Suspect in fatal shove case indicted, records show

The former Port Jefferson resident accused of shoving a beloved New York City vocal coach to the ground in Manhattan last month was indicted by a grand jury on Monday, according to court documents. 

The indictment charges Lauren Pazienza, 26, with manslaughter and two second-degree assault charges. She is scheduled to return to court for arraignment on May 10, according to the records. The Manhattan District Attorney's Office confirmed that Pazienza was indicted but said details regarding the charges will not be released until she returns to court.

Pazienza crossed West 28th Street in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood about 8:30 p.m. on March 10 and shoved 87-year-old Barbara Gustern to the pavement, causing a severe head injury, authorities said. A witness told investigators that before Gustern lost consciousness, she said her assailant approached, called her a derogatory name and then pushed her to the ground, authorities said. 

Pazienza’s attorney, Arthur Aidala, did not return a request for comment. 

Gustern, a famed voice coach who worked with Blondie lead singer Debbie Harry and members of the 2019 cast of “Oklahoma,” died on March 14 from her injuries, authorities said. 

The attack shocked many in the city's theatrical and music community, where Gustern had a long career as voice teacher. She was, in fact, walking to nearby Joe’s Pub to see a cabaret performance of a voice student at the time of the attack, friends said. Gustern had also been working on her own cabaret performance at another locale.

After police put out video images and "wanted" posters depicting Pazienza, she tried to avoid capture by deleting her social media accounts, including a wedding website for her June nuptials, prosecutors said in court. On March 16, the day after Gustern died, Pazienza traveled to Port Jefferson to hide at her parents' home, prosecutors said.

An anonymous tip alerted detectives she was there, according to prosecutors. It was then detectives visited the home, but Pazienza’s father said his daughter wasn't there and denied them entrance, according to prosecutors. 

Pazienza’s parents and fiance, Naveen Pereira, did not return requests for comment.

With Anthony M. DeStefano