Wrestler Jimmy ‘Super Fly’ Snuka Charged With Girlfriend Nancy Argentino’s 1983 Death

Jimmy “Super Fly” Snuka, a legendary professional wrestler, is facing two charges for his former girlfriend’s 1983 murder in Allentown, Pa.

Jimmy Snuka Charged In Nancy Argentino’s Death

Snuka has been charged with third-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter in the death of Nancy Argentino, 23. Thirty-two years after her death, Lehigh County authorities finally believe they have a case against the WWE legend, reported The Morning Call.

Part of the reason investigators sought to reopen the case was Snuka’s account of Argentino’s death in his 2012 autobiography, Superfly: The Jimmy Snuka Story. In the book, Snuka presented a different version of the chain of events, claiming that Argentino hit her head while trying to go to the bathroom at a rest stop.

In Snuka’s previous accounts of the event – though they often dramatically varied – he had indicated that there had been some sort of confrontation. In 1983, he’d told investigators that Argentino had hit her head after he had pushed her.

All of Snuka’s versions suggest that after Argentino struck her head, he left her in their motel room to go about his day. Upon returning, he found her in desperate need of medical attention. Though he called in the emergency, it was too late and Argentino died at a local hospital.

“We believe it is important to note that James Snuka changed the location of the injuries in his discussion with the chaplain to happening on the highway traveling to [the George Washington Motor Lodge], but still admitted that she sustained her injury after he shoved her and she fell backward, hitting her head on the concrete,” the Lehigh Valley grand jury wrote in a presentment, recommending Snuka be charged with homicide.

The grand jury continued, “His assaultive acts and his failure to act to obtain medical attention resulted in her death.”

Snuka was arrested Tuesday at his home in New Jersey. He was released on bail shortly thereafter.

Typically, a person facing third-degree murder and manslaughter charges would not be granted bail. However, since Snuka is currently recovering from stomach cancer and will require more treatment, Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin made an exception.

“I do not want to burden the taxpayers of Lehigh County with medical expenses, which would be extremely high and would have to be borne by them if he remained in Lehigh County Jail,” Martin said.