Trial Begins For a Former Virginia Tech Football Player Accused in a Fatal Beating
A trial began Wednesday for a former Virginia Tech football player accused in the fatal beating of a Tinder match he originally believed was a woman.
Isimemen Etute, a former linebacker, is charged with second-degree murder in the 2021 death of 40-year-old Jerry Smith. Etute told police he visited Smith’s apartment in April 2021 after he was matched with someone named “Angie” on Tinder. Prosecutors said that when Etute returned on May 31, he became enraged when he discovered his match was a man.
The Roanoke Times reported that during opening statements in Montgomery County Circuit Court Wednesday, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Jason Morgan told the jury that there was “not much to unpack in this case.” He said Etute beat Smith when he discovered he was a man.
