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--- Grand jury to review death of Jimmy 'Superfly' Snuka's girlfriend
A Lehigh County grand jury will investigate the 1983 death of Nancy L. Argentino, the girlfriend of professional wrestler Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka, District Attorney Jim Martin announced Tuesday.
The announcement comes seven months after Martin said he'd take a "fresh look" at Argentino's cold case. His decision to re-examine the case was made less than three weeks after The Morning Call published a story about Argentino's death, revealing an autopsy report and police interviews that had never been seen by the public.
"I think it's important to have a grand jury take a look at it and we'll see what they think," Martin said Tuesday.
Argentino was rushed out of Snuka's George Washington Motor Lodge motel room — now the site of Home Depot along MacArthur Road and Route 22 — on May 10, 1983. Snuka, a married man, had returned from a World Wrestling Federation taping at the Allentown Fairgrounds to find Argentino gasping for air and oozing yellow fluid from her mouth and nose.
Argentino was declared dead hours later at Lehigh Valley Hospital.
Argentino, 23, of Brooklyn, N.Y., died of traumatic brain injuries consistent with a moving head striking a stationary object, according to the never-released autopsy.
Autopsy findings show Argentino 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.
Forensic pathologist Isidore Mihalakis wrote at the time of the case that it should be investigated as a homicide until proved otherwise, according to records first made public by the Call last year.
Snuka originally told at least five people, including the responding police officer, he shoved Argentino, causing her to fall and hit her head, according to police interviews obtained by The Morning Call. He later told police he was misunderstood and Argentino slipped and hit her head when they stopped along the highway to urinate.
Argentino's family learned of Martin's decision from The Morning Call on Tuesday.
"I'm kind of in, like, total shock," said Lorraine Salome of New York, Nancy's older sister. "This is something that should have happened 30-some-odd years ago. But at least it's happening now."
Martin acknowledged that The Morning Call's story on the cold case played a role in eventually placing the case before a grand jury. He said Argentino's sisters contacted him after the story ran and that prompted him to give it another look.
"It excited the family," Martin said of the story. "It focused some interest on the case."
Martin said he usually doesn't announce which cases will go before a grand jury, but he said he took the unusual step of announcing this grand jury investigation because of the interest the case has garnered.
Martin said the grand jury that was impaneled in August and started considering cases in September will hear testimony on the case. Martin said the grand jury meets every two weeks and it will likely take months before it concludes its work on the Argentino case.
Martin said Chief Deputy District Attorney Charles Gallagher recommended putting the case before the grand jury, a panel of 23 Lehigh County residents, which will weigh evidence and determine whether charges are warranted. Martin said the five-year statute of limitations has run out on most charges but there is no statute of limitations on homicide, which includes first-, second- and third-degree murder.
"Praise God that maybe justice will be done," said Louise Argentino-Upham, of Florida, Argentino's younger sister.
Martin said with all the time that has passed since Argentino's death "there's no question it's going to be a difficult case." He said in his 16 years as district attorney, it's the oldest case his office has taken to a grand jury.
Martin wouldn't say if any new evidence has emerged and wouldn't comment when asked if Snuka is the focus of the investigation.
Snuka could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday.
http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/m...,4848348.story
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Originally Posted by check two
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