A 26-year old Long Island woman was charged with manslaughter following the tragic death of a Broadway vocal coach.
Lauren Pazienza is accused of violently shoving 87-year-old Barbara Maier Gustern to the ground earlier this month in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. According to cops, the attack was not provoked. Gustern succumbed to head trauma four days later.
A wanted poster was released by police that featured an image of the suspect from surveillance footage. After the image was plastered all over the city and circulated online, Pazienza, an event planner, turned herself into police. Her lawyer was with her.
Pazienza, a Long Island native, went to the Fashion Institute of Technology. She was also engaged to her high school sweetheart. She worked as a communications manager at Madison Avenue’s top-end furniture store.
Gustern was a well-respected voice coach who once worked with Blondie’s Debbie Harry and the cast of the 2019 “Oklahoma!” revival.
A.J. Gustern, her great-grandson, held her hand in her final moments.
“My initial reaction this morning was one of rage. One less person doing that on the street is good,” A.J. said.
Barbara Gustern will be laid to rest on Saturday.