Judge dismisses murder charges against Jimmy Snuka

It had become increasingly apparent over the last year that Jimmy Snuka was unlikely to ever stand trial in the 1983 death of Nancy Argentino.

That was seemingly confirmed on Tuesday when Judge Kelly L. Banach of Lehigh County dismissed the charges of third-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter that had been leveled against Snuka.

Judge Banach cited Snuka’s deteriorating mental state when dismissing the charges and had previously ruled last June that the former wrestling star wasn’t mentally competent enough to stand trial.

After decades of speculation over his involvement in Argentino’s death, Snuka was charged in September 2015. The two had been romantically involved prior to her death, which Snuka claimed was the result of her falling down.

The case had been reopened in 2014 due to reporting by the Allentown Morning Call about unanswered questions surrounding Argentino’s death. The Morning Call story uncovered an autopsy report that concluded that Argentino’s death should have been investigated as a homicide until proven otherwise because of the cuts and contusions found on her body that were potentially signs of “mate abuse.”