]); 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. Hes going to get his life back, and Im hopeful, Turk said. 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. Isimemen Etute, 19, was found. Thats just wrong.. } pos: 'right_rail_3', 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. A judge also granted Etute a $75,000 bond, which prosecutors originally appealed, but that was dropped Wednesday afternoon. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Isimemen Etute had the most horrific year of his life after connecting with whom he believed to be a woman on the dating app Tinder in April of 2021. 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. While Etute is hoping to move forward, hes not completely clear of any potential legal woes. env: 'prod', 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. Isimemen Etute faces traffic charges in Radford from the same day that he is accused of killing Jerry Paul Smith in Blacksburg. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', Theres a long history in the masculine world we live in to say I dont want to be perceived as gay, or feminine or weak or less than, Cobb said. 2022 The Associated Press. }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; Defense attorney Jimmy Turk told the jurors earlier Friday that the commonwealth's evidence was circumstantial, while the defense's evidence, which included the testimony of Etute, was direct. The young man met Smith under the name Angie while on the Tinder dating app. targeting: { Smith did not own a gun, but police reported finding a knife between the man's mattress and box spring. 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. Etute failed to notify authorities that he'd left Smith injured, bubbling and gurgling, in the apartment. 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. Former Virginia Tech football player Isimemen Etute has been acquitted of a murder which occurred during a Tinder date. A judge granted a bond to Etute under a new agreement on Wednesday, June 9, 2021. Privacy Policy Subscribe to Newsletter Thats just wrong.. Etute admitted that Smith did not fight back and he heard a bubbly and gurgling noise while leaving the home. 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 . "He could never reach a gun from there," Jensen said. 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. B.E. Both players initially left, but Etute returned to the apartment, and testified that he received oral sex and a $50 gift from Smith. 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. Dont target or lure anyone under that perception. Morgans arguments came after testimony from Etute and his mother Michelle. Former Virginia Tech football player Isimemen David Etute describes an altercation during his murder trial in Montgomery County Circuit Court in Christiansburg, Va., Thursday, May 26 2022. Make A Statement. 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. The attackers in that case were identified, but never charged. I think it was the correct decision based on the evidence that was presented to the jury. At the time, Etute was a freshman at Virginia Tech, where he also played football as their linebacker. Cops found the badly beaten mans body one day later, the newspaper 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. Isimemen Etute is 18 years old. I started when I was 16 and I haven't looked back. Stop playing with people. Turk cited two cases in Virginia where defendants facing second-degree murder charges were released on bail. Smiths family was in attendance. Hes going to get his life back, and Im hopeful, said Jimmy Turk to reporters. Do I? Former Virginia Tech football player Isememen David Etute has been indicted for murdering a man who was acting as a female on the dating app Tinder. Please subscribe to keep reading. The last request came in December 2021. cat: 'news', Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Certainly hope not, Turk said, when asked if he thinks the federal government would pursue filing charges. Helicopter crash near Ukraine kindergarten kills children and top officials, U.S. lawyer who died in Mexico was "victim of a brutal crime," family says, Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Paul Gosar and George Santos get House committee seats, Qantas plane lands safely on single engine after mayday call over Pacific, New Mexico lawmaker says shootings suspect confronted her outside her home, Gov. Relatives of Smith, meanwhile, reportedly declined to comment after the hearing. Whether youre a lifelong resident of D.C. or you just moved here, weve got you covered. Cobb said he closely followed the proceedings after he read about the incident last year when it happened. Watch Isi Etute's videos and highlights on Hudl. 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. 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. A jury on Friday acquitted a former Virginia Tech football player who had been accused of fatally beating a man he says he initially believed from a Tinder match to be a woman. }).render('94bb55df4cdf465b83a6067603cd42e5'); Upon the prodding of friends who suspected Angie was a man, Etute returned to the apartment on May 31, 2021. The former Virginia Tech football player accused of beating a Tinder date to death after mistaking him for a woman was acquitted of second-degree murder Friday. Hes obviously relieved as well.. 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. The Times also reports that his parents broke down in tears following the verdict while his father "collapsed." MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Va. - New details came out in court on Wednesday in the case of a suspended Virginia Tech football player accused of murdering a Blacksburg man.. On June 1, Isimemen Etute was . Video via WSLS 10. The medical examiners office had previously revealed that Smith had died from blunt force trauma to the head. The suspect in the killing faces a prelimary hearing in Montgomery County September 23. 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. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Police said the investigation has revealed Smith and Etute were acquaintances. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. Yes. The commonwealths attorney wont get another shot at Etute, but Turk doesnt know the state of the federal governments investigation into the incident as a possible hate crime. "It should be an eye-opener not just for college athletes, but any young people using these social media platforms," Turk said. He added that Smith had "demanded that it be dark" and had hidden a knife under his mattress "in case there was something awry.". Dont target or lure anyone under that perception. Isimemen Etute, 18, was. cat: 'news', 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. 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 .) According to those statements, Etute visited the victims apartment April 10 for oral sex after he was matched up with someone named Angie on Tinder. Smith eventually died from blunt force injuries to the head. Two Virginia Tech football players and family hug after the Isimemen Etute hearing in Christiansburg Wednesday. 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. "I'm certainly appreciative that the verdict turned out the way that it did . kw: 'mandc,isimemen-etute', A judge also granted Etute a $75,000 bond, which prosecutors originally appealed, but that was dropped Wednesday afternoon. Etute and his parents headed home for Virginia Beach on Saturday morning to take a deep breath.. He is required to live with his family and wear an ankle monitor. Hampton and Smith then both made contact with Etute, with Smith encouraging Etute to "put in a good word" with his teammate. Former Virginia Tech football player Isimemen Etute seeks to resume pursuit of degree, football. 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. 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. May 27, 2022, 4:39 PM CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. -- 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. Varsity Football (2021) Varsity Football (2018) Varsity Football . I felt violated, Etute testified. 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. Real hard, Etute said. At that time Etute discovered Smith was male, commonwealth attorneys told the court, and assaulted Smith. 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. An autopsy revealed Smith, a restaurant worker, died from blunt force trauma to the head. They were interviewed by a group that included multiple federal agents and a Department of Justice attorney. Isimemen "Isi" David Etute is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Jerry Paul Smith, a restaurant worker. 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. She was eventually acquitted in 2018 on charges of voluntary manslaughter. You can cancel at any time. Isimemen Etute, 19, was found not . 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. 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. I hope there will be another university that will see exactly what Ive seen in that young man, which is a young man who is now much smarter than he was before, Turk said. page_type: 'article', }); window.tude = window.tude || { cmd: [] }; Subscribe On Youtube. Burke, who was familiar with the Etute case through media coverage, said in many cases the federal government will take a wait and see approach when a defendant is facing charges at the state level. This is me Follow. But the college freshman was arrested on Wednesday and charged with second-degree murder for. A statement from Virginia Tech said Etute was a member of the football team but, has been suspended from the team, effective immediately.. Etutes parents declined to comment after the hearing. 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 . A freshman on the Virginia Tech Hokies football team has been charged in a homicide investigation. Quite frankly, I dont think it was applicable anyway, under the facts of the case, Turk told Oxygen.com. 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. The courtroom was packed as Judge Randal Duncan excluded cameras from the courtroom at the start of the proceeding. You can cancel at any time. Dont target or lure anyone under that perception. He has been required to remain at his parents house in Virginia Beach and is not allowed to leave the state. 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I never tricked a man and never will its just wrong and disrespectful TO YOURSELF ASWELL !! Why wouldnt it work in civil court? Burke said. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Turk frequently teared up during his 45-minute closing statement and when talking to reporters about Etutes high character. 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. cnx({ 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. I do not know a finer 19 year old that Ive ever come into contact with.. First published on May 28, 2022 / 10:23 AM. Women of Power TECH, PODCASTS More than a dozen football players most of them clad in Virginia Tech gear were there in support of Etute. 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. Etute said, at that point, he feared Smith was going for a weapon, a notion Etute failed to mention in his initial 2021 interview with police, according to the Times. Etute claimed that, after he asked why, Smith reached for his crotch with one hand and down the side of the bed with the other. 6'3" 185 lbs Sophomore. That means hes been found not guilty.. Your email address will not be published. }); EVENTS Etute, who is charged with second-degree murder, was arrested on June 2. Nobody deserves to die, but I dont mind saying, dont pretend you are something that you are not, Turk told reporters outside the courtroom. The jury deliberated for approximately three hours before returning its verdict around 6:30 p.m., The Roanoke Times reported. 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. On May 31, another Virginia Tech player, Jalen Hampton, also connected with "Angie Renee" on Tinder. 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 . Judge Mike Fleenor, however, officially excluded the defense, which was banned in Virginia after Smith died. Your Money, Your Life, LATEST LISTS tude.cmd.push(function() { 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." Be proud of who you are. The three-day trial might not have done much to pique their interest. Im certainly appreciative that the verdict turned out the way that it did, defense attorney Jimmy Turk told Oxygen.com. After the verdict, Etute's lawyer, James Turk, said his client deserved a second chance at a football career following the jury's decision. Ill be fully supportive of him. SistersInc. url: 'isimemen,etute,a,virginia,tech,recruit,beat,tinder,date,to,death,after,learning,he,was,a,man', The suspended Virginia Tech football player is scheduled to stand trial in May. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { {{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. Jersey #20 Position OLB, WR Overall Region 7-5 6-4 VA Rank 134. 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. After the verdict, Etute's lawyer, James Turk, said his client deserved a second chance at a football career following the jury's decision. He was the number 36 prospect in Virginia and 45 inside linebacker in the country, according to 247sports. 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. 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. Murder charge against suspended Hokie player Etute is elevated. Hes been acquitted of a crime, Turk said. At his bond hearing on June 9, the judge granted Etute a $75,000 bond, which prosecutors originally appealed, but that was quickly dropped. Stevers was charged with second-degree murder in the death of her estranged husband back in 2017. 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. 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. Wiki, Biography, Age, Family, Arrested, Charge, Attempted Robbery. Etute is currently being held in Montgomery County Jail without bond and scheduled to be arraigned in Montgomery District Court at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday. Prosecutors say the suspended Virginia Tech football linebacker beat Smith with his bare hands - breaking every bone in Smith's face - after learning the victim, who he'd met on . He referenced a 2002 case Jawad v. Commonwealth, and a local case involving Mark Ward Faville from 2015. 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. 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, 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. Contact It had to.. He, too, went to the apartment expecting a sexual encounter with a woman, but decided to leave after feeling uncomfortable. But he finally was able to go to trial in Montgomery County Circuit Court recently. Two of the defendant's friends waited in the hallway of the apartment complex during the violent attack and the three left together. 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. aid: '724714', But the defense would still be allowed to argue self-defense, an argument that Burke said was obviously a convincing one given the verdict. Under an agreement, Etute was allowed out on bond,. The verdict came after a three-day trial and just over three hours of jury deliberations. 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. BE 100s The then 18-year-old was accused of fatally beating Smith, an openly gay man who had posed as a woman on the dating app Tinder to initiate a sexual encounter. tude.refreshAdsViaDivMappings([ { A medical examiner ruled Smiths cause of death as a blunt force to the head. 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. 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. 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. But what I'm telling you is this was not self-defense.. There was a problem saving your notification. TheNew York Postoffered an account given by Isimemen Etute to authorities through Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Jason Morgan. cnx.cmd.push(function() { Criminologist Tod Burke, who is a former police officer and retired criminal justice professor, said its not unheard of for the federal government to pursue charges despite a not guilty even in state court. 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. 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. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()), Who is Mohammed Nuru? The order prohibits Etute from going back to Montgomery County except for court proceedings or to consult with his attorney. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Etute practiced with the Hokies during spring camp after enrolling midyear from Cox High School in Virginia Beach. According to the report, Etute arrived at the same apartment on May 31st for another potential encounter. Today, Isimemen David Etute was indicted by a grand jury on one count of Second-Degree murder. pos: 'right_rail_1', A Virginia Tech spokesperson says Etute is the only football player who has been suspended from the team. Listen ! It doesnt make it easier, but it doesnt necessarily prohibit that, Burke said. playerId: 'be5717b5-2a7b-4fde-8c19-21cbbff0cd95' !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); {{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 acquitted Friday evening of second-degree murder, 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. 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. 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. What followed was a host of sad events. INFORMATION Etute -- a 6-foot-2, 200-pound outside LB -- signed with Va. Tech after committing to the school in July 2020 . There are different standards, and they can determine that this case violates federal law.. Teams. Cox High School Virginia Beach VA. Please answer some questions in this short survey about professional soccer and the 2022 Men's FIFA World Cup.
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