A former Port Jefferson resident has been charged with manslaughter in connection with Manhattan’s attack on a beloved 87-year-old language coach who was pushed to the ground and later died of her injuries, authorities said Tuesday.
Lauren Pazienza, 26, who police said lived on Old Homestead Road in Port Jefferson before moving to Astoria, surrendered with her attorney to NYPD detectives in Manhattan’s 10th Precinct late Monday, officials said. She was charged with first-degree manslaughter and two second-degree assaults stemming from the March 10 attack on Barbara Gustern, officials said. Pazienza, who police said had no criminal record, did not provide details after her arrest.
At her arraignment Tuesday in Manhattan, Judge Michael Gaffey set Pazienza’s bail at $500,000 in cash or $1 million on property-backed bail, according to a spokesman for the Manhattan Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors wanted Pazienza held without bail, the spokeswoman added. Pazienza’s defense attorney Arthur Aidala said he expects Pazienza to post bail “very soon”, possibly by Wednesday.
According to a criminal complaint filed in the case, a witness identified Pazienza as the person who crossed West 28th Street in Manhattan at around 8:30 p.m. and pushed Gustern onto the sidewalk, resulting in a serious head injury. A witness told investigators that before Gustern lost consciousness, her attacker approached her, called her a derogatory name and then pushed her, the complaint says.
Gustern, a famous voice coach who taught singer Debbie Harry and reportedly members of the cast of 2019’s “Oklahoma,” died March 15 from her injuries, police said. The only clues worth mentioning were video images of the alleged attacker showing a woman with long, curly dark hair and a dark coat.
The attack shocked many in the city’s theater and music scene, where Gustern had a long career teaching voice. In fact, at the time of the attack, she was going to nearby Joe’s Pub to see a cabaret performance by a singing student, friends said. Gursten had also been working on her own cabaret performance elsewhere.
While a motive for the attack remained unclear, prosecutors said in court that Pazienza and a man they did not name but identified as her fiancé were later seen on video engaging in a physical altercation. Pazienza then watched as an ambulance came to the scene to help Gustern, according to prosecutors. About half an hour later, Pazienza and the man entered the Penn Station subway station to return to Astoria, where the couple lived, prosecutors said.
Photos the NYPD said show Lauren Pazienza, 26, a former Port Jefferson resident charged with manslaughter and assault in connection with the death of an 87-year-old Manhattan voice coach.
Photo credit: NYPD
On the day Gustern died, NYPD detective chief James Essig called the attack “baseless and pointless.” The crime was “a disgusting and shameful offense against a vulnerable, elderly woman who did nothing but walk the streets of New York City,” Essig added.
After police released video images and wanted posters showing Pazienza, she attempted to avoid arrest by deleting her social media accounts, including a wedding website for her June wedding, prosecutors said in court. On March 16, the day after Gustern’s death, Pazienza traveled to Port Jefferson to hide out at her parents’ home, prosecutors said.
An anonymous tip alerted detectives that she was there, prosecutors said. Detectives visited the home on Monday, but Pazienza’s father said his daughter was not there and refused them entry, according to prosecutors.
The Pazienza family did not immediately respond to a call for comment. Aidala called them “a normal family”.
On Tuesday, Gustern’s grandson, AJ Gustern, who is acting as the family spokesman, told Newsday he was concerned that it took Pazienza so long to hire a lawyer before she came forward.
“It gave me a sense of completion, but opened a whole Pandora’s box [of emotions].” he said.
Internet records show that Pazienza graduated from Ward Melville High School in 2013. A copy of her resume notes that she received a bachelor’s degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan. According to her resume, Pazienza worked as an event planner for French luxury furniture company Roche Bobos. Company officials did not respond to a request for comment.
Additional internet records noted that Pazienza lived at the Old Homestead Road address, but also showed residences in Astoria, Queens. Neighbors in Port Jefferson said the family kept to themselves.
“I heard the story and it’s a shock,” neighbor Walter Hurney said. “I know the family. They are good people.”
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