After more than 30 years, a Lehigh County district attorney announced that 72-year-old WWE Hall of Famer Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka has been charged with third-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter in the 1983 death of his then-girlfriend, Nancy Argentino. According to court records, Snuka was arraigned Tuesday afternoon and sent to Lehigh County Jail in lieu of 10 percent of $100,000 bail.
On May 10, 1983, a few hours after a WWF TV taping at the Lehigh County Agricultural Hall in Allentown, Snuka placed a call for an ambulance. When an emergency arrived at the former George Washington Motor Lodge in Whitehall Township, Penn., they found that Argentino had been injured and transported her to Allentown’s Sacred Heart Medical Center, where she died. The cause of death was “undetermined craniocerebral injuries,” and a coroner’s report explained that she’d suffered “traumatic brain injuries consistent with a moving head striking a stationary object.” She was also covered in cuts and bruises, which caused the coroner to notify the district attorney with suspicions of foul play. In a Sept. 1, 2015, press conference, DA Jim Martin revealed that Argentino had a skull fracture, 39 contusions and abrasions. He also cited a previous incident in New York, when Snuka was seen dragging Argentino by her hair, saying it took “several deputies” to get control of him.
Snuka was initially the only suspect in the investigation in Argentino’s death, but the charges were dropped. The case was left open, however, and Argentino’s family won a $500,000 default judgment against Snuka, although Snuka has reportedly never paid, citing an inability to do so.
From a report from Sarah Cassi at lehighvalleylive.com:
Caroline Argentino, Nancy’s 87-year-old mother, previously said Snuka had different stories about what happened to Nancy before she died.
Argentino’s family said Snuka’s account of what happened ranged from him telling people he pushed Nancy, to claims that she fell and hit her head on the pavement.
We will keep you updated on any further developments.
