$500K Bail For LI Native Accused Of Celeb Coach's Fatal NYC Shove

NEW YORK CITY — A woman charged in Barbara Maier Gustern's death called the renowned vocal coach a "b----" before fatally shoving her and then watched an ambulance cart her away, according to reports.

Lauren Pazienza, 26, is being held on $500,000 bail after a Tuesday court hearing, records show. Prosecutors outlined more details during the proceeding about how they said she shoved Gustern "without provocation," the New York Post reported.

Gustern, 87, was walking from her Chelsea home March 10 when a woman — Pazienza, prosecutors said — pushed her to the ground, where she hit her head and suffered a brain injury.

The attack left Gustern with a fatal head injury and prompted a wave of outrage, including from Gustern's famous friends and clients such as "Bikini Kill" singer Kathleen Hanna. For nearly two weeks, people circulated photographs of a red-haired woman who NYPD officials said carried out the unprovoked attack.

The search ended Tuesday when Pazienza, a Long Island native who lived at a luxury Astoria building with her fiancé, turned herself in to authorities.

Patch tried to contact Pazienza's family, but received no responses. The New York Daily News labeled Pazienza as a "socialite," in part based off of numerous online photos showing her at art events.

But the full scope of Pazienza's online presence is no longer viewable — she appeared to have deactivated social media accounts and her wedding website before her arrest.

A Manhattan court hearing provided new details about what prosecutors accused Pazienza of doing, according to the Post. Pazienza didn't know Gustern, but nonetheless called her a "b----" and shoved her to the ground, prosecutors said, according to the Post.

Minutes later, Pazienza had a "physical altercation" with her fiancé near where the attack took place, prosecutors said, according to the Post. They stayed in the area and watched an ambulance cart Gustern away, the Post reported of prosecutors' account.

Pazienza faces a manslaughter charge that carries a maximum prison term of 25 years.

Gustern, whose students included "Blondie" singer Debbie Harry, will have a funeral Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Church of the Holy Apostles in Chelsea, Broadway World reported.