Jensen had maintained that Etute had not acted in self-defense. B.E. Be proud of who you are. 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. playerId: '31d84b62-a3ea-4274-9349-1b7ccedbd1d7' Former player. A judge granted a bond to Etute under a new agreement on Wednesday, June 9, 2021. Yes. tude.cmd.push(function() { The three-day trial might not have done much to pique their interest. The former football player confessed his feelings of letting people down and said he was truly sorry for his actions. Etute also had no priors at the time compared to Jerry Smiths many previous offenses including including filing a false police report, public intoxication, driving under the influence, and reckless driving among others. The law states that juries could not consider such reactions as legitimate justification. cat: 'news', The Times also reports that his parents broke down in tears following the verdict while his father "collapsed." 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.. Isimemen Etute faces traffic charges in Radford from the same day that he is accused of killing Jerry Paul Smith in Blacksburg. This article was published more than1 year ago. Security camera footage in the apartment showed all three players leaving quickly, with Etute having spent only three minutes inside Smith's apartment. 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. The questions Turk had for Isi Etute were of a similar nature. Etute, who is charged with second-degree murder, was arrested on June 2. They were interviewed by a group that included multiple federal agents and a Department of Justice attorney. Video via WSLS 10. Hampton and Smith then both made contact with Etute, with Smith encouraging Etute to "put in a good word" with his teammate. The charges are a footnote to mistaken-gender killing, of which Isimemen David Etute was acquitted. What followed was a host of sad events. Etutes parents and sister attended the hearing in a packed courtroom that also included members of the Hokies football team, according to reports. Former Virginia Tech linebacker Isimemen Etute will get a chance to play football this season following his acquittal on a second-degree murde. "It should be an eye-opener not just for college athletes, but any young people using these social media platforms," Turk said. div_id: 'div-gpt-ad-rightrail-1', And trying to see what he can do to get re-enrolled in a university and hopefully being able to pursue his college football, which he loves so much.. 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. 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. cat: 'news', Etute attended middle school at TS Great Neck Middle School in Virginia Bech. 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. Cobb said he closely followed the proceedings after he read about the incident last year when it happened. 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. The college student had no prior criminal history. 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. Under the agreement, Etute was allowed to be at his parent's house under house arrest and electronic monitoring. Smith did not own a gun, but police reported finding a knife between the man's mattress and box spring. 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. Etute and Hampton, along with a third teammate, Jordan Brunson, decided to return to Smith's apartment to determine Smith's gender. "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.". A bailiff was stationed behind Etute throughout the entire hearing, and Etute was handcuffed with his wrists attached to a chain around his waist. The suspended Virginia Tech football player is scheduled to stand trial in May. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. 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. Etute was acquitted Friday evening of second-degree murder in the killing of Jerry Paul Smith, 40, a Blacksburg restaurant worker. Etute also told police that Smith did not assault him. 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 Smith family quickly left the courthouse on Friday, and Montgomery County Chief Deputy Commonwealths Attorney Patrick Jensen declined comment. tag: 'mandc,isimemen-etute', 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. tag: 'mandc,isimemen-etute', 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. Police discovered Smiths body in the apartment in the 100 block of Blacksburgs North Main Street on June 1. Etute was 18 years old at the time. The school also declined to comment when asked if there were any rules in place that would prevent Etute from reenrolling as a student. Isimemen David Etute is accused of killing Jerry Paul Smith. pos: 'right_rail_3', Hes been acquitted of a crime, Turk said. 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. 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. 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. Etute was born in 2003, considering he is only 18 years old. He was suspended from the squad last week. He is required to live with his family and wear an ankle monitor. 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 . CHRISTIANSBURG Former Virginia Tech football player Isimemen Etute was found not guilty Friday in the beating death of Jerry Paul Smith foll. cnx({ While that scenario might prove unlikely, Turk is hopeful there are colleges out there that will give Etute a chance. {{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. 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. 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 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 was granted bond Wednesday on the charge of second-degree murder in the Montgomery County General District Court. 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. Black Men XCEL Turk also said Smith was "controlling the entire environment and the entire episode." 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. 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 . env: 'prod', The young man met Smith under the name Angie while on the Tinder dating app. Both players initially left, but Etute returned to the apartment, and testified that he received oral sex and a $50 gift from Smith. 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. He had just signed his letter of intent in December before enrolling at Virginia Tech in January. 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. baseDivId: 'pb-slot-right-1', An autopsy revealed Smith, a restaurant worker, died from blunt force trauma to the head. I do not know a finer 19 year old that Ive ever come into contact with.. 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. subcat: '', } 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. He was recruited to the school as a three-star linebacker from Frank W. Cox High School in Virginia Beach. Today, Isimemen David Etute was indicted by a grand jury on one count of Second-Degree murder. Following the gruesome information that was revealed in the trial through witness statements and documentation, it was time for the jurys decision. 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. In his testimony Thursday, Etute had testified that Smith reached for what Etute thought was a gun. page_type: 'article', Etute was in court Wednesday morning wearing an orange prison jumpsuit. The argument wasnt made by the attorneys on either side. Former Virginia Tech football player Isimemen Etute seeks to resume pursuit of degree, football. Freshman Isimemen Etute is facing a second-degree murder charge in the death of Jerry Smith, 40, on May 31. The young athlete went to Smiths home on April 10 and received oral sex, according to the t attorney Jimmy Turk. 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. 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A former Virginia Tech student and football player can now breathe the most enormous sigh of relief. Hes going to get his life back, and Im hopeful, said Jimmy Turk to reporters. 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. 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. Also firmly in Etutes corner were his attorney, Jimmy Turk, and Turks family. Thats just wrong.. Listen ! The linebackers team profile was not active Thursday. 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. 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. 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. Dont target or lure anyone under that perception. 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. Certainly hope not, Turk said, when asked if he thinks the federal government would pursue filing charges. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Etute has three siblings including a younger sister, 15, with Down syndrome. 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." playerId: 'be5717b5-2a7b-4fde-8c19-21cbbff0cd95' Etute was acquired Friday evening of second-degree Murder in the Killing of Jerry Paul Smith, 40, a Blacksburg restaurant worker. } The sexual encounter reportedly occurred on April 10, 2021, in Smith's apartment. Like seriously just be honest, there are plenty of men who dont mind, another wrote. Plays Football. Virginia Tech freshman football player Isimemen Etute was arrested and charged with second-degree murder Wednesday in connection with the death of a Blacksburg resident, according to a. Stop playing with people. targeting: { The two sides later Wednesday came to an agreement to release Etute on a $75,000 secured bond under house arrest and electronic monitoring, according to a release put out by Commonwealths Attorney Mary Pettitt. Both players initially left, but Etute returned to the apartment, and testified that he received oral sex and a $50 gift from Smith. The order prohibits Etute from going back to Montgomery County except for court proceedings or to consult with his attorney. She was eventually acquitted in 2018 on charges of voluntary manslaughter. Two Virginia Tech football players and family hug after the Isimemen Etute hearing in Christiansburg Wednesday. 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. The charges are a footnote to mistaken-gender killing, of which Isimemen David Etute was acquitted. But, a true NYC native. Murder charge against suspended Hokie player Etute is elevated. A judge also granted Etute a $75,000 bond, which prosecutors originally appealed, but that was dropped Wednesday afternoon. 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. He argued that after Etute punched Smith and Smith fell to the floor, there was "no way" Smith could have reached a weapon under his mattress. 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. 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. Etute returned on May 31 and realized that Smith and Angie were the same person. 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