N.J. Family Heartbroken as Hall of Fame Boxer Avoids Prison in Deadly Fentanyl-Related Crash
A New Jersey family is furious that renowned boxer Robert “Bobby” Gunn avoided jail for a 2019 crash that killed a woman and severely injured her husband. Many criticized Gunn’s four-year probation after confessing to being high on fentanyl during the crash.
In the death of 51-year-old Polly Tornari of Glassboro, Gunn, 52, pleaded guilty to third-degree vehicular homicide and assault by car. For the plea, prosecutors dropped a second-degree charge. This month, Superior Court Judge Michael Silvanio sentenced the case after nearly six years.
During the emotional session, victim relatives expressed fury and disbelief. Robert Tornari, Polly’s wheelchair-bound husband, called the punishment “too weak” and said the justice system failed his family. He cried as he testified that Gunn had taken his wife, independence, livelihood, and home. Tornari lives in an assisted care facility, unable to walk or care for himself.
Gunn’s pickup truck hit the Tornaris head-on on a rural Upper Pittsgrove road on September 28, 2019. Polly was pronounced dead on arrival. Police believe Gunn wrecked while high on fentanyl.
Polly was a great wife, sister, and friend who served others her whole life, according to her family. Her brother Donald Cuff called her a selfless caretaker and “second mother figure” to his children. He remarked, “She was loved deeply, and her absence will be felt for life.
Polly’s mother-in-law, Dolores Tornari, said the loss devastated their family and described her daily struggles caring for her disabled son before he was placed in a care home. “He has lost his freedom, his home, his ability to walk and live independently,” she told the court. The criminal escapes his life sentence.
Prosecutors acknowledged public displeasure but claimed years of legal delays hurt their case. Assistant Prosecutor Meghan Price said evidence had deteriorated and witnesses were unavailable. She said, “It’s not the ending we wanted,” because the state faced obstacles to trial conviction.
Michael Grasso, Gunn’s third attorney in the lengthy case, said the crash cars and other crucial evidence were sold years before. He blamed late Gunn charges for the delay.
Gunn’s brief address during sentencing after being inducted into the bare-knuckle boxing Hall of Fame in 2015 was inaudible on the court recording. After the crash, he completed a month of drug rehab.
Due to jury hesitation and evidence loss, Judge Silvanio accepted the plea offer. Gunn received probation, 30 hours of community service, substance abuse treatment, and a one-year driver’s license suspension. First-time DWI offenders must pay penalties and learn.
Some family members forgave, but others thought it conveyed a bad message. “This man killed one and ruined another’s life,” Tornari said. “Probation is not justice.”
Cuff said he forgave Gunn in confidence that the former boxer would apologize. He said, “Through our loss, I pray that he seeks redemption.”
The case renewed New Jersey debate over how lenient plea deals affect victims’ families, especially in drunk driving cases. The verdict reminds many that time and legal complexity sometimes outweigh responsibility, leaving anguish and confusion as consequences.
Sources
Salem County Superior Court statements and hearing remarks
