IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF LEHIGH COUNTY TRIAL DIVISION COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA V. JAMES SNUKA *2 r* -< ]• ¿ 3 > f* .*r~*«** , ■ 22— ' ORDER AND NOW. this ¿ j day «{ /¿ y * # ? - '' \ OS'" n i O/ 3 zz.:" <■ CP ~y LEHIGH COUNTY INVESTIGATING GRAND JURY SEVENTH PANEL GJ Investigation #8 OF 2013 PRESENTMENT TO THE HONORABLE MARIA L. DANTOS, SUPERVISING JUDGE OF THE LEHIGH COUNTY INVESTIGATING GRAND JURY: We, the Lehigh County Investigating Grand Jury Seventh Panel, were charged by the Court to investigate the death of Nancy L. Argentino (DOB: March 30, 1960) that occurred on May 11, 1983 as Ms. Argentino's death was determined by an autopsy performed by Dr. I. Mihalakis, M.D.at Lehigh Valley Hospital Center in Allentown, PA on May 11, 1983 to be from craniocerebral injuries. Having obtained knowledge of such matters from witnesses sworn by the Court and testifying before us and from subpoenaed and properly seized documents and hospital and physician reports, and having found thereon reasonable grounds to believe, and so believing, that various violations of the criminal laws have occurred, upon our respective oaths, not fewer than twelve concurring, do hereby make this Presentment to the Court. . ? /n .U DATE -LL FOREMAN INVESTIGATING GRAND JURY 1 IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF LEHICH COUNTY TRIAL DI Vi SION IN RE: : LEHIGH COUNTY : INVESTIGATING GRAND JURY : SEVENTH PANEL : MISC. NO. GJ Investigation #8 OF 2013' PRESENTMENT TO THE HONORABLE MARIA L. DANTOS, SUPERVISING JUDGE OF THE COUNTY INVESTIGATING GRAND JURY: We, the Lehigh County investigating Grand Jury Seventh Panel, were impaneled pursuant to the Investigating Grand Jury Act, 42 Pa. C.S.A. § 4541 et seq., and were charged to investigate the death of Nancy L. Argentino (DOB: March 30, 1960) that occurred on May 11, 1983 as Ms. Argentine’s death was determined by an autopsy performed by Dr. I. Mihalakis, M.D. at Lehigh Valley Hospital Center in Allentown, PA on May 11, 1983 to be from craniocerebral injuries. The Scone of the Investigation In 2013, District Attorney James B. Martin was contacted by the surviving sisters of Nancy L. Argentino, who was pronounced dead under unusual circumstances on May 11,1983 in the emergency room of Allentown Sacred Heart Hospital, now known as Lehigh Valley Hospital Center. The District Attorney directed a Chief Deputy District Attorney to conduct a preliminary review of the investigative file and any and all evidence that was gathered since May 11, 1983 by the lead Detective, former Whitehall Township Detective, and now Lehigh County Detective Gerald Procanvn, and others. As a result of this preliminary review, the District Attorney directed that the District Attorney's Office utilize tire power and resources of the current Seventh Panel of the Lehigh County Investigating Grand Jury to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of Nancy L. Argentino. Utilizing the authority of the Grand Jury, this Investigating Grand Jury either heard testimony from or lias heard reports of statements provided by 20 witnesses and the assigned Detective Gerald Procanyn about this incident. We have reviewed or observed 37 exhibits (See Appendix “A” ) including statements, interviews, documents, physical exhibits and reports plus video and audio recordings. The evidence indicates that the death of Nancy Argentino occurred on May 11. 1983 at 01:50 AM; at the time of her death Ms. Argentino was 23 years old, weighed 115 pounds and had a height of 5 feet and 7 inches. The investigation concentrated on the activity of James Wiley Smith Reiher, who is now legally known as James Snuka, who wrestled professionally for many years as “Jimmy Superily Snuka” In 1983 James Snuka (DOB: May 18, 1943) was 39 years old, weighed 250 pounds and was a muscular 6 feet tall; he was wrestling on the World Wrestling Federation tour and competed in events throughout the eastern United States; he was married with a wife and 4 children who resided in North Carolina. In 1983 Nancy Argentino, who had lived and worked as a dental assistant in Brooklyn became a fan of James Snuka and became his girlfriend: she began accompanying him on tour at events including the matches held at the Agricultural Hall in Allentow n. Snuka identified himself to the police, emergency and hospital staff as the boyfriend of Nancy Argentino and he stated several times that he was the sole person in the exclusive presence of Ms. Argentino in the final 24 hours of her life. Included in the 37 grand jury exhibits that were presented, we have seen the paramedic, emergency room and autopsy reports completed on the day of her death. Additionally we have seen the written statements made that evening or within days of the death from the medical and hospital personnel who attended to Ms. Argentino on the day she was pronounced dead at the Emergency Room. Further, we have heard the testimony of these paramedic, emergency room professionals concerning their recollections of what was said to them by James Snuka that evening. Most importantly, we have heard the testimony of Dr. Isidore Mihalakis, MD, the experienced forensic pathologist that conducted the autopsy several hours after her death and authored the official autopsy report. The autopsy report and the testimony of Dr. Mihalakis detailed the various and multiple injuries evident in his internal and external examination of the decedent's body as well as his conclusion that Ms. Argentino's death was caused by craniocerebral injuries. The pertinent summary of his findings ¿ire quoted here verbatim from the first two pages of Grand Jury Exhibit #1: the May 11, 1983 Autopsy Report of Nancv Argentino: •'ANATOMICAL DIAGNOSIS CA USE OF DEA TH: Craniocerebral injuries. FINAL ANATOMICAL DIAGNOSIS: /. Craniocerebral injuries with: A. Multiple scalp contusions. B. Left occipital linear non-displaced skull fractures. C. Contrecoup cerebral contusions with moderate subdural hematoma, patchytraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage and intraventricular hemorrhage. D. Neuropaihologic findings, see neuropathology report. E. Terminal aspirational bronchopneumonia. II. Multiple contusions, trachea bilaterally, arms, forearms bilaterally; abrasions and contusions o f hack and buttocks and innumerable contusion o f legs, forelegs andfeet. III. Abrasions and contusions o f lips. OPINION: After review o f the history and complete, autopsy o f the body o f Ms. Nancy Argentina, death is attributed to craniocerebral injuries, the pattern o f which is consistent with a moving head striking a stationary object but is not consistent with a single multiple fall in view o f multitudinous o f scalp, facial and bodily bruises and abrasions. The multiplicity and magnitude o f the injuries may even he suggestive o f “mate" abuse. I personally checked the clothing that Ms. Argentino was wearing at the time o f her injury, that is The slip and fall on the berm o f the road, and find no evidence o f dirt or tears on the fabric. They were subsequently submitted for evaluation. The hair and scalp were also examined at the time o f the autopsy and no gravel or any other similar dirt particles were noted. The brain injury in terms o f hypoxia is at least 12 hours duration, during which time the neuropathologist feels the patient would have been unconscious. Terminal aspirational bronchopneumonia is consistent with the unconscious state. 4 In view o f the autopsy findings and the discrepancies in the clinical history. 1 believe that this case should he investigated as a homicide until proven otherwise. ss/ Dr. /. Mihalakis, A/. I). Forensic Pathologist." We have also heard from or seen the police interviews of the several police and medical personnel who were given an explanation that evening by James Snuka as to what caused the injuries that caused the death of Ms. Argentino. Furthermore, several of the exhibits have provided us with what James Snuka has told several recent media interviewers as well as what he and Jon Chattman, his co-author of his autobiography entitled “SUPERFLY The Jimmy Snuka Story” (published in October 2012) have stated and written about the circumstances of the injuries that caused the death of Ms. Argentino. We have also heard the testimony of the current Lehigh County Coroner Scott Grim who presented the original investigation and the report of former Deputy Coroner Wayne Snyder. After indicating that he reviewed the police interviews of the many police and medical personnel, plus the summary of the various statements given by James Snuka as well as the Grand Jury testimony concerning the cause of death of Nancy Argentino given by Dr. Mihalakis, Coroner Grim affirmed that the manner of Ms. Argentine's death was Homicide. In addition, we have heard testimony about how James Snuka assaulted his girlfriend Nancy Argentino in a similar hotel room near Syracuse, New York on January 18, 1983, just short of 4 months prior to her death. Plus, we have heard from Ruth Debbie Rogers, the wife of his former wrestling manager and friend of his family and we have seen photographs of how James Snuka assaulted Sharon Reiher Snuka (now Sharon Georgi), his former wife in October, 1983 that resulted in her hospitalization. Finally we have heard testimony from his former wife as to what he told her about the death of Nancy Argentino as well as how James Snuka assaulted her in 1983. 5 Hence the evidence that has been presented to us in this investigation can be characterized as coming from three primary sources: 1) the medical and autopsy evidence; 2) the numerous statements by James Snuka as to what caused the injuries that resulted in the homicide of Nancy Argentino on May 11.1983 made by him that morning as well as subsequently in several media interviews and his 2012 published autobiography ; and 3) the evidence concerning assaultive behavior upon Ms. Argentino by James Snuka just less than 4 months prior to her homicide as well as the assault of his former wife perpetrated by James Snuka later in 1983 after the homicide of Nancy Argentino. 1. The Medical and Autopsy Evidence Using notes that she recorded that night, paramedic Shirley Reeve testified before this Grand Jury and related the following. In response to a 911 call and just prior to midnight on May 10. 1983, paramedic Reeve and her crew from the Whitehall Emergency Squad arrived at Room 427 on the first fioor of the George Washington Motor Lodge in Whitehall Township just off Route 145. Upon arrival. Reeve found the room door open to the parking lot and present were Whitehall Police Officer Alfred Rhoads, James Snuka and two other wrestlers. Nancy Argentino was found lying on her back on the bed. unconscious with no clothes and a sheet over her up to her neck. Argentine's breathing was spontaneous but shallow, that is weak and actually she stopped breathing now and then; her pupils were fixed and dilated—they didn't move which indicated to Reeve that Argentino had sustained a head injury. Paramedic Reeve and her three crew members then attended to the victim with the necessary medical procedures including having her picked up and put into the ambulance on a backboard and a collar. Enroute to the hospital, Ms. Argentino was put on a monitor showing a fast heart rate that indicated head injury and shock: other emergency procedures were administered but she remained unconscious. Ms. Argentino arrived at the Allentown Sacred Heart Hospital on Cedar Crest Blvd (now known as Lehigh Valley Hospital Center) Emergency Room at 12:40AM on May 1L 1983. The Grand Jury next heard testimony from Dr. Joseph Fassl, the emergency room (ER) attending physician who had 12 years of ER experience as of May 11, 1983. Testifying from his 6 recollection as well as from the HR records, Dr. Fassl informed that he and the ER staff did every possible procedure to revive Ms. Argentino but she never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead at 1:50 AM on May 11,1983. In order to determine what had happened to the victim so that they could treat her. both paramedic Reeve and Dr. Fassl questioned James Snuka about Ms. Argentino’s extensive injuries and his responses were that he struck her and she fell hitting her head on concrete. In addition, two of the HR attending nurses testified and they also were told by James Snuka that Ms. Argentino and he had an argument and he admitted that he hit her and she fell back hitting her head. Precise accounts of Snuka's replies to all four of these medical professionals were recorded in police interviews in May, 1983 and each testified as indicated below in Section 2 of this Presentment.. Dr. Mihalakis, a forensic pathologist with extensive experience, was the next witness and he testified comprehensively concerning the autopsy that he conducted of Ms. Argentino's remains on May 11, 1983. In addition to explaining the skull fracture and craniocerebral injuries that were the primary cause of her death, he specifically detailed with the use of a mannequin, the thirty-nine (39) contusions and abrasions on her amis, forearms , back , buttocks . legs, forelegs and feet. The correct anatomical description as detailed above from Dr. Mihalakis’ autopsy report of Ms. Argentino’s multiple injuries led this skilled forensic pathologist to conclude in his opinion that the multiplicity and magnitude of the injuries was suggestive of “mate’*abuse. Dr. Mihalakis testified that the forensic evidence in her body indicated that she had sustained her brain and multiple injuries at least 12-24 hours prior to her death and that the delay in contacting emergency medical professionals further complicated any ability of the ER staff to provide any possible extraordinary procedures that may have sustained her life. 2. The Various Statements by Janies Snuka In addition to the police and the paramedic at the George Washington Motor Lodge (GWML) when they first arrived in response to the 911 call as well as the three (3) medical professionals in the 7 ER being told by Janies Snuka what happened to cause the injuries to Ms. Argentino, Snuka spoke with a chaplain at the hospital after Ms. Argentino expired. Plus the next morning at 9:00AM, the assigned Whitehall Detective Gerald Procanvn met with Snuka at his GWML hotel room and took a 17 page statement in which Snuka gave another version of how Ms. Argentino was injured. We believe it is important to note that Janies Snuka changed the location of the injuries in his discussion with the chaplain to happening on the highway travelling to the GWML, but still admitted that she sustained her injury after he shoved her and she fell backwards hitting her head on the concrete. Even more important to note is that when he spoke with Detective Procanvn, Snuka states that Ms. Argentino was injured due to a fall on the highway and fails to mention any striking or shoving that he admitted to the six listeners at the hotel and the hospital. In order to provide verbatim recounting of what was said by James Snuka and when he said each version , please see the following: JIM M Y SN U K A 'S STATEM ENTS OF H O W NANCY ARGENTINO SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT RESULTED IN THE PR O N O U N C E M E N T OF HER DEATH (5) 0 1 : 5 0 A M O N M AY 1 1 . 1 9 8 3 (Listed in Date and Time Order) On M ay 1 0 ,1 9 8 3 b e t w e e n 1 1 :43P M & 12:15A M on M ay 1 1 ,1 9 8 3 : Conversation between Jimmy Snuka and O fficer A lfred C. R hoads, first police officer on scene @ the George Washington Motor Lodge Room 427: SNUKA STATES " HE A ND VICTIM WERE FOOLING AROUND OUTSIDE R O O M DOOR W HEN HE PUSHED HER AND SHE FELL STRIKING HER HEAD." O n M a y 1 0 , 1 9 8 3 sh o r tly a fte r 11:43P M : Conversation between Jimmy Snuka and P aram ed ic Shirley R e e v e of Whitehall Emergency Squad who arrived @ the George Washington Motor Lodge Room 427 shortly after 11:43PM on May 10,1983 and observed Officer Rhoads and wrestler Snuka: SNUKA STATES "HE A ND HER M UST HAVE WRESTLED A LITTLE TOO M UCH LAST NIGHT. SHE H IT HER HEAD ON THE CONCRETE LAST NIGHT." On M ay l i . 1983 @ e a r ly AM a fte r 12:40 AM Argentino arrival (5) hospital: Conversation between Jimmy Snuka and Dr. J o sep h Fassi who was working in the emergency room as recorded in interview of Dr. Fassi by Officer A. Rhoads @ 6:50AM on May 11,1983: SNUKA STATES "THEY WERE FOOLING ARO UND, PUSHING SHOVING OUTSIDE MOTEL ROOM". SNUKA STATED "WHEN HE PUSHED HER SHE FELL STRIKING BACK OF HEAD". SNUKA STATED "SHE LOST CONCIOUSNESS AND HE PICKED HER UP BY ARMS (UPPER) AND SHE CAME TOO". SNUKA STATED "THEY WENT INTO THE ROOM AND WENT TO SLEEP". STATED "NEXT A .M . (1 0 -M a y -1 9 8 3 ) HE BEGAN FOOLING AROUND AGAIN WITH VICTIM (ARGENTINO) LIGHT SLAP ON FACE". SNUKA STATED "THEY WENT BACK TO SLEEP AND HE GOT UP AROUND 1 2 NOON AND WENT TO WORK" 8 On M ay 1 1 , 1 9 8 3 @ ea r ly AM a fte r 3.2:40 AM A rgen tin o arrival @ h o sp ita l: Conversation between Jimmy Snuka and Susan St, Clair, RN who was working in the emergency room as recorded in interview of St. Ciair by Officer A. Rhoads @ 7:24AM on May 11,1983: SHE (St Clair)TRIED TO TALK TO HIM (S n u k a), BUT HE JUST STOOD IN ONE SPOT AND STARED AT THE VICTIM. SHE THEN HEARS HIM SAY: "THEY CAME INTO TOWN LATE LAST NIGHT. THEY WERE BOTH VERY TIRED. SNUKA STATES THEY GOT INTO ARGUMENT". SNUKA STATED "HE PUSHED HER AND SHE FELL BACK AND HIT HER HEAD". In addition, S u sa n St. Clair, RN on September 11, 2006.gave Det. Procanyn_a handwritten note that she wrote on May 11, 1983 about this case; it reads as follows: " D oor o p e n e d s a w litter w ith p a tie n t p u sh ed back to surgical b ay. T hen a tall m an w ith a H aw aiian skirt w alk in. I w a lk ed up to th e m an and a sk ed him t o g o to th e w a itin g ro o m to g iv e in fo rm a tio n a b o u t p a tie n t. He ju st sta r e d a h e a d . Eyes b lo o d s h o t . Look o f fea r in th e m . Sm ell o f a lco h o l. Carol M cBride c a m e o v e r . A sk ed m an w h a t h a p p e n . M an sa id . "W e c a m e in to to w n la te y e ste r d a y . W e had a r g u m e n t. W e w e r e p u sh in g e a c h o th e r . I p u sh e d her and sh e fell h ittin g her h ea d ." On M ay 1 1 ,1 9 8 3 @ ea rly AM a fte r 1 2 :4 0 AM A rgen tin o arrival (8> h o sp ita l: Conversation between Jimmy Snuka and Carol M cBride RN who was working in the emergency room as recorded in interview of McBride by Officer A. Rhoads @ 7:24AM on May 11,1983: SNUKA STATES "THEY CAME INTO TOW N LATE LAST NIGHT. THEY WERE BOTH VERY TIRED". SNUKA STATES "THEY GOT INTO ARGUMENT". SNUKA STATED "HE PUSHED HER AND SHE FELL BACK AND HIT HER HEAD". On M ay 1 1 ,1 9 8 3 @ ea r ly AM a fte r 1 2 :4 0 AM A rgen tin o arrival (5> h o sp ita l: Conversation between Jimmy Snuka and Rev. Barbara Sm ith D erickson who was working in the emergency room as a chaplain as recorded in interview of Rev. Derickson by Det. Geiger May 12,1983: SNUKA TELLS HER THEY STOPPED ON THE ROAD TO GO TO THE BATHROOM, CHAPLAIN THEN ASSUMED IT WAS AT A SERVICE STATION. THE VICTIM AND SNUKA STARTED CLOWING AROUND LIKE HE USUALLY DID. SNUKA THEN SHOVED VICTIM WITH HIS FOREARM AND SHE FELL BACKWARDS ON HER BACK AND HIT HER HEAD ON THE CONCRETE. SNUKA STATES SHE W AS OUT FOR A MUNUTE OR TWO, AND SNUKA ADMITTED TO SLAPPING HER FACE A FEW TIMES TO TRY AND BRING HER OUT OF IT. WHEN THEY ARRIVED AT THE GEORGE WASHINGTON MOTOR LODGE THE VICTIM SAID SHE HAD A HEADACHE AND WANTED TO GO TO BED. SHE W ASN'T HUNGRY BUT SNUKA WAS AND WENT TO THE DINER FOR SOME FOOD AND BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE ROOM . SNUKA STATED THE VICTIM PASSED OUT IN THE ROOM AND HIT HER HEAD ON THE SIDE OF THE CHAIR OR THE BED. HE KEPT CHECKING ON HER, AND SHE WAS BREATHING O.K. SNUKA WENT TO WORK IN THE AFTERNOON, CAME BACK LATER. HE WENT BACK IN THE EVENING FOR SOME TAPEING. WHEN HE CAME BACK TO ROOM AROUND 9 PM , YELLOW STUFF WAS COMING OUT OF HER NOSE AND MOUTH. HE KNEW SOMETHING W AS OBVIOUSLY WRONG AND CALLED FOR HELP FROM AMBULANCE. Interview of Jimmy Snuka conducted by D e t. P rocan yn and two other detectives @ the George Washington Motor Lodge in Room 427. See the pertinent pages 1-3 (of the 17 page interview)as to w h a t Snuka said a b o u t how Nancy A rgentino su stain ed injuries- See GJ Exhibit 2 0 D in A p p en d ix "B" On M ay 1 1 ,1 9 8 3 @ 9 :0 0 A M : In addition to the above detailed seven (7) versions given by James Snuka on the night and morning of her death on May 11,1983, the Grand Jury has learned of several additional versions and explanations given by James Snuka over the years since 1983 about the death of Nancy Argentino. Here is what he has said on three occasions: 9 On O ct 2 2 , 2 0 1 2 : As published in the autobiography book: "Superfly:The Jim m y Snuka Story". The book was co-authored by jimmy Snuka and Jon C h a ttm a n from interviews that Chattman had with Jimmy Snuka and his present wife Carol Snuka between January and April, 2012, The pertinent discussion of how Nancy Argentino sustained injuries is on pages 86 to 94. See transcription of these pages - GJ Exhibit 2 0 C in A p p en d ix "B” On Jan 1 0 , 2 0 1 3 : You Tube video clip of Jimmy Snuka on Q pieR adio Podcast. Link to https://www.youtube.com/watch7vsQ6BSUlllRU See transcription of discussion on the video -GJ Exhibit 2 0 B in A p p en d ix "B” On F eb 2 3 . 2 0 1 3 : You Tube video d ip of Jim my Snuka on T he Sam R ob erts S h o w Link to https://www.voutube.com/watch?v=:Pmi2IGQ4unQ See transcription of discussion on the video - GJ Exhibit 2 0 A in O nline Podcast. A p p en d ix "B" The Grand Jury believes it is important to note how James Snuka relates in his autobiography the state of his behavior that “..in 1983, my personal life started getting a little crazy ” especially in his frequent use o f alcohol, steroids and cocaine. Also, in the book he provides a version of what happened on January 18. 1983 when he was arrested for assaulting Ms. Argentino in a Syracuse hotel room. As we will detail in Section 3 below. Snuka's version differs greatly with the testimony from the police account of this similar incident in which Ms. Argentino was injured. 3. The Evidence of Previous Assault of Nancy Argentino by James Snuka on January 18,1983 And The Assault of His Former Wife by James Snuka in OctobcrJ983 The Grand Jury heard testimony from Peter Bronstad, a former Captain in the Onondaga County Sheriff Department that had police jurisdiction in 19 townships and the city of Syracuse in upstate New York. In 1983. Captain Bronstad, a Vietnam U.S. Army veteran, had over ten years of patrol and criminal investigation experience with Onondaga County. In addition to presenting the 24 page police investigation report:. Captain Bronstad testified about the incident involving the assault of Nancy Argentino by James Snuka that occurred on January 18, 1983 at the Howard Johnson Motor Lodge (IT.ÍML) in a northern suburb of Syracuse. 10 Hie initial report phoned in at 1:40AM by the HJML clerk was that ';a guy was dragging a naked female down the hallway”. Upon arrival, the first two deputy sheriffs on the scene observed the muscular James Snuka forcibly dragging the naked Ms. Argentino down the hallway by her hair as she was draped in a blanket and was shouting that she wanted to get away from Snuka. Snuka then dragged her by her hair into their room on the first floor; once inside the room, Ms. Argentino was yelling and crying for Snuka to let her go but he kept shouting and telling the deputies to go away. The deputies then called for backup and a supervisor whereupon Captain Bronstad and several more deputies arrived with a canine unit. After attempting to rescue Ms. Argentino from the room by coaxing Snuka to open the door. Captain Bronstad had to order the deputies to take the door and arrest Snuka because Ms. Argentino continued to cry and scream for help. After forcibly arresting Snuka and handcuffing him behind his back, Ms. Argentino was found off in the comer of the room crying in pain. During the course o f subduing and arresting Snuka, both he and a sheriff suffered dog bites to their legs as it took several of the deputies as well as two dogs to get Snuka under control. Snuka was taken to sheriffs headquarters and booked on charges of obstruction of government administration, resisting arrest and assault of Ms. Argentino and the deputies; Ms. Argentino was taken to the hospital and treated for injuries to her head, back and her scalp due to the dragging of her hair. The case was eventually disposed by the Onondaga District Attorney by Snuka pleading guilty on a reduced violation and he paid a fine that was donated to a charity. We also heard testimony from Debbie Rogers, the wife of Buddy Rogers who was Snuka’s former fellow wrestler and manager. Ms. Rogers informed us of an incident in which Snuka beat his wife in October 1983 while he and Iris wife Sharon Reiher were neighbors of the Rogers in I Iaddonfield. New Jersey. Ms. Rogers also provided her notes of the incident as well as the photos of the injuries to Sharon as a result of her beating by Snuka and her hospitalization, in addition we heard testimony from Sharon Reiher Snuka, now remarried and known as Sharon Georgi, corroborating a series of beatings due to arguments with her husband Snuka in the fall of 1983 that resulted in her 11 hospitalization. Both Ms. Debbie Rogers and Ms. Sharon Georgi related the use of alcohol and drugs by Snuka in 1983 as outlined also by him in his autobiography. Conclusion and Recommendation James Snuka was subpoenaed, sworn in by the Supervising Judge of the Investigating Grand Jury and appeared before us with his retained attorney. He chose not to testify and he exercised his constitutional rights not to so testify as afforded him by the Constitutions of the United States and Pennsylvania; as instructed, we have not drawn any inference of guilt, or any other inference adverse to lames Snuka from the fact that he did not testify. As the Investigating Grand Jury, we have also been instructed that we are the sole judge of the credibility of the evidence and the testimony that has been presented in this investigation and it is entirely up to us as what to believe. We understand that this means that we must judge the truthfulness and accuracy of the evidence and each witness's testimony and decide whether to believe all, part, or none of that testimony. We understand that this precept of believing all, part or none of the testimony applies to what was said by James Snuka to the medical, hospital and police witnesses as to his explanation of how the decedent was injured. In reviewing what he said to many witnesses on the early morning of Ms. Argentine's homicide as well as what he wrote in his autobiography that was published in 2012 after almost 30 years of reflection by him, we must evaluate his statements and how well they square with other evidence in the case, including the testimony of other witnesses, the autopsy findings and his history of assaults upon Ms. Argentino as well as his wife Sharon. Accordingly, it is our determination that the weight of the evidence clearly indicates that James Snuka repeatedly assaulted Nancy Argentino on May 10, 1983 and then allowed her to lie in their bed at the George Washington Motor Lodge without obtaining the necessary medical attention; his assaultive acts and his failure to act to obtain medical attention resulted in her death by homicide at i :50AM on May 11, 1983, We make this determination based on the evidence from the autopsy of the fractured skull as well as the multitude of injuries throughout her body as found and detailed by the 12 forensic pathologist. Dr. Isidore Mihalakis, MD. In addition, his beating which led to the death of Ms. Argentino is also corroborated by his admitted use of illegal drugs during this stage of his life as well as by his assault of Ms. Argentino in Onondaga County, New York just four months prior to her death. Hence, after careful consideration of all the evidence, we make the following conclusion and recommendation: We, the Lehigh County Investigating Grand Jury, after hearing the evidence presented from the testimony of the witnesses as well as our review and examination of the 37 Grand Jury Exhibits, hereby conclude the following: James Snuka intentionally, knowingly, recklessly or negligently caused the death of Nancy Argentino and hence it is our recommendation that he should be charged with Criminal Homicide. We, the Lehigh County Investigating Grand Jury, conclude that the following criminal act arises out of the conduct of Janies Snuka: Criminal Homicide: 18 Pa C.S.A. Sec. 2501(a) We, the Lehigh County Investigating Grand Jury Seventh Panel, therefore recommend that based upon all of the evidence presented to us, that the criminal complaint specified above in this Presentment be filed by the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office. 13 Appendix “A” IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA CRIMINAL DIVISION G rand J u r y Panel No. 7 In v estig atio n # 8 of 2 0 1 3 —List of E xhibits 14 D a te 1 1/24/14 2 2 /2 8 /1 4 Jo 4 5 2 /2 8 /1 4 2 /2 8 /1 4 2 /2 8 /1 4 6 2 /2 8 /1 4 7 3 /1 4 /1 4 8 3 /1 4 /1 4 9 3 /1 4 /1 4 10 3 /1 4 /1 4 11 3 /1 4 /1 4 12 4 /1 1 /1 4 13 4 /1 1 /1 4 14 4 /2 5 /1 4 15 6 /2 7 /1 4 16 6 /2 7 /1 4 17 6 /2 7 /1 4 18 6 /2 7 /1 4 19 6 /2 7 /1 4 20 10/17/14 IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA CRIMINAL DIVISION Grand J u ry P anel No. 7 In v e stig a tio n # 8 o f 2 0 1 3 —L ist o f E x h ib its W itn e s s D escrip tio n o f E xh ib it Det. Gerald Autopsy report of Nancy Argentino Procanyn Whitehall Township Police Report regarding Complaint No. 83Shirley Reeve 94274 61; Interview & Notes of Paramedic Reeves Shirley Reeve Photograph of Jimmy Snuka Dr. Joseph Fassl Curriculum Vitae of Dr. Joseph Fassl Dr. Joseph Fassl Three (3) police interviews of Dr. Fassl Dr. Joseph Fassl Emergency Room Records Carol Simons Whitehall Township Bureau of Police report of 5/11/83 with attachments=Statements by McBride McBride, RN Susan St. Clair Whitehall Township Bureau of Police report of 5/11/83 with attachments^Statements by Evatt Evatt, RN Isidore Mihalakis Curriculum Vitae Mihalakis. MD Isidore Mannequin with markings as to injuries documented in Autopsy Mihalakis, MD report of Nancy Argentino Isidore Model of brain and skull used to explain craniocerebral injuries documented in Autopsy report of Nancy Argentino Mihalakis, MD Det. Gerald Whitehall Township Bureau of Police report of 5/12/83 with attaehments=Statements by Rev Barbara Smith Derrickson Procanyn I n te rv ie w c o n d u c te d b y D e t. P r o c a n y n o n M a y 1 1 , 1 9 8 3 , 0 9 0 0 H o u r s Det. Gerald w ith J a m e s S n u k a R E : D e a th o f N a n c y A r g e n ti n o ( 1 7 p g s ) Procanyn Peter Bro nstad Onondaga County NY Sherri ff Dept. Investigation Reports and Retied NY Witness Affidavits concerning James Snuka arrest for assault of Sherri ff Nancy Argentino that occurred on Jan 18. 1983 (24 pgs) WWE; T h e G r e a te st W r e stlin a S ta r s o f th e '8 0 s DVD {20051 Det. Gerald Disc #3, Chapter 1 Video Bio of Jimmy Snuka Procanyn Det. Gerald Jimmy Superfly Snuka says she’s DEAD - @OpieRadio Procanyn Published on Jan 10, 201.3 http;//www.opieradiu.com Det. Gerald Sam Roberts & Jimmy Snuka on his m urder charges Procanyn he dealt with in the 80s. Published on Feb 23, 2013 Det. Gerald Superfly: The Jimmy Snuka Story Hardcover Procanyn by Jimmy Snuka (Author). Jon Chattman (Author) Publisher: Triumph Books; ISt Edition (October 22, 2012) Det. Gerald Supcrfly: The Jimmy Snuka Story Hardcover Procanyn Excerpts re Nancy Argentino pgs. 86 to 94 Det. Gerald JIMMY SNUKA'S STATEMENTS OF HOW Procanyn NANCY ARGENTINO SUSTAINED INJURIES 15 20-A 10/17/14 20-fí 10/17/14 20-C 10/17/14 20-D 10/17/14 Det. Gerald Procanyn 11/21/14 Isidore Mihalakis, MD Scott Grim Scott Grim Scott Grim Det. Gerald Procanyn Det. Gerald Procanyn Del. Gerald Procanyn Det. Gerald Procanyn Det. Gerald Procanyn 21 22 23 24 1/23/15 1/23/15 1/23/15 2/6/15 25 2/6/15 26 2/6/15 27 2/6/15 28 2/6/15 29 4/24/15 30 4/24/15 31 4/24/15 32 4/24/15 33 5/8/15 34 5/8/15 35 7/10/15 36 7/10/15 37 7/10/15 1 Del. Gerald Procanyn Del. Gerald Procanyn Det. Gerald Procanyn Det. Gerald Procanyn Det. Gerald Procanyn Det. Gerald Procanyn Det. Gerald Procanyn Det. Gerald Procanyn Del. Gerald Procanyn Det. Gerald Procanyn Det. Gerald Procanyn Det. Gerald Procanyn You Tube video clip of Jimmy Snnka on The Sam Roberts Show You Tube video clip of Jitnmv Snuka on OpieRadio Podcast Reprinted copy of pgs. 86-94 as published in the autobiography book: “Siiperflv:The Jimmv Snuka Story” The book was coauthored by Jimmy Snuka and Jon Chattman from interviews that Chattman had with Jimmy Snuka and his wife Carol Snuka between Jan and April. 2012. Interview of Jimmy Snuka conducted by Del. Procanyn @ the George Washington Motor Lodge in Room 427. See pages 1-3 as to what Snuka said about how Nancy Argentino sustained injuries Further testimony re GJ Exh. # 1 Autopsy report in light of GJ Exhibits 20 to 20-D Deputy Coroner Wayne Snyder's Summary Report Coroner's Report Death Certificate Florida Divers License Photo of Ruth Debbie Rogers DOB: 9/27/ 1936 {Age: 78) Audio Cassette of Ruth Debbie Rogers Interview of 1-15-15 conducted by Det. Gerald Procanyn Verbatim Transcript of Ruth Debbie Rogers interview of 1-15-15 conducted by Det. Gerald Procanyn Five (5) Photos of injuries sustained by Sharon Snuka on October 16. 1983 from beating by Jimmy Snuka Handwritten notes recorded by Ruth Debbie Rogers concerning 1983 history of contacts of Buddy Rogers w/ Jimmy Snuka including beatings of Sharon Snuka- Mayl983 to Dee 1983 Nevada Driver's License Photos of Sharon Georgi, formerly known as Sharon Reiher Snuka Statement by Sharon Liana Reiher given to Det. Procanyn on May 24, 1983-when she was married to James Snuka 57 page Transcript of phone interview conducted by Det. Procanyn on March 11.2015 of Sharon Reiher Snuka Georgi Two (2) audiotapes of phone interview conducted by Det. Procany n on March 11, 2015 of Sharon Reiher Snuka Georgi List of 12 Snuka Appearance/lnterviews Schedule Jan 29, 2014 Through August 22,2015 Videotape of Snuka1s Appearance to sign autographs @ Wrestling Match at Days Inn Bridgewater NJ on April 17. 2015 Del. Procanyn Binder of All hitervicws/S tatemen is Regional Intelligence & Investigation Center Report of all reported and known residences of James Snuka since 1983 US District Court-Eastern District PA Civil File #85-1091 Argentino v. Reiher w/ Affidavit & Default Judgment 16 Appendix “B” GJ E xhibit 2 0 D On M ay 1 1 ,1 9 8 3 (g) 9 :0 0 A M : Interview of Jimmy Snuka conducted by Pet. Procanyn and two other detectives @ the George Washington Motor Lodge in Room 427. See the pertinent pages 1-3 (of the 17 page interview)as to what Snuka said about how Nancy Argentino sustained injuries. GJ E xhibit 2 0 C On O ct 2 2 , 2 0 1 2 : As published in the autobiography book; rt$u p erfly:T h e Jim m y Snuka Story". The book was co-authored by Jimmy Snuka and Jon C h a ttm a n from interviews that Chattman had with Jimmy Snuka and his present wife Carol Snuka between January and April, 2012. The pertinent discussion of how Nancy Argentino sustained injuries is on pages 86 to 94. See transcription of these pages. GJ E xhibit 2 0 B On Jan 1 0 , 2 0 1 3 : You Tube video clip of Jimmy Snuka on O p ieR ad io Podcast. Link to https://www.voutube.com / watch?v=Q6BSlJlilRU See transcription of discussion on the video. GJ E xhibit 2 0 A On F eb 2 3 , 2 0 1 3 : You Tube video clip of Jimmy Snuka on The Sam Roberts Show Online Podcast. Link to https://www.youtube.com/watch7v--Pml2IGQ4unQ See transcription of discussion on the video. 17 GJ E xhibit 2 0 D On M ay 1 1 ,1 9 8 3 @ 9 :0 0 A M : Interview of Jimmy Snuka conducted by Pet. Procanyn and two other detectives @ the George Washington Motor Lodge in Room 427. See the pertinent pages 1-3 (of the 17 page interview)as to what Snuka said about how Nancy Argentino sustained injuries. #83-04274 INTERVIEW MADE ON I I MAY ¡ 9 8 3 . 0 9 0 0 I-Í0URS W ith JAMES SNUKA R E : DEATH O F NANCY ARGENTINO P re s e n t a t George Washington Motel were: Lt. A. H. F ritz in g e r, Det. G. P. Procanyn and Det. V. C. Geiger (IN ROOM427) Page 1 We came here to A llentow n. I t was early in the m orn in g , around 4 o r 5 o 'c lo c k in th e m orning. It was Tuesday m o rn in g that we got here. came from Connecticut, which is my home town. We She lived w ith m e. On the way here, we stopped on the sid e of the road to use the bathroom . She was d e sp e ra te to use the bathroom so she went a l i t t l e into the bushes and s q u a t t e d . In the m eantim e there were a lo t of trucks coming by. hurry up and she jumped across the grass onto the road. and f e l l backwards and hit her head. Sol s a id to And then she slipped R ight on the concrete on the sid e of the road, she ju st slipped backwards. I'm pretty sure th is happened on Rte. 22 coming down. We were a lre a d y in Pennsylvania. She had a real bad concussion. When I saw th at I ju s t p ick ed her up and slap p ed her across the face to get her to come to a g a in . I had to pick her up. she was unconscious. This happened early in the morning about 4:30 o r 5 o ’clo ck . I t was n o t q u ite lig h t y et. We drove right here. And when we got here, she said she was having a l i t t l e pain in the head and I to id h e r to come and lay down. I ra n up to the d in e r to try and g et her something to eat because she was hungry. She d id n ’t want to go out, so I to ld her Í would run o u t and get the food for her. But she n e v er ate, she ju s t wanted to lay down and sleep . That was yesterday morning and we o v erslep t and I had to g et up, and she was breathing normally and everything and I had to rush to go to work 18 because I was late a lre a d y g e ttin g to the TV s ta tio n . and kissed her and sa id " I ' l l see you la te r , honey. So I got up, got ready I ' l l be rig h t back as soon a s I g e t d o n e .” I had to go to work a t the Fairgrounds. I w re stle d la st n ig h t. 1 got to the F a irg ro u n d s about quarter a f te r one or tw enty a fte r, in the a f t e r n o o n . I le f t here about one o 'c lo c k . I drove m yself, usually i t ' s only me and her. We go around together to ail th ese p la c e s. INTERVIEW WITH JAMES SNUKA RE: 11 May 1983 DFAÍH OF NANCY ARGENTINO #83-04274 I l e f t the Fairgrounds at 6 o 'c lo c k . Page 2 1 came back here and looked a t her, and she ju s t looked like she was sleeping. Breathing and everything. So I got a towel, soaked it in the ice and put i t over her head. up, she was laying down in bed. lump on her head - it was swelled. She did not complain. There was no blood. from me trying to help her when she f e l l . maybe she was so tired. She ju s t had a big She had marks on her back So rig h t from t h e r e , I thought Ju st laying there and breathing. back to work on TV now'. This was about because I was on the second tape. She was not So I had to go ten m inutes to eight when I le f t lo g o She was okay when I le ft h e r, she was laying down and I k ep t p u ttin g the towel on her head and she just kept mumbling around She d id n 't ta lk to m e. the towel and putting i t on her head. She ju s t mumbled so I k e p t w e ttin g (QUESTION - D id you ask her i f she wanted a d o c to r? ) Well, she wasn't even answering me so 1 ju s t lo o k ed a t her and sa id , w e ll, sh e 's re stin g th ere. r ig h t h a c k . So I s a id I have to go to work and I ’l l be 1 was in a h u r r y all th e tim e . So when I was a t work, 1 trie d to c a ll her and I fig u re d she was tire d because we got in late th a t m im in g . So when I got back, a f t e r I got d o w n with my ta p in g , I ju s t stay e d h ere fo r a l i t t l e b i t and 1 ju s t kept wotcltingher and 1 s a id , Man. something's wrong. Let me see when this w as. The f i r s t ta p e s ta r ts a t 7 o 'clo ck and ends a t 8. The second one s t a r t s a t eight, le t me see,. I m u st have went down a b o u t, I'd say 19 about 10 to nine, scimzwhere around t h e r e . I t’s an hour tape so I got done about 9 o 'c lo c k . When Í got done, I came s tra ig h t back and 1 d i d n 't even shower or a n y th in g . I came back to check up on her. As soon as I got back h e re , I wet the towel and put i t back on her head. Finally I ju s t kept lo o k in g at her and try in g to talk to her and she d id n ’t even respond like when I l e f t . I thcx^Tt, my God. I b e tte r tr y to call a d o c to r rig h t away. went out of my mind. d e sk . 1 d i d n 't know what to do w ith her, So Right away, I j u s t 1 called th e fro n t 1 to ld them my g i r l is having a hard tine breathing, ju s t seems like she INTERVIEW WITH JAMES SNUKA RE: 11 MAY 1983 DFATII OF NANCY ARGENTINO #83-04274 Page 3 c a n ’t even breathe a t a ll, F inally they whatever you do, please hurry up. cam e by and startin g p u ttin g th in g s to her throat and try in g to— A couple tim es there I got so s c a r e d , I thought she was loosing her b reath so I was try in g to push on her, but she was s t i l l breathing and s t u f f She didn't t a l k to She ju s t made mumbling n o ise, like she was in p a in . m e. (LET'S 0 0 BACK TO WHEN YOU STOPPED TO RELIEVE YOURSELF ALONG THE HIGHWAY.AND YOU STATE THAT SHE FELL D0WN0R SLIPPED, WHENYOU PICKED HER UP. DID SHE TALK TO YOU?) Yes. (WHAT DID SHE SAY?) When I woke her up, I picked her up and said,"A re you okay, honey?" She said , "Yeah, but i t Ts ju s t my head, my bump’' She s a t in the passenger side of my car (Lincoln), and a f te r we stopped, she ta lk e d to me on the way here. s tu f f , i f sh e 's okay. j u s t le t m e know how Just talking about her head and She said sh e'd lik e to lay down. I s a id okay, honey, to get down to this hotel rig h t here and she said ju s t fo llo w 22 and get off the e x it when you s e e it. 17 o r 27. whatever s a i d , okay, ju s t lay down. 20 it is . So I So she lay dow n on my lap and we drove to the office and Í got out to go and get the key and s tu f f and she ju s t laid dow n there. So we cam e stra ig h t to the ro o m , laid her dow n and e v e r y t h i n g . ! helped her take her c lo th in g o ff. sw eater fo r her and s tu ff. tir e d . I put on a 1 ta lk e d to her a t th a t time and she ju s t said she was And t h a t ’s when ! went to get som ething to eat b e c a u s e a ll the tim e before she was ta lk in g about that she was h u n g ry . F irst, when we were in Connecticut she wanted to eat som e egg ro ll. I s a id w e 'll try to g e t something on the way dow n. But we d id n ’t get any-thing and we were hungry, because we were try in g to g e t here. So, fin a lly 1 to ld h e r, you ju s t stay h ere and L’i i nm up to Lhe d in e r and get some food and s tu ff. Carne back and she j u s t — {HOW MUCH TIME ELAPSED FROM THE TIME YOU S'lOPPED UNI'lL YOU GOT HERE?) About a good 45 minutes from wherever we were a t u n til we got h e r e . It was about 5:30 of q u a rte r to six when we checked in h e r e . W hen we stopped along the road, i t was between 4:30 and 5. We were a lre a d y in Pennsylvania, already through the to ll (Please note that these panes 18 to 21 were scanned from the original 1983 typewritten interview taken bv Pet. Procanyn and when converted to MICROSOFT WORD, the font hecamed varied. It is verbatim what was in the original transcrined first 3 nages.l 21 GJ E xhib it 20 C Excerpt of pages 86-94 From the book: “Super-fly:The Jimmy Snuka Story” The book was co-authored by Jimmy Snuka and Jon Chattman from interviews that Chatim an had with Jimmy Snuka and his wife Carol Snuka between Jan and April, 2012. Here is the pertinent discussion of how Nancy Argentino sustained injuries as published in the book: “PERSONAL DEMONS Í was continuing to perform to sold-out crowds after my feuds with Albano, Stevens, and others. But in 1983, my personal life started getting a little crazy. I always loved to party. I loved to drink, brudda, and during that year, I was doing a lot of cocaine. I had been for a year by then. There were a lot of drugs in New York City in the 1980s. and 1 started using them after I'd been there a little while. I never did cocaine until 1 got to New York, lo - that's Fijian for “yes" - drugs were always around the Superfly on the road, but f chose to drink and chase ladies instead. I didn't want anything getting in the way of my wrestling. But everything changed in New York. The temptation was just too much for me. Í started using steroids a lot, because they were right there for all of us. brudda. That didn't make it right, but it was just so easy to get them. 1 thought it was all part of the program. What did I know? Not much. Í thought it was medicine for the wrestlers. There was a doctor in the locker room - George Zahorian - and he gave us the pills. He ended up going to jail for doing this later on. What he was doing was illegal, but I didn't know that. Once I found out what they were. I could've stopped taking them, but I didn't. 1 got greedy. I wanted to get bigger and bigger, even though I was already a good size. But steroids weren't my biggest problem. It took some time to get into drugs. Again, for years in Portland, Í never even thought about taking them. I just went about my business and did some pot and drank a lot. in my first couple of months in New York, 1 was still not interested. After a while, I started wanting more out of my life in New York, and it became all too easy to find drugs. So, the Superfly tried cocaine. I was feeling down. I was feeling like I was not being used right, so maybe I just wanted to feel good. All I remember if that everyone wanted to party with the Superfly. They still do. brudda! Back in New York, we would go to a party or we would go to a bar after a match. Didn't matter. We went wherever the drugs were. I never injected drugs into my body. I didn't like the idea of needles going into my veins. At first, 1 didn't like cocaine either. The first time 1tried it, I remember being egged on to snort more and more. I felt quite a rush the first time 1tried coke, but not in a good way. It was like an out-of-body experience. I like to be in control of my body at all times, so cocaine was a real shock to my body and my mind. The Superfly didn't like it I just stood there and questioned why everyone did cocaine when it made you feel so messed up. I remember telling myself I'd never take it again. I didn't at first, but then I'd get drunk at the next party and start doing cocaine again. Eventually, it started feeling good. It made me very comfortable, and I’m not going to lie, sometimes it took away the pain from all the bumps I took in the ring. I had bad experiences with the police in 1983, too. It was just the worst year ever, brudda. Í was waiting for a title shot, doing drugs all the lime, drinking with the boys, and continuing to party with all the girls - and then it all came crashing down. It started one night at our hotel in Oneida, New York, near Syracuse. Us boys would always stay at a hotel that had a bar downstairs so we could cat and drink and not have to drive anywhere. Then, we would go up to our rooms, get up the next day, and be on the road again. Í was not doing coke that night, just drinking a lot of booze, as were a lot of the other guys in the room. The beer was every where, and the women were all over the piace. For me, it was just me and my “friend” on the side. I say friend, but she was really my girlfriend. I was not faithful to Sharon at all when I was on the road, and Nancy Argentino understood that. She was my East Coast girlfriend. We were drinking and having a good time when all of a sudden, the police burst into our room. I don't know why they chose my room - maybe mine was the first one they passed - but they did. It was not just one cop, brudda. it was six men in blue with police dogs and everything. I remember asking them what the problem was. I was in my underwear, and they were all confrontational. They beat me up with their batons. Now, Em not saying 1was totally innocent in all this - I was pretty drunk - but after a while I was just protecting myself from getting beaten. They had busted down the door of my room and were poking me in the balls with their night sticks, and I was not going to let anyone poke me in the balls. Apparently, the manager at the front desk was getting angry calls from the other hotel guests, complaining that we were being too loud. When one guest said she heard screaming, saw woman walking around the hall naked, and that someone was possibly getting beaten, the manager called the cops. 1 don't know anything about that. I never laid my hands on anyone, and I didn't see any naked women, aside from the one in my room. Nancy was screaming at the cops when they came into our room. 1 was so angry. 1 didn't need to be handcuffed with German shepherds barking at me. 1 was drinking some beer, and maybe smoking some pot. But that was it. 1 remember they yelled at me to put my clothes on so they could take me to jail. I refused. I don't mind being in my underwear - 1 wrestle in tights, brudda! To this day. I'll mow the lawn in a Speedo. They hauled me out in my underwear and took me to prison. 1 tried to explain to them that we were just having fun and apologized for waking people up. Again, I was in my room with Nancy, and the boys were the ones partying and making all kinds of noise. I ended up pleading guilty just to get it over with. Í did not assault Nancy - she was fine. I went back to the hotel to get our clothing and the car, and then I went back to the station to get Nancy. And just like that, we were on our way to the next event. There were a lot of us there ~ I don't know why they singled me out. I mean. 1was the biggest draw at the time, but 1don’t think they knew that. In the end. 1 paid a fine, and the charges were dropped. ABOUT NANCY ARGENTINO I've said it before - life on the road could get very lonely, so the boys would always go out and party. Partying usually meant going out for drinks, doing cocaine at a house or a hotel room, and sleeping with some girl you either just met or had on the side. Many of us had women in each part of the world. 1 met Nancy Argentino at a show. She was a fan and had been friends with another wrestler named Johnny Rodz. Nancy quickly became a friend I'd see whenever I was on the East Coast, We slept together each time, but we also hung out. She was a very nice girl, and we got along right away. She understood our arrangement. For maybe six months or a year, we spent a lot of time together. One afternoon, we were driving to Allentown. Pennsylvania -ju s t she and 1- from a Connecticut show because I had a TV shoot the next morning. We were drinking some beer, and she asked me to slop so that she could pee. I pul led over to the side of the road and I waited in the car for her, drinking. When she came back, she told me she slipped on the way and hit her head. I didn't see it happen, but I remember she told me she was jumping over a little river or stream that was there and she slipped. She seemed okay, and when Í asked her if she was feeling alright, she said yes. I didn't see any blood anywhere, so neither of us was concerned and we kept driving to Allentown. I think we stopped drinking after that - she did. at least. I asked her over the next few hours if she was feeling better, and she just kept telling me she had a headache. When we finally got to Allentown and checked into our hotel, 1 told her to lie down and rest. 1 left her alone for a little bit to 23 hang out with Mr. Fuji and the boys, and she was sleeping when I came back. She seemed fine so Í went to bed. The next morning, 1 got up and headed out for the TV shoot. She was still breathing, and I was not concerned that his was a life-or-death situation. At worst, 1thought she might have a concussion, and 1figured Pel take her to the doctor if she needed to go when I got back. When I got back to the hotel. I remember being very surprised that she was still in bed. 1woke her up. but she could hardly breathe. I called the front desk, and asked them to call an ambulance. I followed the ambulance to the hospital. Two hours later, they told me she had passed away. I think she died of a fracture to her skull. 1 was devastated. At the funeral. 1 told her mother and father how sorry 1 was about her death. What else could 1 possibly say? I just remember telling them 1was very sorry and that I cared for her. 1went to the church with them, and their daughter was there in a coffin, and 1just said 1 wish it hadn't happened. I had no reason to hurt her. They didn’t accuse me of anything. 1 heard stories that I threatened Nancy’s sister at one point. 1 never did that. Thai is not true. Shortly after Nancy's death, 1 was questioned by police and let go. At one point, I went with Vince McMahon Jr. to either a court or law office, I don't remember which because I was still in shock. All I remember is he liad a briefcase with him. 1don't know what happened. Í think Vince Jr. picked me up from the hotel and took me there. lie didn't say anything to me. I don’t know if he gave Nancy’s family money or anything. The only thing I know for sure is that I didn't hurt Nancy. I couldn't believe what had happened. Some people have written that I was just playing stupid, but I really didn’t know what was happening around me. Many terrible things have been written about me hurting Nancy and being responsible for her death, but they are not true. This has been very hard on me and very hard on my family. To this day, I get nasty notes and threats. It hurts. 1 never hit Nancy or threatened her. I never wanted to harm her. That day she fell on the concrete, we didn't do drugs together - we just drank. I'm not saying we never did drugs together, but that day we just drank together and were having a good time. She fell by accident, and I didn't realize how bad she was hurt. I feel terrible that I didn't get her checked out by a doctor sooner. I felt really bad, and it’s been hard every day since, five had a lot of support from my family over the years - even Sharon was a little supportive, despite the fact that I had cheated on her. She did want me to take some time off to be with our family. I will say this about the whole thing, hrudda- that night ruined my life. To this day, that is how I feel. If I was guilty of anything, it was cheating on my wife, and that was it. I love women. I enjoy them. I respect them. I love the smell of the ladies. I would never hurt any of them. Nancy was a good girl. I will never forget what happened to her." 24 GJ Exhibit 20 A On Fe b 2 3 , 2 0 1 3 : You Tube video clip of Jimmy Snuka on The Sam Roberts Show Online Podcast. Link to https://www.voutube.com/watch7v-Pmi2iGQ4unQ See transcription of discussion on the video. SAM ROBERTS ONLINE PODCAST W/ JIMMY “SUPERFIAT’ SNUKA PUBLISHED ON: FEBRUARY 23. 2013 S. ROBERTS : You told, uh, there's a lot of difficult stuff that you wrote about in the book. Um. you know you talked about like we were talkin' about your drugs and like how that happened. You also talk about the death that you were attached to. You know, a girl you were dating, uh. at tire time. I guess you were dating her, right? J. SNUKA: Mmm hmm. S. ROBERT'S: She died in kind of mysterious circumstances. And die internet's always had this legend of, you know, how the Superfly involved? And what happened? Basically, lite official story, she was uh. you found her in a motel room, called the...that's what...I mean...that's what I’ve read. 1don't know. You can correct me. of course. You found her in a motel room, called the ambulance. Uh. she had some kind of uh. uh head trauma... J. SNUKA: Right. S. ROBERT'S: ...and she died from it. Everybody goes what happened here? J. SNUKA: Right. S. ROBERT'S: So what, what is the tinal word on that? J. SNUKA: Well the tiling was, is that like I said we were driving to Allentown... S. ROBERT S: Yeah. J. SNUKA: ...you know? And uh. she wanted to use the bathroom. You know? Like i said J. CHATTMAN: Like a rest stop, right? .1. SNUKA: Yeah, you know? And then, no this is like on the highway there. J. CHATTMAN: Oh ok. yeah. J. SNUKA: And I pulled over and she went and use the bathroom and then, uh iike I .said I was silting down in there waiting for her and I happen to look over and she's down. S. ROBERTS: And this was what year? '83? J. SNUKA: 1!li. somewhere around there, brudda S. ROBERT'S: Around '83. ok. J. SNUKA: Yeah. Yeah. S. ROBERT'S: So this is just you and Morocco? This is right before Hogan? You’re the guys? J. SNUKA: Right. 26 S. ROBERTS: Ok. J, CHAT i MAN: 1his is even before his match with Morocco. S. ROBERTS: It is? J. SNUKA: Right. S. ROBERTS: Ok. But right now when this is happening, you’re the guy? In wrestling? J. SNliKA: Mmm hmrn. S. ROBERTS: Ok. so you see and she’s down. J. SNUKA: Right. S. ROBERTS: You go, what happened? J. SNUKA: Right so I went and you know, picked her up. helped and bring her to the ear and just went straight to the... S. ROBERTS: So what had happened? Site fell? J. SNUKA: Yeah. S. ROBERTS: Oh ok. J. SNUKA: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, banged her head and. you know? S. ROBERTS: Was she conscious? J. SNUKA: She was uh, not feeling too good. S. ROBERTS: Right, she was a little woozy. J. SNUKA: Yeah. Right. S. ROBERTS: A little dizzy. J. SNUKA: Right. Yup. S. ROBERTS: And then you get back and then, and then that's what happened...and then you leave her? Did you bring tier back to the hotel, and then what? You left her? And did your thing? And then came back and holy shit i gotta call an ambulance? J. SNUKA: No. no. When vvegot to the hotel... S. ROBERTS: Uh huh J. SNUKA: ...you know checked in first and everything. And uh. then right away I had to call because she said she’s not feeling good, you know S. ROBERTS: Ok. .!. SNUKA: So that’s how it got to the, you know, take her to the hospital and... J. CHATTMAN: Well you. you went and wrestled though? And then you came hack, right? Or you did some interviews or something? I lbrget. J. SNUKA: Uh, yeah. Yeah S. ROBERTS: Yeah. .!. CHATTMAN: Like I mean, he...she was sleeping in the morning or something and then, you know, he went out and did his thing and then came back and the he saw that she was still feeling bad. j. SNUKA: Right. S. ROBERTS: Did you freak out when that went down because you're like...not only is this a terrible thing to happen to somebody I'm dating, but... J. SNUKA: Right. S. ROBERTS: ...this is not gonna look good for the Superfly. J. SNUKA: Right. S. ROBERTS: You know. 1 need. I need to make sure somebody's got my back right now. Was that... were you freakin' out a little bit? .1. SNUKA: Uh. 1 felt bad about it, brudda S. ROBERTS: Yeah. J. SNUKA: You know. 1 mean. Accident is accident, brudda, but still yeah yeah, you know? S. ROBERTS: Right, and you don't want to be associated with it, either. J. SNUKA: Right. S. ROBERTS: You know? J. SNUKA: Yeah. S. ROBERTS: Was uh. is...and was Vince there to help you out with that? .!. SNUKA: Uh. he was there, i ie knew everything about it. S. ROBERTS: And he's got. you know, legal people to help you out and everything. Well then so. was it. was it. uh, what made you want to tell that story? Cause 1think for a long time, you really just didn’t want to talk about that. You're here to, like you know, if somebody asks you about that, you’re here to talk about wrestling. Not whatever that was. What made you.,. J. SNUKA: Right. S. ROBERTS: ...say ok. Jon Chattman. we're writing a book together. Em gonna tell this story. J. SNUKA: Exactly. S. ROBERTS: What made you want to finally tell it? J. SNUKA: Urn, 1had to tell the truth, brudda. S. ROBERTS: You just wanted everything on the record? J. SNUKA: Yeah. 1 wanted everything in that book. S. ROBERTS: Mmm hmm. J. SNUKA: You know, with my whole career and stuff 28 S. ROBERTS: Yeah J. SNUKA: Yeah. S. ROBERTS: Do. do...did people...do people still bring that up to you a lot? Or have they kind of, you know, thcv’ve gotten your story, they've moved passed it? J. SNUKA: Uh, they haven't really bothered me about it. brudda. S. ROBERTS: That's good. J. SNUKA: Yeah. S. ROBERTS: That's good. .1. CHATTMAN: I mean it’s kind of a story that's taken a life of its own. like you said, on the internet. You know... S. ROBERTS: Right, like like... J. CHAT I MAN: 1 feel like i read one story that you threw her out of a hotel window... ROBER'I J. CHATTMAN: Did you see that? S. ROBERTS: I was reading that last night. That you threw her off a balcony j. CHATTMAN: [ mean, it changes... .1. SNUKA: Oh man. J. Cl IATTMAN: ...from site to sire S. ROBERTS: 1 was reading, you know, cause 1 was reading all the Superfly stories. I started, you know gossiping...uh. uh, reading...you know Googling ali the gossip and everything and that one incident. Í heard 6. 7. 8 different stories... J. CHATTMAN: Yeah, yeah, yeah S. ROBERTS: ...about what happened. And everyone's got these different facts. .1. SNIJKA: (LAUGHS) S. ROBERTS: Like well, you know what? Superlly's got a book. Why don’t you take his word for it? 1le’s not in jail for it. so he's probably tell in’ the truth, right? J. SNUKA: Right, brudda 29 .3 - 0 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY OF: Lehigh POLICE CRIMINAL COMPLAINT COM M ONW EALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA V S. H onorable M arie L. D a n to s DEFENDANT: Lehigh C ounty Court o f C om m on P leas First Name Lehigh C ounty In v estig a tin g Grand Jury l (NAME and ADDRESS): SNUKA JAMES Supervising Judge, Middle Name Last Name L,¥7 r : c . ' S p r 0 1-Felony Full □ 2-Felcny Ltd. □ 4-Feiony No Ext. □ 5-Felony Pend. □ 3-Felony Surrounding States □ A-Misdemeanor Full AvzrJzr . . NGIC Extradition Code Type □ B-Misdemeanor Limited □ C-Misdemeanor Surrounding States □ D-Misdemeanor No Extradition □ E-Misdemeanor Pending □ Distance: RACE □ White □ Asian □ Black .......'... : ■'.: ETHNICITY □ Hispanic □ NonHispanic O Unknown □ Native GENDER American " 0 Unknown, EJ Male □ Female SID: Docket Number DOB DEFENDANT IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION Date Filed OTN/LiveScan Number POB 18-MAY-43 Arid’l DOB ¿ aka FIJI ISLANDS SSN First Name Add’l SSN Middle Name Last Name WILEY SMITH JAMES Complaint/lncident Number 83-04274 Gen. REIHER EYE COLOR Request Lab Services? □ YES □ NO 0 GRN (Green) □ PNK (Pink) □ BLK (Black) □ GRY (Gray) □ BLU (Blue) □ HAZ (Hazel) □ MUL (Multicolored) P I BRO (Brown) (_j MAR (Maroon) 0 Expires: XXX (Unknown) WEIGHT (lbs.) 6O8388AA0 State Plate# VIN IT ‘ 1: DEFENDANT VEHICLE INFORMATION. .,=EB - -BP.: Registration Hazmat Cornm'l Veh. ¡-i School p-, Sticker (MM/YY) Ind. u Veh. u □ Year Make Model Style In. Oth. NCIC Veh. Code Color Office of the attorney for the Commonwealth 0 Approved □ Disapproved because:_ (The attorney for the Commonwealth may require that the comp to filing. See Pa.R.Crim.P. 507). arrest warrant afficjayit. or both be approved by the attorney for the Commonwealth prior ■f F t (Name of the attorney' for the Commonwealth) I, / (Signature of the attorney jbVfhe Commonwfca! (Date) Gerald Procanyrt (Name of the Affiant) of Lehigh County Detectives (Identify D epartm ent or A g e ncy Represented and Political Subdivision) do hereby state: (check appropriate box) 1. ® I accuse the above named defendant who lives at the address set forth above □ I accuse the defendant whose name is unknown to me but who is described as □ I accuse the defendant whose name and popular designation or nickname are unknown to me an^whom I hiVe therefore designated as John Doe or Jane Doe s V? with violating the penal laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania at [ J Whitehall To^nrship ^ (Subdivision Code)" in Lehigh County AOPC 412A - Rev. 1 2 /0 7 39] (County Code) on or about (Place-Political Subdivision) ’ h-may-83 Page i of POLICE CRIMINAL COMPLAINT Docket Number: Date Filed: First: D e fe n d a n t N am e OTN/LiveScan Number Comgb^nt/lncídent Number Middle: JAMES Last: SNUKA The acts committed by the accused are described below with each Act of Assembly or statute violated, if appropriate : (Set forth a b r ie f summary of the facts sufficient to advise the defendant of the nature of the offense(s) charged. A citation to the statute(s) violated, without more, is not sufficient. In a summary case, you must cite the specific section(s) and subsection(s) of the statute(s) or ordmance(s) allegedly violated.) in c h o a te O ffe n s e □ Lead? j □ Attempt j 18 901 A □ Solicitation Conspiracy 18 9 0 2 A 18 9 0 3 25 0 2 1 Offense# □ A2 □ B (Engaging) (Aiding) (Knowledge) PACC 1(0) Subsection Section □ A1 ¡1 PA Statute (Title) FI Counts Accident Number P en n D O T D ata (if a p p lic a b le )__ □ Permitting (Title 75 Only} 75 1575 A Grade NCIC Offense Code □ Safety Zone UCR/NISRS Code 1 □ Work Zone Statute Description/Acts of the accused associated with this Offense: IN THAT, o n o r a b o u t s a i d d a t e , J A M E S S N U K A d id c a u s e t h e d e a th o f N A N C Y L. A R G EN T IN O , a n o t h e r h u m a n b e in g w ith m a lic e , in v io la tio n o f S e c t i o n 2 5 0 2 (c ) o f t h e P A C r im e s C o d e . (1 8 P a .C .S . 2 5 0 2 ( c ) - F I.) In c h o a te O ffe n s e □ j□ j Attempt □ Solicitation Conspiracy 18 9 0 1 A 18 9 0 2 A 18 9 0 3 2 Lead? 2504 Offense# □ A2 □ B (Aiding) (Knowledge) PACC (a) Section □ A1 (Engaging) Subsection PA Ml ]1 Statute (Title) Counts Accident:. Grade ............. . NCIC Offense Code □ Safety Zone Number □ Permitting (Title 75 Only) 75 1575 A UCR’NIBRS Code □ Work Zone Statute Description/Acts of the accused associated with this Offense: IN THAT, on or about said date, JAMES SNUKA did commit the offense of criminal homicide constituting involuntary manslaughter by causing the death of NANCY L. ARGENTINO as a direct result of AN ASSAULT that caused the victim's death in a reckless or grossly negligent manner, in violation of Section 2504(a) of the PA Crimes Code. (18 Pa. C.S. 2504(a) - Ml) In c h o a te O ffe n s e □ Attempt L_ 18 9 0 1 A AOPC 412A - Rev. 12/07 □ Solicitation Conspiracy 18 9 0 2 A 18 9 0 3 □ A1 □ A2 □ B (Engaging) (Aiding) (Knowledge) □ Permitting (Title 75 Only) 75 1575 A Page_of POLICE CRIMINAL COMPLAINT Docket Number: Defendant Name Date Filed: F,rSt OTN/LiveScan Number Middle: JAMES Cggn^jp^/incident Number Last: SNUKA 2. I ask that a warrant of arrest or a summons be issued and that the defendant be required to answer the charges I have made. 3. I verify that the facts set forth in this complaint are true and correct to the best of my knowledge or information and belief. This verification is made subject to the penalties of Section 4904 of the Crimes Code (18 PA.C.S.§4904) relating to unsworn falsification to authorities. 4. This complaint is comprised of the preceding Page, as well as the attached pages that follow, numbered___through _, specifying offenses and Participants, if any. The acts committed by the accused, as listed and hereafter, were against the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and were contrary to the Act(s) of the Assembly, or in violation of the statutes cited. (B efore a w arrant o f a rrest c a n b e is s u e d , an affidavit o f probable c a u s e m u st b e c o m p le te d , sw o rn to b efo re th e is s u in g authority, and a tta ch ed .) (Signature of Affiant) (Date) AND NOW, on this date J? / — ifjyy I_ _ y* 7 JsO /vJTTcertify that the complaint has been properly completed and verifie An affidavit of probable cause must be cimofeted before a warrant can be issued. 2J (Magtstaraf District Court Number) AOPC 412A —Rev. 1 2 /0 7 P a g e __ of I t e CRIMINAL COMPLAINT D o c k e t N u m b e r: D e fe n d a n t N am e: D a te F ile d : O T N /L iv e S c an N u m b e r First: C o m p la in t/tn c id e n t N u m b e r 8 3 -0 4 2 7 4 Middle: Last: JA M E S SNUKA AFFIDAVIT of PROBABLE CAUSE 1. That your affiant, who is a duly sworn police officer currently holding the position of County Detective with the Lehigh County District Attorney's Office, has been assigned to investigate the death of NACNY L. ARGENTINO, (DOB March 30,1960) that occurred on May 11,1983. SEE ATTACHED GRAND JURY PRESENTMENT I ,______, BEING DULY SW ORN ACCORDING TO THE LAW, DEPOSE AND SAY THAT THEfEACTSrSpT FORTH IN THE FOREGOING AFFIDAVIT ARE TRUE AND CORRECT TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, INFORMATION AND BELIEF. _v ^ A H (Signature of Affiant) Sworn to me and subscribed before mejhis. 2 o js j , Mogiotefiai Oistriertudge Date My com m ission expires first M onday of January, AOPC 411C - Rev. 1 2 /0 7 JtoiK Law Enforcement NCIC Information Data Entry Form CONFIDENTIAL D o c k e t N u m b e r: D e fen d a n t N am e D a te F iled : First: JAMES O T N /L iv e S c an N u m b e r {liveScan n u m b e r p re fe rre d ) Middle: Last: C o m p la in t/ln c id e n t N u m b e r 83-04274 SNUKA NCIC C a u tio n s and M ed ical C o n d itio n s {meek up to 9) □ 00 □ 20 □ 50 □ 70 □ 05 □ 25 □ 55 □ 80 □ 10 □ 30 □ 60 □ 85 □ 15 □ 40 □ 65 □ 90 AOPC 4 1 2 A - R ev. 1 2 / 0 7 □ 01 Page 1 of 1 CONFIDENTIAL