Nancy Argentino was a 23-year-old woman who died in 1983 under mysterious circumstances. She was the girlfriend of Jimmy Snuka, a famous professional wrestler known as “Superfly”. Snuka was charged with her murder in 2015, but the case was dismissed in 2017 due to his poor health. He died shortly after. What really happened to Nancy Argentino? How did she die? And why did it take so long for justice to be served?
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The Night of the Incident
According to The Morning Call, Nancy Argentino was rushed out of Snuka’s motel room in Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania, on May 10, 1983. She was gasping for air and oozing yellow fluid from her mouth and nose. Snuka had returned from a World Wrestling Federation taping at the Allentown Fairgrounds and found her in that state. He called for an ambulance, but it was too late. She was pronounced dead hours later at Lehigh Valley Hospital.
The autopsy report revealed that Argentino died of traumatic brain injuries consistent with a moving head striking a stationary object. She also had more than two dozen cuts and bruises on her body, indicating possible “mate abuse”. The coroner suggested that the case should be investigated as a homicide until proven otherwise.
Snuka gave conflicting accounts of how Argentino got injured. He first told the police that they were horsing around and she fell and hit her head on the concrete. He later changed his story and said that she slipped and fell near a guardrail while they were driving. He also claimed that he didn’t think much of it and continued to drive. He said he only realized the severity of her condition when he came back to the motel.
The Lack of Prosecution
Despite the suspicious circumstances and the evidence of abuse, Snuka was not arrested or charged with any crime at the time. The district attorney, William Platt, said that there was not enough evidence to prove Snuka’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. He also said that Snuka was cooperative and had no motive to kill Argentino.
Argentino’s family hired a lawyer, Richard Cushing, to re-examine the case and persuade Platt to take it to a grand jury. Cushing said he found enough evidence to support a murder charge, but Platt refused to present it. Cushing accused Platt of being influenced by Snuka’s fame and the power of the wrestling industry.
In 1985, Argentino’s family filed a wrongful death civil suit against Snuka and won a default judgment of $500,000. Snuka never paid the amount, claiming that he was broke and bankrupt. His attorney withdrew from the case, citing lack of payment.
The Reopening of the Case
The case remained open but dormant for decades, until 2013, when The Morning Call published an investigative report that revealed new details and raised new questions. The report prompted the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office to reopen the case and convene a grand jury.
In 2015, Snuka was arrested and charged with third-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. He pleaded not guilty and was released on bail. His defense team argued that he was mentally incompetent to stand trial, due to dementia and other health problems. They also claimed that he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a brain disorder caused by repeated head trauma.
In 2016, a judge ruled that Snuka was unfit to stand trial and dismissed the charges. The judge said that Snuka had a low IQ, poor memory, and limited understanding of the legal process. He also said that Snuka’s condition was unlikely to improve and that he posed no threat to society.
In 2017, Snuka died of stomach cancer at the age of 73. He never faced a trial or a verdict for the death of Nancy Argentino.
The Legacy of Nancy Argentino
Nancy Argentino’s death remains a mystery and a tragedy. Her family and friends never got the closure or the justice they deserved. Her story also exposes the dark side of the wrestling industry, where violence, drugs, and abuse are often ignored or covered up.
Nancy Argentino’s death also raises awareness about the issue of domestic violence, which affects millions of women and men around the world. According to the World Health Organization, one in three women worldwide have experienced physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner or non-partner. Domestic violence can have devastating consequences, such as injury, death, mental health problems, and social isolation.
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, you are not alone. There are resources and support available to help you. You can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit their website at www.thehotline.org. You can also contact your local shelter, crisis center, or police department for assistance. You deserve to be safe and respected. You deserve to live.