Woman Pleads Guilty To Fatally Shoving 87-Year-Old Broadway Singing Coach

Lauren Pazienza pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to eight years behind bars for the 2022 shoving death of NYC music coach Barbara Maier Gustern.

August 24, 2023

Associated Press

On Aug. 23, 2023, Lauren Pazienza, 28, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the 2022 death of a beloved New York City music coach.

Under the terms of her plea agreement, Pazienza will be sentenced to eight years in prison and five years of supervision after her release, according to CNN.

At around 8:30 p.m. on March 10, 2022, Pazienza approached 87-year-old Barbara Maier Gustern near West 28th Street and 8th Avenue in Manhattan, according to NBC News. She then cursed at Gustern before forcibly shoving her to the pavement. Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Justin McNabney said there was no provocation for the attack.

A cyclist witnessed the attack and stepped in to help Barbara Maier Gustern to her feet. The victim was bleeding badly from the head wound, so she was taken to Bellevue Hospital where she died from her injuries five days later, reported Eyewitness News.

Lauren Pazienza via NYPD Crime Stoppers [left]; Barbara Maier Gustern via Facebook [right]

Ms. Gustern was a longtime vocal coach who had worked with stars like Debbie Harry of Blondie and Taylor Mac. She was known to be very supportive of her students. On the night she was attacked, she had gone out to see a student perform. Another student, Melinda Pope DeRocker, told The New York Times., “She didn’t just change the voice. She changed lives.”

A security camera revealed that Lauren Pazienza left the scene while Gustern lay bleeding, but she remained in the area for more than 20 minutes. She and her fiancé were then caught on camera leaving New York City via Penn Station. She took a train to her parents’ house on Long Island where she went into hiding. She deleted her wedding registry website and deleted her social media accounts. She stopped using her cellphone after leaving it at her aunt’s home.

She managed to evade authorities for nearly two weeks but days after police released photos of Pazienza to the public, she turned herself in and was arrested on Tuesday, March 22.

*This article was originally published on March 23, 2022 and updated on August 24, 2023.

Next Up

Arizona Woman Helps Save Herself During Kidnapping By Passing Note To A Stranger

After being kidnapped by a man disguised as an Uber driver, a woman helped save herself by passing a note to a stranger at an Arizona gas station asking them to call 911.

Kidnapping Victim Helps Orchestrate Her Own Rescue By Holding Up Sign Saying 'Help Me'

A 13-year-old girl was rescued after holding up a sign from the window of Steven Robert Sablan’s car in a Long Beach, California parking lot.

Former Playboy Model Sentenced In The Killing Of Psychiatrist Found Dead In Her Trunk

Kelsey Turner was sentenced to 10 to 25 years in prison for killing 71-year-old Thomas Kirk Burchard, a psychiatrist she previously had a relationship with.

California Man Accused Of Murdering Wife And Her Parents After Torso Found In Dumpster

On Nov. 7, 2023, Samuel Haskell, Jr. reportedly hired four day-laborers to remove heavy trash bags from his home, which allegedly contained human body parts.

Turpin House Of Horrors: Timeline Of How 13 Siblings Suffered Years Of Torture And Abuse

David and Louise Turpin were sentenced to prison after admitting they starved, beat, and chained up their children.

Toddler Who Was Kidnapped By Her Babysitter Reunited With Family Over Five Decades Later

On Aug. 23, 1971, Melissa Highsmith was kidnapped by her babysitter in Fort Worth, Texas. 51 years later, DNA testing helped her family find her.

New Trial Date Set For Accused Murderer Of 14-Year-Old Wendy Jerome

Back in 1984, a 14-year-old was murdered while walking to her friend’s house to deliver a birthday card. Now, after nearly 40 years, her alleged murderer was identified through DNA and faces trial.

5 Things You Need To Know About Susan Powell

In 2009, mother-of-two Susan Powell disappeared without a trace in West Valley City, Utah. Then in 2012, her husband Josh killed himself and their two sons after custody of the children was granted to Susan's parents.

Man Accused Of Murdering Grad Student In L.A. Furniture Store Indicted On New Charges

In January 2022, Shawn Laval Smith allegedly attacked 24-year-old Brianna Kupfer after he entered the business where she was working alone, police say.

How Did The Teen “Bling Ring” Manage To Rob Celebs Of Millions?

Seven LA teens and young adults were accused of robbing multiple celebrity homes in 2008 and 2009.