Earlier this year, Isimemen Etute got a new lease on life after he was found not guilty of a charge of second-degree murder in the 2021 death of Jerry Smith. A jury acquitted the 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.
Prosecutors had earlier told the jury that Etute became enraged and fatally beat Smith when he discovered Smith was a man. 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.
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.
Fast forward to this month and Etute is set to transfer to Iowa Western Community College to play football, his lawyer told ESPN on Monday.
“Etute entered the transfer portal in June, but his attorney, James Turk, said it was difficult to find Division I schools willing to offer a scholarship following the highly publicized trial.”
In addition, three additional Virginia Tech players who testified at Etute’s trial have also transferred from the school, ESPN reports.
Jordan Brunson and Jalen Hamptom have left for Miami (Ohio) and Elon, while Da’Shawn Elder remains in the transfer portal.
