Virginia Tech football player accused of killing Tinder date who allegedly 'catfished' him

BLACKSBURG, Va. (TCD) --

An 18-year-old linebacker on the Virginia Tech football team is accused of punching and killing a 40-year-old man who allegedly posed as a woman on Tinder.

The Blacksburg Police Department announced June 2 they arrested Isimemen Etute and charged him with second-degree murder in the death of Jerry Smith.

The police department said officers conducted a welfare check on North Main Street at 10:30 p.m. on June 1, where they found Smith's body.

The Blacksburg Police Department opened a homicide investigation and learned that Smith and Etute "were acquaintances."

According to The Roanoke Times, an autopsy report revealed Smith died from blunt force trauma to the head and all of the bones in his face were broken.

Smith and Etute reportedly met on Tinder, but Etute allegedly believed he matched with a woman named Angie, not Smith.

According to The Roanoke Times, Etute went to Smith's apartment on April 10 for oral sex. Etute reportedly returned to the apartment on May 31 to engage in other sexual activity when he discovered "Angie" was actually Smith.

The Roanoke Times reports Etute told Blacksburg Police officers he punched Smith in the face five times and then "stomped" on him. Etute allegedly heard "bubbling and gurgling" when he left Smith's apartment, but did not call police.

In court last week, Etute apologized for his actions and said he was "truly sorry."

A Montgomery County judge granted Etute a $75,000 bond, which stipulates Etute must remain under house arrest and keep on an electronic monitor, WJZY-TV reports.

On June 2, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University announced Etute was suspended from the football team and the university placed him on immediate interim suspension.

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