Etute has three siblings including a younger sister, 15, with Down syndrome. 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. The victim is Blacksburg resident Jerry Smith, 40. Im not saying what happened was acceptable, but this was more than someone just showing up to an apartment and punching someone, Turk told the court. 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. Economic Equity & Racial Justice Townhall Series, Elevate Black Podcast sponsored by Fifth Third Bank, 100 Founders of Change by American Express, Chasing Success Podcast by JP Morgan Chase, Black Business Month Sponsored by Nationwide, 2022 Registry Of Corporate Directors Listing, 2021 BE Registry Of Corporate Directors Listing. 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. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! B.E. Ismemen Etute is seen on a Fox 46 broadcast. Former player Isimemen Etute, 19, was found not guilty of a charge of second-degree murder in the 2021 death of Jerry Smith, 40, of Blacksburg. Freshman Isimemen Etute is facing a second-degree murder charge in the death of Jerry Smith, 40, on May 31. He added that Smith had "demanded that it be dark" and had hidden a knife under his mattress "in case there was something awry.". Isimemen David Etute, a freshman who was recruited to play linebacker at Virginia Tech, was hit with second-degree murder charges in the death of Jerry Paul Smith in May. Etute had been a rookie linebacker for the Virginia Techs Hokies football when he was arrested for Smiths murder, resulting in his suspension from the team. Turk got emotional arguing on Etutes behalf during the hearing, and fought to fight back tears during his closing argument, and again outside the courtroom. tude.cmd.push(function() { 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 David Etute is accused of killing Jerry Paul Smith. He is required to live with his family and wear an ankle monitor. Relatives of Smith, meanwhile, reportedly declined to comment after the hearing. Why wouldnt it work in civil court? Burke said. subcat: '', A freshman on the Virginia Tech Hokies football team has been charged in a homicide investigation. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Watch Isi Etute's videos and highlights on Hudl. Eighteen-year-old Isimemen Etute was a 2021 recruit on the Virginia Tech Hokies football team. The Times also reports that his parents broke down in tears following the verdict while his father "collapsed." Stevers was charged with second-degree murder in the death of her estranged husband back in 2017. Management 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. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Cox High School Virginia Beach VA. Etute said he "felt around" and used his cell phone's flashlight to determine Smith was not a woman. The charges are a footnote to mistaken-gender killing, of which Isimemen David Etute was acquitted. Along with teammate Da'Shawn Elder, Etute went to Smith's Blacksburg apartment on April 10 under the assumption that he was meeting a woman. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. More than a dozen football players most of them clad in Virginia Tech gear were there in support of Etute. On May 31, another Virginia Tech player, Jalen Hampton, also connected with "Angie Renee" on Tinder. "They can be extremely useful, but they can be extremely dangerous. Police ruled Smiths death a homicide, but did not say how he was killed. Isimemen Etute, 18, was. Gay panic refers to claiming, in court, that the reaction to finding out someone elses sexual orientation or gender identity justifies violent acts. 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. WDBJ is reporting Isimemen Etute is charged with second-degree murder for the death of Jerry Smith, 40, of Blacksburg, Virginia, who was found dead in his apartment June 1 from blunt force trauma . The Roanoke Times have made multiple attempts to contact both parties. The jury deliberated for approximately . Isimemen Etute, a Virginia Tech student now suspended from the university and its football team, is. Thats a real problem for men in our society. Etute said he punched Smith five times and kicked him to gain time to escape the apartment. 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. Etute attended middle school at TS Great Neck Middle School in Virginia Bech. Former Virginia Tech football player Isimemen Etute seeks to resume pursuit of degree, football. 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. But thankfully, a not guilty verdict was delivered in Etutes case, making him now a free man. But the college freshman was arrested on Wednesday and charged with second-degree murder for allegedly killing 40-year-old Jerry Smith, USA Today reports. Former Virginia Tech football player Isimemen Etute has been acquitted of a murder which occurred during a Tinder date. Instead, the jury believed a self-defense argument that Etute feared for his life after seeing the victim "make a reach" toward his bed where a knife was later found. Black Men XCEL 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. ]); Isimemen took to Twitter to simply say, God is good. This was his first tweet in nearly one year. After the verdict, Etute's lawyer, James Turk, said his client deserved a second chance at a football career following the jury's decision. url: 'isimemen,etute,a,virginia,tech,recruit,beat,tinder,date,to,death,after,learning,he,was,a,man', Etute left the apartment without calling police, according to court arguments, and Smith was found unresponsive two days later during a welfare check in the apartment located in the 100 block of North Main Street in Blacksburg. Etute testified that he stomped on Smith's face as he departed the apartment, leaving a bloody shoe print on Smith's cheek in the process. Contact cat: 'news', He had just signed his letter of intent in December before enrolling at Virginia Tech in January. Investigators ruled the death a homicide and identified Isimemen Etude as a person of interest. Isimemen David Etute at the end of his trial in Montgomery County Circuit Court in Christiansburg on Friday. Etute returned to the apartment May 31 to engage in sexual activity and discovered the person he was matched up with was a man, according to summaries of the evidence made by both Morgan and defense attorney Jimmy Turk. Cobb said he closely followed the proceedings after he read about the incident last year when it happened. Etutes parents declined to comment after the hearing. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { Varsity Football (2021) Varsity Football (2018) Varsity Football . 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. Hes focusing now, I think, on trying to get his life back together, Turk continued. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. pos: 'right_rail_2', subcat: '', It will take time to decompress and feel relief from this gut-wrenching, frightening experience in life. Security camera footage in the apartment showed all three players leaving quickly, with Etute having spent only three minutes inside Smith's apartment. Etute did testify one of his reasons for returning to Smiths apartment was that his close friends had been making jokes that the Angie Renee he had a sexual encounter with on April 10, could have been a dude.. 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.. Etute said he became suspicious on May 31 when friends of his, including. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. "I think the school that ends up taking him is going to get probably a lot wiser and a much smarter and an exceptional athlete.". Privacy Policy 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. Etute testified that if he determined Smith was a woman, another sexual encounter might have occurred, but that if he determined Smith was a man, he planned to flee the apartment. Teams. Its sad All the way around. He has since been suspended from the Virginia Tech football squad, the university said in a Wednesday statement. Let this be a lesson, wrote one fan on Instagram. 2022 The Associated Press. Isimemen Etute was granted bond Wednesday on the charge of second-degree murder in the Montgomery County General District Court. June 10, 2021, 11:45 a.m.: This article has been updated to note that homicide victim Jerry Paul Smith's family declined to comment after the bond hearing. }).render('94bb55df4cdf465b83a6067603cd42e5'); Family handout Etute, who will stay with his parents in Virginia Beach, is due back in court on Sept. 23, WJZY reported.. } According to the U.S. Justice Department, a federal hate crime is defined as an illegal, violent act is driven by bias against people of a certain group, which can be defined by race, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity, among other categories. 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. cnx({ A former Virginia Tech football player accused of killing a man he'd had a sexual encounter with, believing he was a woman, has been acquitted of murder. ]); Under the agreement, Etute was allowed to be at his parent's house under house arrest and electronic monitoring. The Times also reports that his parents broke down in tears following the verdict while his father collapsed. Etute then was able to have the ankle bracelet from the house arrest removed. divId: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', First published on May 28, 2022 / 10:23 AM. Etute, who is charged with second-degree murder, was arrested on June 2. Jersey #20 Position OLB, WR Overall Region 7-5 6-4 VA Rank 134. Turk was asked after the verdict came down if Etute should be allowed back at the university. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Women of Power TECH, PODCASTS On Wednesday, Etute was charged with second-degree murder, according to court documents reviewed by USA TODAY Sports. Police discovered Smiths body in the apartment in the 100 block of Blacksburgs North Main Street on June 1. Isi is extremely grateful for the jurys hard work, deliberation, and verdict., Isi is now focused on picking up where he left off in his pursuit of a college degree and love for the game of football. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. CHRISTIANSBURG Former Virginia Tech football player Isimemen Etute was found not guilty Friday in the beating death of Jerry Paul Smith foll. cnx({ However, a follow-up encounter with the two ended with a fatal tragedy. ]); Etute said he went to Angies Blacksburg, Virginia apartment, where the pair engaged in oral sex for which his partner also paid Etute $50. Do I? In taking the stand earlier in the week, Etute had testified that he felt "violated" when he discovered that the Tinder match he believed to be a woman was actually a man. Also firmly in Etutes corner were his attorney, Jimmy Turk, and Turks family. Last week, Etutes attorney had filed a motion to use a gay and trans panic defense, a legal strategy that aims to get defendants more lenient sentences by claiming their violent actions were an uncontrollable response to learning a victims sexual orientation or gender identity. He previously spent time with Angie and engaged in oral sex with them on April 10. "It should be an eye-opener not just for college athletes, but any young people using these social media platforms," Turk said. In his testimony Thursday, Etute had testified that Smith reached for what Etute thought was a gun. May 31, 2022. ", Former Hokie Etute found not guilty of murder, The final 2022 college football Power Rankings, Police: Speed a primary cause in fatal UGA crash, U-M's Weiss on leave amid police investigation, Reports: UF QB commit Rashada wants release, Miami QB Garcia in portal, has 3 eligible seasons, TCU WR Johnston, RB Miller entering NFL draft, Potential top-5 pick Stroud leaving OSU for NFL, Star Trojans WR Addison declares for NFL draft, Colorado QB Shrout leaves Deion, heads to portal, College football's Way-Too-Early Top 25 for 2023, What Garrett Riley's big move means for Clemson, Dabo and TCU, Ex-Va. Tech player pleads not guilty to murder, Sugar Bowl moved to Dec. 31 to avoid NFL game, Georgia set to extend Kirby Smart's contract. 6'3" 185 lbs Sophomore. 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.". Tim Sullivan HokieHaven At his bond hearing on June 9, the judge granted Etute a $75,000 bond, which prosecutors originally appealed, but that was quickly dropped. Etute was in court Wednesday morning wearing an orange prison jumpsuit. One of the next steps they mentioned will be figuring out the best avenue for him to pursue a collegiate degree and resume his football career. A bailiff was stationed behind Etute throughout the entire hearing, and Etute was handcuffed with his wrists attached to a chain around his waist. If you find this was in the heat of passion, you shouldnt find him guilty of second-degree murder; the crime would be voluntary manslaughter," said Jensen. And that clearly had a play in the decision of the jury. Judge Mike Fleenor, however, officially excluded the defense, which was banned in Virginia after Smith died. Smith did not own a gun, but police reported finding a knife between the man's mattress and box spring. Please enter valid email address to continue. But, a true NYC native. The sexual encounter reportedly occurred on April 10, 2021, in Smith's apartment. } According to the Roanoke Times, Fleenor stated it would have been applicable, but this [ruling] is purely procedural.. The two engaged in sexual activity with Etute not aware of Smiths sexual identity. Both players initially left, but Etute returned to the apartment, and testified that he received oral sex and a $50 gift from Smith. Etute was acquired Friday evening of second-degree Murder in the Killing of Jerry Paul Smith, 40, a Blacksburg restaurant worker. There are different standards, and they can determine that this case violates federal law.. He heard bubbling and gurgling as he left the apartment, but didnt call the police. 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. tude.cmd.push(function() { 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.". 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 . Etute was granted bond in a hearing Wednesday morning in Montgomery County General District Court, but Chief Deputy Commonwealths Attorney Patrick Jensen filed an expedited appeal that would have kept Etute in jail for up to five more days. A judge also granted Etute a $75,000 bond, which prosecutors originally appealed, but that was dropped Wednesday afternoon. 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. aid: '724714', pos: 'right_rail_1', 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. Charges - Arrested A freshman on the Virginia Tech Hokies football team has been charged in a homicide investigation. He has been required to remain at his parents house in Virginia Beach and is not allowed to leave the state. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-2', 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 three-day trial might not have done much to pique their interest. The suspect in the killing faces a prelimary hearing in Montgomery County September 23. playerId: 'be5717b5-2a7b-4fde-8c19-21cbbff0cd95' 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. }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; In Fridays closing arguments, prosecuting attorney Patrick Jensen condemned Etutes claims of self-defense, according to the Times. Turk expanded on that point outside the courtroom. Ismemen David Etute, 18, told cops he went to the Blacksburg apartment of 40-year-old Jerry Smith in April for oral sex after matching up with someone named Angie on Tinder, the Roanoke Times reported. Turk said his client went home with his family and friends following the verdict, where theyre decompressing from the trial., Hes certainly been through a lot, having been on trial for an allegation of second-degree murder, said Turk. given the abuse/deception of which Etute was the victim. Listen ! Jensen recalled the testimony of medical examiner Dr. Amy Tharp, who Jensen said testified Smith had been the victim of a "brutal beating.". 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. He was suspended from the squad last week. The freshman enrolled at Virginia Tech at midyear and went through spring camp with the football team. BE 100s You have permission to edit this article. Ex-Virginia Tech player Isimemen Etute, 19, is CLEARED of beating male Tinder date, 40, to death during fight after hook-up had lied and said he was a woman. 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