Natavia Lowery, 26, the assistant of real estate agent Linda Stein, was arrested on November 9, 2007

A Manhattan personal assistant has told investigators that she bludgeoned her boss, the well-connected real estate agent Linda Stein, in the woman’s opulent Fifth Avenue apartment because Ms. Stein swore at her, waved a stick at her and blew marijuana smoke into her face, the police said today.

The assistant, Natavia Lowery, 26, of Brooklyn, was arrested this morning. At an afternoon news conference, Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly said Ms. Lowery had told the police that she struck Ms. Stein six or seven times on Oct. 30 with a four-pound exercise stick.

Mr. Kelly said that in Ms. Lowery’s account, Ms. Stein had used “profanity and derogatory language” and refused to stop blowing smoke at her even though the smoke was making her sick. Ms. Lowery had worked for Ms. Stein for about four months, but said Ms. Stein had not verbally abused her until the day of the killing.

Ms. Stein, 62, a real estate broker at Prudential Douglas Elliman, had a varied and storied career. Born in the Bronx, the daughter of a Jewish caterer, she was a pioneer on the punk-rock scene and became a manager for the Ramones. Later, she turned to real estate, working with celebrity clients like Madonna and Billy Joel.

The singer Elton John is preparing a memorial concert in Ms. Stein’s memory.

Citing friends of Ms. Stein, The Daily News reported that the real estate broker might have met Ms. Lowery when the younger woman worked as a secretary at the Rogers & Cowan public relations agency in Manhattan.

The News, citing unidentified sources, reported that Ms. Lowery had been arrested in December on misdemeanor charges of identity theft and petty larceny. She was accused of using a friend’s name to open up a $300 T-Mobile account and a $300 Target account and that Ms. Stein did not know about the arrest.

Ms. Lowery had been accused of stealing a high school friend’s identity and using it to open accounts at Target and T-Mobile and to make additional purchases in Virginia. The charges against Ms. Lowery were eventually dropped and the case was sealed.

On Linda Stein’s Prudential Douglas Elliman real estate web site posted following message.

We are filled with sadness that Linda Stein, our colleague for over 20 years, our friend, and an icon in the industry, passed away in the early morning of October 31. She was a bright light who quickly rose to fame once she entered the real estate business and became known as the “Realtor to the Stars”. Linda loved the challenge of working in the competitive housing industry. Described as feisty, talented, charming, and relentless, she used her many skills and talents to forge a place in this business like no other. And she made a difference, not only to her customers but to everyone who worked with her. More than anything though, Linda was full of life - and to those who had the pleasure of knowing her personally, she was much loved for her wit and humor. We will miss her terribly and our thoughts are with her family at this very sad time.

Linda Stein’s ex-husband Seymour Stein is credited with discovering Madonna, who would become one of Stein’s first clients.