After an investigative report by The Morning Call caused a grand jury probe to be launched, WWE Hall of Fame legend Jimmy Snuka was arrested this morning in his New Jersey home. Snuka is charged with third-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter in the death of girlfriend Nancy Argentino back in May 1983.
Argentino was pronounced dead at Lehigh Valley Hospital on May 11, 1983. Her autopsy stated she died of traumatic brain injuries and suffered more than two dozen cuts and bruises. Snuka had told people she had fell and hit her head after he shoved her according to police interviews. Despite being the only suspect he was never charged. He was charged four months prior to Argentino’s death for assaulting her in a New York motel, pleading guilty to harassment.
The case about Snuka wasn’t unknown to professional wrestling fans and journalists. Irvin Muchnick wrote about the wrongful death lawsuit launched after Snuka was never charged in which Vince McMahon was quoted at the time allegedly saying to an attorney, “Look, I’m in the garbage business. If you think I’m going to be hurt by the revelation that one of my wrestlers is really a violent individual, you’re mistaken.” Snuka lost the wrongful death case which McMahon attended, but was never able to pay the $500,000 fee, nor could he pay for any legal defence.
Snuka, 72, was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 1996. He had always denied any involvement in the death of Nancy Argentino. His last WWE appearance was in November of 2010, supporting his daughter Tamina in a six person tag match. Just last month Snuka was diagnosed with stomach cancer.
We will have more on this story as it develops. Photo courtesy WWE.com
