Woman Arrested In Vocal Coach's Shoving Death: NYPD

New York City NY

22 March, 2022

12:17 PM

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NEW YORK CITY — A hunt for a woman who authorities said fatally shoved a famed New York City vocal coach is over. Lauren Pazienza, 26, left the NYPD's 10th Precinct in handcuffs Tuesday, her red hair covering her face, after cops said they arrested her on a manslaughter charge, video shows. Pazienza, who hails from Port Jefferson, faces accusations that she shoved Barbara Maier Gustern, 87, from behind on March 10 along a Chelsea street. Gustern, who was renowned in the city's arts community, suffered a head injury and later died. The incident — and subsequent images of a red-haired woman who police said was behind the unprovoked attack — prompted a chorus of online calls to find her attacker. "This person murdered my beloved friend and voice teacher Barbara Maier Gustern," tweeted Kathleen Hanna, the lead singer of riot grrrl punk group Bikini Kill. "She is most likely in hiding but someone probably knows where she is." Pazienza ended that search when she turned herself in to the NYPD, the New York Post reported. Before then, it appears she deactivated several social media sites. One such deactivated page, her LinkedIn, listed Pazienza as a communication and events coordinator for a furniture store. The Post reported that Pazienza, though she had a Long Island address, actually lived in an Astoria building with her fiancé. Pazienza's fiancé and parents didn't return Patch's calls for comment.