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. He, too, went to the apartment expecting a sexual encounter with a woman, but decided to leave after feeling uncomfortable. 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. The Blacksburg (Va.) Police Department responded to a welfare check Monday night where officers discovered a deceased male victim, according to the citys website. Etute, who will stay with his parents in Virginia Beach, is due back in court on Sept. 23, WJZY reported. Isimemen Etute, 18, was released on $75,000 secured bond per Judge Randal Duncan's ruling and placed under house arrest with electronic monitoring, Commonwealth's Attorney Mary Pettitt said in. The verdict came after a three-day trial and just over three hours of jury deliberations. Please subscribe to keep reading. A freshman on the Virginia Tech Hokies football team has been charged in a homicide investigation. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. TheNew York Postoffered an account given by Isimemen Etute to authorities through Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Jason Morgan. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. } 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. kw: 'mandc,isimemen-etute', First published on May 28, 2022 / 10:23 AM. The questions Turk had for Isi Etute were of a similar nature. 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. Teams. Hes been acquitted of a crime, Turk said. 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.. 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. In Fridays closing arguments, prosecuting attorney Patrick Jensen condemned Etutes claims of self-defense, according to the Times. Virginia Tech placed Etute on immediate interim suspension and hes been suspended from the football team, the school said in a statement. Charges - Arrested A freshman on the Virginia Tech Hokies football team has been charged in a homicide investigation. The law states that juries could not consider such reactions as legitimate justification. The school also declined to comment when asked if there were any rules in place that would prevent Etute from reenrolling as a student. On Wednesday, Etute was charged with second-degree murder, according to court documents reviewed by USA TODAY Sports. Your Money, Your Life, LATEST LISTS At his bond hearing on June 9, the judge granted Etute a $75,000 bond, which prosecutors originally appealed, but that was quickly dropped. Today, Isimemen David Etute was indicted by a grand jury on one count of Second-Degree murder. 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. Former Virginia Tech players Jalen Hampton and Jordan Brunson, who were called as witnesses in Etutes defense, were interviewed by federal authorities in September. 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. Wiki, Biography, Age, Family, Arrested, Charge, Attempted Robbery. Virginia Tech football player granted bond as details emerge in murder case. Graduated in 2021. Under the agreement, Etute was allowed to be at his parent's house under house arrest and electronic monitoring. 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. 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. Etute is currently being held in Montgomery County Jail without bond and. The suspect in the killing faces a prelimary hearing in Montgomery County September 23. 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. 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. Also firmly in Etutes corner were his attorney, Jimmy Turk, and Turks family. 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. 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. "It should be an eye-opener not just for college athletes, but any young people using these social media platforms," Turk said. Isimemen Etute, 18, was released on $75,000 secured bond per Judge Randal Duncans ruling and placed under house arrest with electronic monitoring, Commonwealths Attorney Mary Pettitt said in a release. Security camera footage in the apartment showed all three players leaving quickly, with Etute having spent only three minutes inside Smith's apartment. The suspended Hokie football player is accused of killing Jerry Paul Smith. ", 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. Virginia Tech football player Isi Etute told police he punched victim after meeting for sexual encounter. In a strange sort of way, it kind of gives people who think its OK to beat up gay people, it kind of gives them permission to do that, Cobb said, in a pained voice. He previously spent time with Angie and engaged in oral sex with them on April 10. 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.". 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. playerId: 'be5717b5-2a7b-4fde-8c19-21cbbff0cd95' baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', 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. The Times also reports that his parents broke down in tears following the verdict while his father "collapsed." Please answer some questions in this short survey about professional soccer and the 2022 Men's FIFA World Cup. Etute and Hampton, along with a third teammate, Jordan Brunson, decided to return to Smith's apartment to determine Smith's gender. 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 could never reach a gun from there," Jensen said. He was suspended from the squad last week. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Etute, a Virginia Tech freshman linebacker at the time of the incident in May 2021, had been charged with second-degree murder, which carries a sentence of five to 40 years, and the jury could have convicted him on the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter. Two Virginia Tech football players and family hug after the Isimemen Etute hearing in Christiansburg Wednesday. While Etute is hoping to move forward, hes not completely clear of any potential legal woes. Sales Partnership Solutions But, a true NYC native. Etute said he punched Smith five times and kicked him to gain time to escape the apartment. 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. 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. 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. Judge Mike Fleenor, however, officially excluded the defense, which was banned in Virginia after Smith died. But thankfully, a not guilty verdict was delivered in Etutes case, making him now a free man. env: 'prod', Ismemen David Etute, 18, is charged in the death of Jerry Smith, 40 Smith had posed as a woman named Angie on Tinder and had performed oral sex on Etute when they met in April, Etute's attorney . Isimemen "Isi" David Etute is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Jerry Paul Smith, a restaurant worker. Turks response to Morgan outlining the circumstances of the case was to emphasize that the victim solicited Etute for sexual activity. Watch Isi Etute's videos and highlights on Hudl. 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. Upon the prodding of friends who suspected Angie was a man, Etute returned to the apartment on May 31, 2021. 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. 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. We ended up presenting a defense which included, to a great extent, completely self-defense. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Nobody deserves to die, but I dont mind saying, dont pretend you are something that you are not, Turk told reporters outside the courtroom. About Isimemen Etute, 18, was released on a $75,000 bond. Etute said he "felt around" and used his cell phone's flashlight to determine Smith was not a woman. 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. } 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. Etute told investigators he punched Smith five times in the face and stomped on him, but didnt call police despite hearing bubbling and gurgling from the victim as he left the apartment. More than a dozen football players most of them clad in Virginia Tech gear were there in support of Etute. 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 .) 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