US News
Family of NY woman wants answers to her airport death
By Karyn Chenoweth Oct 1, 2007, 11:01 GMT
REUTERS/Hyungwon Kang
Carol Anne Gotbaum, 45, was arrested Friday at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix after she allegedly became “irate” when gate crews refused to let her board a flight for which she was late, according to US airways officials. She died at the airport.
Gotbaum, 45, of the upper West Side of New York, died less than an hour later, after cops claim she apparently strangled herself while trying to escape from the handcuffs in a holding cell at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
"I'm not a terrorist! I'm a sick mom! I need help!" said the mother of three after she missed the 2:58 p.m. US Airways Express flight to Tucson, said airport workers who witnessed the confrontation Friday to the New York Daily News.
They said one cop put his knee in her back to restrain her while others grabbed her flailing arms.
"I believe she was a little not-there. She kept punching. She kept screaming. She kept kicking," one worker told The News. "She looked really scared, really frightened. I think she was afraid to go to jail."
Gotbaum's husband, Noah, is the son of longtime city labor leader Victor Gotbaum and the stepson of his wife, Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum, a possible candidate for mayor in 2009.
Gotbaum was described as a "wonderful" woman and mother, according to New York City's public advocate, described as a relative to the AP.
"She was a wonderful mother; she was sweet and kind and loving," said public advocate Betsy Gotbaum, the woman's stepmother-in-law. "It's obviously very, very difficult for us; we are dealing with it as best we can. My No. 1 focus is those children and my stepson."
She also pleaded with the press for privacy.
A medical examiner will determine the exact cause of death.
Neither a stun gun nor pepper spray was used on the woman, authorities also said.
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Older Talkback
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Three years ago in Nashville TN, I was returning home to California with my eldest son after flying there via private jet 3 days before to handle the death of my youngest son, killed there in a car accident while vacationing with his father who was hospitalized. I was tagged for extra scutiny having a one way ticket, and having a very beatup looking boy with me, my son who survived. We all were in extreme emotional turmoil. No one cared. The airport security separated us and started giving me a hard time while I told them what had happened. I was surrounded by security and almost ended up handcupped. Airport security do not care what your personal story is. There should be airline advocates to help when someone has extreme emotional stress and needs assistance.To be treated as a criminal instead of a person who has or is suffering something catostrophic would make anyone irate. I know because it happened to me. This woman was not allowed to tell her story. She is a victim and hopefully her death will initiate advocacy for innocent airline travelers.
It would appear that people with some authority, like the airport security, sometimes way overstep their bounds and let their jobs go to their heads - wanting to act like the 'big boys'! Much investigation will certainly go into this particular case considering the well-known, respected people involved - not the usual riff raff in these situations.
Was this woman Hooded ? Did she get to call her lawyer? Do we live in a police state ?
One article said she was running, screaming through the airport. If this is the case, she probably should have been apprehended, but, hopefully, the truth will come out.
Hmmmm, let's see. My hands are cuffed behind my back and I want free. What do I do? I sit down, scoot my cuffed hands over my backside, up to the backs of my knees, then carefully hook them over my feet so that they're now in front of me. What does it have to do with my neck? Sounds like some rent-a-cop got rough and made up a story.
It is certainly looking like a Police State...this is only the beginning folks. What other freedoms are you going to give up for 'security' ?
I hope there is a witness or two that will come forward, that does not work for the airport or are associated with it in anyway. Then perhaps more of the truth will unfold. I cry for her children, for they will never get to hold and kiss their mother again, SoSad
I think that the police had every right to restrain a woman if they thought she was a danger to herself or others. I personally, would not want to be in an airport - nervous enough as it is nowadays - and have a screaming woman around me causing more nerves and distress.
Police brutality at airports is out of control. Especially when the police beat up and or kill young women and mothers. They never released the brain, heart or neck to the coroner that the family hired. It looks like they choked her to death and are covering it up with a fake story. I have never heard of anyone chocking themselves to death while handcuffed in a holding cell.
She should not have been traveling alone, the police are not babysitters and if she had an alcohol problem and there is alcohol, there will be a problem. Give her a hug? Are you serious? You should have been there with her if she had no control over herself, don't blame the airport police; it’s as much if not more the family's fault than anyone else.
I nearly fainted when I read the story of the Gotbaum tragedy. Many years ago, in 1975 or so, betsy Gotbaum's natural daughter came from New York City to Farmington Ct. She divided her time between her natural father, Mother. Hogan,(my neighbor) and her Mom, Betsy. Both families were wonderful and an important part of my childhood and early teen years.
I went to New York with the Gotbaum's on many occassions and was flabergasted by the energy of this couple. If I recall correctly Betsy ran a Meals on Wheels program or was at least involved in it, and everywhere we went even cab drivers would stop to say hello to Mr. Gotbaum. I also had the pleasure of meeting his charming and handsome son Noah. These were people who had a suite at the Laza Hotel during the Democratic Convention for Jimmy Carter and let ys stay with them. I met Jackie Onnaissis and talked to the people running our country. Whoa.
How can such a tragedy happen? IKNOW FIRST HAND HOW IT HAPPENS BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE BEEN ME JUST A FEW YEARS AGO. I am a recovering alcoholic and had a relapse. My husband wanted me to go to rehab. Same story different ending. He wanted me to do it alone. Most people don't realize alcohol is deadly if one is addicted. Police oficers should know this. It is far deadlier to withdraw from alcohol than any other drug. yes, it can kill you, especially in your forties. I was arrested in Miami Fl. I was treated like an animal and laughed at. I like the Gotbaum Mom, have four children, a nice home and a graduate degree from Yale University. It doesn't matter. How they can put a woman in handcuffs that is asking for help without calling a doctor is beyond me, it is also ccriminal neglect. I pray for Noah and the Gotbaum family. I hope one day to be able to contact them when some of the wounds are healed..
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DonaldOct 1st, 2007 - 12:31:58
This sounds very fishy to me. How can anyone choke themselves while handcuffed? 'She was very agitated and irate and angry'. They handcuffed her and took her to the holding room, where she kept screaming, authorities said. So some cop goes back to the cell to shut her up and she winds up dead.
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