovering the person he thought was a woman was actually a man, according to arguments presented Wednesday in a Montgomery County courtroom. Atutee has been charged and is currently being held in Montgomery County Jail without bond. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). The closest Etute came to referencing the charges hes facing is when Turk asked him, how has this affected you? BLACK ENTERPRISE is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. Both players initially left, but Etute returned to the apartment, and testified that he received oral sex and a $50 gift from Smith. An autopsy revealed Smith, a restaurant worker, died from blunt force trauma to the head. tag: 'mandc,isimemen-etute', Isimemen Etute was later charged for the incident. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', Subscribe On Youtube. This photo provided by Blacksburg Police Dept., shows Isimemen Etute. Hes focusing now, I think, on trying to get his life back together, Turk continued. The linebackers team profile was not active Thursday. But the defense would still be allowed to argue self-defense, an argument that Burke said was obviously a convincing one given the verdict. According to the report, Etute arrived at the same apartment on May 31st for another potential encounter. Etute admitted that Smith did not fight back and he heard a bubbly and gurgling noise while leaving the home. The verdict came after a three-day trial and just over three hours of jury deliberations. aid: '724714', Prosecutors initially filed an expedited appeal that would have kept the 18-year-old from Virginia Beach in jail for up to five more days, but agreed to his release once the two sides settled on . Details were also revealed that Jerry Smith harbored a weapon hidden between his mattress and box spring. BE 100s cnx({ Isimemen Etute, 18, Jerry Paul Smith, 40, (pictured right) Etute had previously been to Smith's residence on April 10 for oral sex under the impression that he was going to meet someone named Angie, attorneys for both the defense and prosecution told Judge Randal Duncan, according to the Roanoke Times. }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; 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. About Contact Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest. The defendant pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, claiming he acted in self-defense. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-3', Blacksburg Police have announced the arrest of a Virginia Tech student in connection to the death of a Blacksburg resident early Wednesday morning. 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