Woman charged in death of Broadway vocal coach Barbara Maier Gustern

NEW YORK - The NYPD has arrested a woman accused in the death of a noted Broadway vocal coach.

Lauren Pazienza, 26, of Astoria, is charged with manslaughter in connection with the death of Barbara Maier Gustern, 87, who died on Mar. 15 from head injuries related to an unprovoked attack five days earlier.

Prosecutors argued that Pazienza should be held without bail because of steps she allegedly took to avoid arrest. Instead, a judge on Tuesday set cash bail at $500,000 and ordered Pazienza to undergo a psychiatric evaluation. She has not yet posted bail or a bond, according to her lawyer.

Pazienza allegedly approached and pushed Gustern from behind as she walked along West 28th Street and 8th Avenue in the Chelsea section of Manhattan. She is accused of walking away from Gustern as she lay bleeding on the street.

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Prosecutors said Pazienza then abruptly quit her job, erased her social media accounts, deleted her wedding website, and hid her cell phone at her aunt's home.

After cops learned her identity from two people who recognized her from the photos police released, they zeroed in on her parents' home in Port Jefferson on Monday, according to an assistant district attorney. But her father refused to let the police inside. 

Then on Tuesday morning, Pazienza's lawyer — Arthur Aidala — called the NYPD to arrange for his client's surrender.

Aidala told reporters on Tuesday that Pazienza is under "extreme mental stress" and he was disappointed that the judge set bail when so many other criminal defendants are released without having to make bail.

Gustern was described as having a "heart of gold" by her most famous pupil, singer Debbie Harry.

"Barbara Maier Gustern loved her life and gave that same love to all her students. As a vocal coach to thousands over the years, her generosity is legendary and in spite of difficult times in her life she was generous to us all," Harry said. "What a tragedy for the city of New York. We've lost a truly dynamic woman with a heart of gold."

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CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story stated that Pazienza was released; her lawyer says she has not yet made bail as of Wednesday afternoon.