Jimmy Snuka charged with third degree murder

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Sports Argument Stadium > The Hammer House: Stinger Splash Zone > Jimmy Snuka charged with third degree murder

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Punch McLightning: Sep 19, 2005; you know what that means; Grimey Drawer

This is related to the 1983 death of his girlfriend at the time, Nancy Argentino.

Source: http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-jimmy-snuka-grand-jury-announcement-20150901-story.html

quote:

Wrestling legend Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka is being charged with third-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter for the death of his girlfriend more than 32 years ago in an assault at an Allentown area motel, Lehigh County authorities said.

The charges were announced at a news conference Tuesday afternoon.

Snuka, 72, was arrested Tuesday morning at his New Jersey home and arraigned at 1:50 p.m. from the Lehigh County Central Booking Center. He was sent to county jail under $100,000 bail.

Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin re-opened the case last year, prompted in part by a Morning Call investigation that raised questions about the death of Snuka's 23-year-old girlfriend, Nancy Argentino, in May 1983. The Call story revealed a never-before-seen autopsy report that labeled the case a homicide.

The grand jury's term ended at the end of July.

At the time of Argentino's death, Snuka was one of the World Wrestling Federation's biggest names, known for his high-flying finishing moves.

Reached Tuesday by phone, Argentino's sister Louise Argentino-Upham said it's a relief, especially since her mother turns 90 this year and may be able to see justice served.

"I think that it's been a long road," Argentino-Upham said. "They did the right thing in face of all the evidence."

Snuka had been at a WWF taping at the Allentown Fairgrounds on May 10, 1983, and returned to his Whitehall Township motel room to find Argentino, of Brooklyn, gasping for air and oozing yellow fluid from her mouth and nose, records show.

Argentino was pronounced dead at Lehigh Valley Hospital the next day. An autopsy determined she died of traumatic brain injuries and she suffered more than two dozen cuts and bruises � a possible sign of "mate abuse" � on her head, ear, chin, arms, hands, back, buttocks, legs and feet.

The autopsy also determined her injuries were consistent with being hit with a stationary object. In an autopsy report, forensic pathologist Isidore Mihalakis wrote the case should be investigated as a homicide until proven otherwise.

Snuka originally told at least five people, including the responding police officer, he shoved Argentino earlier that day, causing her to fall and hit her head, according to police interviews obtained by The Morning Call. He later told police those five people misunderstood him, and said Argentino slipped and hit her head when they stopped along the highway to urinate.

Snuka was the only person of interest in the case but was never charged.

The original Whitehall police investigation went cold June 1, 1983, after a follow-up interview with Snuka that was ordered by Lehigh Valley authorities and attended by WWF mogul Vince McMahon.

In an unprecedented move, Martin announced in January 2014 that a grand jury would investigate Argentino's mysterious death, acknowledging the role of The Morning Call's story. He said it was the oldest case he's ever sent before the grand jury.

Snuka, who lives in Waterford Township, N.J., was diagnosed with stomach cancer, his wife announced earlier this month.

In 1985, the Argentino family won a $500,000 wrongful death case against Snuka by default, but Snuka never paid because he claimed he was broke and couldn't afford a legal defense.

In his 2012 autobiography, Snuka maintained his innocence and said Argentino's death ruined his life.

"Many terrible things have been written about me hurting Nancy and being responsible for her death, but they are not true," he wrote. "This has been very hard on me and very hard on my family. To this day, I get nasty notes and threats. It hurts. I never hit Nancy or threatened her."

However, less than four months before Argentino's death, Snuka was charged with assaulting her in a New York motel and then fighting with police when they responded to the call. He pleaded guilty to harassment in the case with most of the serious charges being dropped.

# ? Sep 1, 2015 20:20

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# ? Apr 26, 2024 00:41

Howling Man: Mar 29, 2014

Please let Vince get his for this.

# ? Sep 1, 2015 20:27

pathetic little tramp: Dec 12, 2005; by Hillary Clinton's assassins; Fallen Rib

Well at least they won't have to worry about taking away his shoe laces.

# ? Sep 1, 2015 20:29

Fsmhunk: Jul 19, 2012; by Fluffdaddy

Please let him flop on Vince.

# ? Sep 1, 2015 20:50

keevo: Jun 16, 2011; WAKE UP

What a great week for the WWE.

# ? Sep 1, 2015 20:55

Howling Man: Mar 29, 2014

Fsmhunk posted:

Please let him flop on Vince.

Now this is what I want for Christmas , Santa!

# ? Sep 1, 2015 20:59

Strenuous Manflurry: Sep 5, 2006; THE END

Didn't take long for Jon Stewart to get to work

# ? Sep 1, 2015 21:09

SylvainMustach: Dec 12, 2007; Superior Trash Talk!

Howling Man posted:

Please let Vince get his for this.

# ? Sep 1, 2015 21:14

NickRoweFillea: Sep 27, 2012; doin thangs

ohhhh boy

# ? Sep 1, 2015 21:19

Big Coffin Hunter: Aug 13, 2005

Congrats Triple H

# ? Sep 1, 2015 21:21

Shima Honnou: Dec 1, 2010; The Once And Future King Of Dicetroit; College Slice

Big Coffin Hunter posted:

Congrats Triple H

# ? Sep 1, 2015 21:26

Wendell: May 11, 2003

Geez, that took a while.

# ? Sep 1, 2015 21:33

Howling Man: Mar 29, 2014

In 2016 there is a possibility that DONALD TRUMP will run the country and HHH will run THIS business...

# ? Sep 1, 2015 21:35

Mob: May 7, 2002; Me reading your posts

Big Coffin Hunter posted:

Congrats Triple H

# ? Sep 1, 2015 21:48

SamuraiFoochs: Jan 16, 2007; Grimey Drawer

In all seriousness if this did pick up steam would they just legit take Vince out of power and HHH takes over, simple as that?

# ? Sep 1, 2015 21:49

Defiance Industries: Jul 22, 2010; A five-star manufacturer

SamuraiFoochs posted:

In all seriousness if this did pick up steam would they just legit take Vince out of power and HHH takes over, simple as that?

Depends if Vince is implicated as an accessory.

# ? Sep 1, 2015 21:52

Chromatic: Jan 21, 2005; You guys ready to hear a satanic song?

SamuraiFoochs posted:

In all seriousness if this did pick up steam would they just legit take Vince out of power and HHH takes over, simple as that?

If it got really bad with a lot of press coverage, absolutely.

But it's a wrestler whose heyday was 30 years ago and he's not really involved with the company anymore. It probably won't get that much press coverage.

# ? Sep 1, 2015 21:53

Davros1: Jul 19, 2007; You've got to admit, you are kind of implausible

Chromatic posted:

If it got really bad with a lot of press coverage, absolutely.

But it's a wrestler whose heyday was 30 years ago and he's not really involved with the company anymore. It probably won't get that much press coverage.

Will they keep Snuka in the HoF?

# ? Sep 1, 2015 22:08

Chris James 2: Aug 9, 2012

SamuraiFoochs posted:

In all seriousness if this did pick up steam would they just legit take Vince out of power and HHH takes over, simple as that?

Vince could conceivably do jail for this, considering he outright lied to cops, but HHH taking over because of this is the unlikeliest thing. Stocks already shooting down at just the thought of it

# ? Sep 1, 2015 22:10

Truther Vandross: Jun 17, 2008

Snuka will die and his last word will be "grapefruits" to implicate Vince and everyone will try to figure out what he means.

# ? Sep 1, 2015 22:10

Chromatic: Jan 21, 2005; You guys ready to hear a satanic song?

Davros1 posted:

Will they keep Snuka in the HoF?

If he's convicted no. he'll get hulk benoit treatment

# ? Sep 1, 2015 22:11

MotU: Mar 6, 2007; It was like she was evicting walking garbage.; Pillbug

Davros1 posted:

Will they keep Snuka in the HoF?

just make a criminal wing like the celebrity wing or rename it hall of infamy

# ? Sep 1, 2015 22:13

Muddy Burphy: Dec 4, 2010; The #RXT REVOLUTION has two words for ya..
SCOOP IT!

he knows...

Vince seems like Joe Paterno in that he's done as soon as he's no longer involved with his work.

# ? Sep 1, 2015 22:15

Push El Burrito: May 9, 2006; Soiled Meat

Chris Benoit knew and Vince had to silence him.

# ? Sep 1, 2015 22:16

Midnightghoul: Oct 1, 2003; COME ON DON'T BE SCURRED

Big Coffin Hunter posted:

Congrats Triple H

Now Kevin Owens will really be buried

# ? Sep 1, 2015 22:17

SamuraiFoochs: Jan 16, 2007; Grimey Drawer

Chris James 2 posted:

Vince could conceivably do jail for this, considering he outright lied to cops, but HHH taking over because of this is the unlikeliest thing. Stocks already shooting down at just the thought of it

But if Vince did do time someone has to take over. Would it be Steph? I thought she literally didn't like dealing with the wrestling stuff anymore?

# ? Sep 1, 2015 22:34

Chris James 2: Aug 9, 2012

SamuraiFoochs posted:

But if Vince did do time someone has to take over. Would it be Steph? I thought she literally didn't like dealing with the wrestling stuff anymore?

Because they're public, shareholders would want someone with experience running stuff or they would sell even worse than they currently are (down 10% today). HHH with NXT doesn't count. The only options would be Shane (gone), Dunn, or Steph (doesn't want to).

:getin:

# ? Sep 1, 2015 22:38

Shima Honnou: Dec 1, 2010; The Once And Future King Of Dicetroit; College Slice

Bring back Bischoff.

# ? Sep 1, 2015 22:39

Valeyard: Mar 30, 2012; Grimey Drawer

Man we joked about this for so long, I can't believe it's finally happening

# ? Sep 1, 2015 22:43

Valeyard: Mar 30, 2012; Grimey Drawer

Stay safe, Vince.

# ? Sep 1, 2015 22:45

EugeneJ: Feb 5, 2012; by FactsAreUseless

Howling Man posted:

Please let Vince get his for this.

# ? Sep 1, 2015 22:48

DynamiteKidd: Jun 11, 2015; by Shine

I don't know that Vince would be brought up on accessory charges, since it would have to be proven that he knew Snuka did it. And an obstruction charge would have had to have been filed within 5 years of the commission of the act

Oh, wait, where am I, the SA forums? UH VINCE WILL GET THE DEATH PENALTY

# ? Sep 1, 2015 22:50

Charles Gnarwin: Jul 31, 2014; I joined the #RXT REVOLUTION.

he knows...

Name the last time a rich, white man "got his" in America. Vince will see no repercussions.

# ? Sep 1, 2015 22:50

Howling Man: Mar 29, 2014

Charles Gnarwin posted:

Name the last time a rich, white man "got his" in America. Vince will see no repercussions.

Hulk Hogan, BROTHER!

# ? Sep 1, 2015 22:52

DynamiteKidd: Jun 11, 2015; by Shine

Charles Gnarwin posted:

Name the last time a rich, white man "got his" in America. Vince will see no repercussions.

Phil Spektor, Robert Durst, Bernie Madoff

# ? Sep 1, 2015 22:52

Howling Man: Mar 29, 2014

Get Andrew Jarecki to make The Jinx 2: Superfly. I will watch every minute.

# ? Sep 1, 2015 22:55

Tr33: May 26, 2007; Love is a tiny lion holding a donut!

I want Vince to go to jail not out of any sense of justice, but because I'm literally an idiot who thinks this will make Monday Night Raw on The USA Network a better show to watch because I can't possibly fathom doing something else on Monday nights. Such is the life of a rowdy ringsporter.

# ? Sep 1, 2015 22:56

DynamiteKidd: Jun 11, 2015; by Shine

I just think it's going to be impossible to prove anything about what Vince knew unless they have a recorded phone call to/from Snuka on file, and even that might not be enough depending on what's on it. Vince won't be arrested and he won't be charged.

# ? Sep 1, 2015 23:02

EugeneJ: Feb 5, 2012; by FactsAreUseless

Hogan should jump all over this and start saying "yeah Vince told me he helped cover up the murder" during his media tour

# ? Sep 1, 2015 23:05

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# ? Apr 26, 2024 00:41

SamuraiFoochs: Jan 16, 2007; Grimey Drawer

Howling Man posted:

Hulk Hogan, BROTHER!

Only happened because there was literal audiovisual evidence. Not only is there none of that in this case, there's apparently even conflicting testimony from the cops if I'm reading all of that correctly.

DynamiteKidd posted:

Phil Spektor, Robert Durst, Bernie Madoff

Physical evidence, confession and a shitload of other evidence, massive paper trail.

I know it's hilarious to consider but I REALLY doubt it.

# ? Sep 1, 2015 23:08

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Sports Argument Stadium > The Hammer House: Stinger Splash Zone > Jimmy Snuka charged with third degree murder

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