Lauren Pazienza’s parents ‘may be charged’ after ‘cops blocked from home’ as they searched for singing coach’s ‘killer’
THE parents of a 26-year-old woman, who allegedly pushed a Broadway voice coach to her death, could also face charges if police prove they hid their daughter.
Any charge would hinge on intent and the ability to prove Lauren Pazienza's parents knew what they were doing, legal expert Jennifer Rodgers told The Sun.
Pazienza is facing multiple charges, including manslaughter, for allegedly pushing Barbara Maier Gustern, 87, to the ground in a seemingly random attack in New York City.
After five days in the hospital, Gustern died.
Pazienza went on the run and "made every effort to avoid detection," according to the criminal complaint.
"When police were tipped off that she was hiding out in her parents' Long Island home, her father answered the door, but refused to allow detectives to enter the premises, and claimed that his daughter was not at home," the complaint said.
NEW YORK CITY STORIES
Rogers, a Columbia law professor and CNN legal analyst, said her parents could be liable "if it could be shown that they knew she was wanted by the police and voluntarily assisted her."
";That intent element is important, though," Rogers said.
If they were unaware of what was going on or police can't prove they knew, and she turned herself in shortly after that, "I think it is unlikely that the parents would be charged."
Police visited Pazienza's parents' home on March 21, five days after Gustern died in the hospital, and her father denied them entrance.
The next day - Tuesday, March 22 - she surrendered to the NYPD and was charged with manslaughter and two counts of assault.
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CAN SHE BE CHARGED WITH DESTRUCTION OF EVIDENCE?
Pazienza "made every effort to avoid apprehension" for 12 days, including deleting all her social media accounts and wiping the Internet of her digital fingerprint, according to the criminal complaint.
To be charged with destruction of physical evidence, "prosecutors would need evidence that Pazienza destroyed something that she knew or believed may be used in an official proceeding," Rogers said.
"It seems fairly unlikely that social media posts from after the incident in question would fall into this category, although it will depend on the content of the posts."
ALLEGATIONS
Pazienza allegedly called Barbara a “b***h,” pushed her in a seemingly random attack and "walked briskly away, leaving the victim on the ground, bleeding profusely from her head,"; the criminal complaint said.
She was helped by a Good Samaritan, but she lost consciousness as first responders rendered aid, according to the complaint.
The NYPD said she didn't make any statements when she surrendered, so what provoked the fatal shove is still unknown.
Her lawyer didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.
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