Woman Indicted In NYC Vocal Coach's Shoving Death, Prosecutors Say

New York City NY

21 April, 2022

9:55 AM

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NEW YORK CITY — A grand jury indicted a Long Island woman in the shoving death of famed New York City vocal coach Barbara Maier Gustern, prosecutors announced. The indictment will bring Lauren Pazienza, 26, into a Manhattan courtroom May 10 to face arraignment on a manslaughter charge, prosecutors said. Pazienza turned herself in to authorities after a days-long search for a woman who police said shoved Gustern, 87, along a Chelsea street on March 10. Gustern suffered a head injury and later died. Her death sparked an outpouring of grief in the city's arts community, where she was well-known as the vocal coach for "Blondie" singer Debbie Harry, "Bikini Kill" lead Kathleen Hanna, numerous Broadway shows, among many other connections. The shoving suspect — who authorities said called Gustern a "b-—" in the unprovoked attack — was identified by NYPD officials as a red-haired woman captured in surveillance footage. When Pazienza surrounded to cops on March 22, her red hair covered her face.