Questions Surround Carol Anne Gotbaum's Death

Noah Gotbaum is an imbicile.

He couldn't find anyone to travel with her while she was alive, but now he and anyone else he can find is coming out of the woodwork to assign blame. Maybe she was such a pain in the butt nobody wanted to go with her, maybe he was glad to see her go, but now he sees her corpse as his 'meal ticket'.

Too bad. Darwin was right - thin the herd.

Very sad for her children. Whether she was an alcoholic or not, her kids will surely miss their mom and her husband is now a single dad. Hopefully the family will be able to heal from this tragic event. If she was killed accidentally, I'm sure the police feel horrible about the situation and will have to live with it the rest of their lives. I do believe the police should have called a psychiatrist to help this troubled lady.

Condolensces to her family and friends. I hope she is in a better place than the one she was left in to die.

I wonder why Noah could only afford to live with his brother's family while married to Carol and having a family of his own. Then they moved to a rental? They were being tossed out of the rental in the same month that Carol was sent to rehab?

Where is Noah's responsibility to his family?

And where is his family's responsibility to him?

They can't afford to live in NYC, and yet the moment a family tragedy happens they can turn around and hire expensive lawyers, doctors, and others to proceed with a law suit?

I looked up Noah's company. Reported sales are not that high for a NY investment firm.

Why was Noah gone all week working in Colorado?

Priorities seem to be out of order.

Seems the family has more to account for than they would like uncovered.

I am not from Arizona. I live in New Jersey. I watched the tapes and read the comments.

The bruises on Carol Gotbaum's arms happened when the police were taking her to the cell and she resisted. That's it. That is not manhandling or beating or any of the other silly things that people are accusing the police of doing to her at the airport.

I understand why the Gotbaum family is desperately seeking to blame others for the tragedy. Step-mother-in-law Betsy wants to run for Mayor and needs to keep up the reputation of the family name.

If she really wanted to do what is right then they would admit that they made a mistake by trusting Carol Gotbaum to take this trip alone and should have had a family member, friend, or caretaker with her.

If I did live in NYC there is no way I would want Betsy Gotbaum in charge of anything. Based on her actions in this sad situation, she will do anything in her power to direct attention away from her or her kin's responsibility, and will use all of her power and money to blame others.

Nice job.

How many others do you drive into the ground to make yourself look okay?

It is very easy to scapegoat police. How does any one can expect that she has so many complications?

I feel the responsibility of her death is entirely due to her husband. He made so many statements about how she could be handled better by police.

How can he let a person so fragile go by herself on an Airplane? He obviously didn't care or not aware of her condition. How can we expect the same from Law enforcement?

My first guess as to why she threw such a temper tantrum at the airport and was subsequently arrested is that while flying on the flight from New York to Phoenix, she had a few drinks. How would the airline have known she was on her way to rehab in Tucson. SOMEONE SHOULD HAVE FLOWN WITH HER. We are not talking about a short distance from New York to Tucson. Entering rehab is scary and I am sure she had way too much time on her hands thinking about it all the way from New York.

Six people have died in handcuffs while in custody in Phoenix this year. Five last. This suggests that there is something wrong with their procedures. They deserve scrutiny and bad publicity. As does the airline, US Air, about which there have been many complaints.

There is also an ongoing investigation about widespread illegal steroid use in the Phoenix police dept.

Life is cheap in Bush-Cheney land.

Reading some of the dumb comments people leave makes me really wonder about this country. In a way though it explains the sad state we are in. Seems like so many people always take the side of authority and think no punisment is too severe for making a scene of some kind. I guess such ignorance is reflected in the terrible media we have and the awful administration of bush.

Police brutality at airports is out of control. Especially when the police beat up/kill young women and mothers. This is similar to the police beating of the young woman at Reagan National Airport in DC except she suffered brain damage and is still alive. My thoughts and prayers go out to Carol Ann Gotbaum's family. http://youtube.com/watch?v=XPNmxZwhMag

RehabNurs. Well said. This is a tragedy, but it seems like both the family & the police dropped the ball. I don't know much about rehab, but I notice on the show Intervention, they always have someone accompany the person to rehab. Is that standard practice? Do the facilities advise the family of that?

@102

TSA screeners rececive a huge amount of training. A great deal of them have advanced education, or multiple degrees. In certain places in the country, where there aren't good jobs with benefits, these very (over)educated people jumped on jobs when the TSA screening too effect. Sounds crazy, but it is true. But by the same token, That said there are also tons of petty, inarticulate, lazy people who had some skills that got them the job and through the training (which is a "weeding out" process) and who unfortunately give the TSA a bad reputation. I'm guessing these are the people who are the "janiters" with whom you've "interfaced."

So don't go lumping in TSA screeners with the cops. When TSA people encounter hostile, aggressive or drunk people attempting to enter the airport in the secured zone, they have to make the call to the police to deal with it. TSA screeners do not deal with these people, cops do. TSA and cops are not the same.

A question no one seems to be asking: what was such a special woman, from such a special family, doing on a commercial flight int he first place?

Ok. Here's what I don't get. At THIS point anyway, we DO have video showing erratic and inappropriate public behavior. Yes, she may have been unwell, but that hardly translates into a mandate that everyone, but her, is responsible for her well-being. If she was so unwell as to risk such behavior, contributing factors extend to the decision for independent, unaccompanied travel in the first place (let alone her own culpability for her own disease). So, we DO know that her reaction to whatever was said to her was irrational and justified interventiton. It appears that talking to her didn't help, and restraint/detention was a very reasonable next course.

Now, I'm neither a contortionist or forensic analyst of ANY sort, but as implausible as the whole choking scenario may be, one other piece is missing. MOTIVE. Why on earth would they have purposely choked her to death? There's simply no reason to speculate any foul play in the absence of all information being fully presented.

I mean, Jesus, at what point are people responsible for themselves at ALL anymore? "Screaming" may not necessarily equate to hysteria, as I'm sure any correctional employee could attest. If she was, indeed, intent on behaving in such a manner and either intentionally or carelessly placing her own life at risk, I have a VERY hard time adopting a stance of suspicion by default. (And YES, I happen to be a card carrying ACLU member and support AI as well.)

SOMETIMES, people place themselves on a self-destructive path and the consequences are tragic. AND, like parents who expect society to be responsible to protect their children in lieu of actual parenting themselves, all too often it seems like the MUST be someone ELSE to blame for a third party's stupidity or assinine behavior, no matter how tragic the outcome.

Even despite my inability to imagine the scenario of her death as described, my own moral scorecard of the officers is going to read "clear" unless, and until, there is CLEAR and incontravertibe evidence that someone ELSE should be more responsible than the late Ms. Gotbaum for her own demise. And no, the mere implication of responsibility being thrust upon the police just doesn't cut it.

Gotbaum's alleged stalker comments on this situation

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NoPoliceStateCoalition/message/6197

Check out the video posted at the top of this story showing how a person CAN get handcuffed hands to the front by going over the head: http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/189581.php

It IS physically possible.

Regardless, I've been in the area when people have ranted like this woman did, and as a fellow passenger, I was very happy I didn't have to be on the plane with that person. Yes, that woman paid for her seat, but so did every other person around her. What gives her the right to throw a fit and demand better treatment than anyone else. People who travel often know to plan the extra time. If you don't want to deal with the "hassles" of flying, then drive or take a train... there are options.

My condolences for her family, though - those poor children are now without a mom. I wonder if they're growing up with the same sense of entitlement?

another story of dumb & dangerous cops, trying to compensate their missing intelligence with rude behaviour, protected by their uniform. very sad for this country, for this happens more and more.

Obviously, this woman was having some sort of episode. Was it just bad behavior or was it medically-related? Well, the local authorities should have defaulted to medical until they knew better. I don't have a problem with them restraining her, I saw the video,and she seemed to be out of control...

That being said, many of the folks on the floor for TSA are not...professionals. Many I've interfaced with seem like janitors, have little training, are generally (and I'm stereotyping here folks) ....disappointing representatives of the US Government.

They should have someone observe her, and someone such as EMT sedate her. If she is crazy (in the temporary sense) call in a nurse/EMT and give her some happy juice in the arm and put her into dream land. Let her "choke" on her handcuffs? Many people should be fired for incompetence, and her family will, quote me on this folks, will get some serious coin from Phoenix. Though, I personally think that will not change the system and incompetents who run this system. Privatize it.

As a guest (...because I have too many passwords in my life as it is and I am too lazy to register for anything new)I would like to say that I really don't get all the hatred and the weird religious stuff posted by my fellow guests. What is the point? What is wrong with you people?

The truth is, she/her behaviour did bring the situation on herself....but no one deserves to die because they are a childish person. I suspect the toxology report will tell us what was in her bloodstream that fueled all of this. If she had made the first flight, which was her fault, none of this would have happened. I suspect the cops left her in restraints to keep her calmer and to keep her frm hurting herself - which didn't really work.

Just a very sad situation.

Apparently she needed supervision to get to detox, it's too bad no one accompanied her there.

And I have seen a violent encounter with the police having to drag someone out - and frankly, you never know what they are on, if they will attack someone - so unless you have seen this, don't call brutality or overkill. Restraint is nesc.

Well, people this sounded fishy to me also....

however I have some experiences which you do not.

First, I have been a nurse for over 30 yrs with much of that spent in ICU and Surgical ICU/ Recovery.

Also, I have experience with alcoholics going into withdrawal (as well as other substance abusers), going back to the earliest days in my career.

If this woman was, as her family said, enroute to a rehab facility for her alcohol abuse, then she was most likely in withdrawal and in severe medical crisis. The biggest mistake the police made was that they did not call 911 for medical assessment of her. It's easy to 'assume' that people running around acting crazy and threatening are crazy.

Wouldn't you?

However when something like this happens they need a medical opinion or counselor in there.

The woman was likely too agitated to explain exactly what she needed.

Also, police probably have a policy of calling for medical assistance only if the person asks for it.

In any case, anyone can died of alcohol withdrawal ALONE. She also might have died of the effects of withdrawal combined with physical trauma 1)her own physical violence and probable injury to self in the cell due to her agitation and desperation, 2)possible injury due to rough handling.

I repeat, she could have died even without ANY interference from anyone, but her outburst (which she had no control over) was an indirect cause, especially since she was in a place where outbursts and crazy behavior are dangerous.

The big tragedy here is, this could have been prevented two ways:

1) Family sending people (adults, adolescents) to detox need to send an escort to be sure they are OK! Why did they or her doctor not realize she could go into withdrawals on the long trip, esp considering flight delays?

2) Police esp transportation people need to ask, "Why is this person who looks sane, behaving in a crazy way - could it be a medical problem?"

Even if it's not policy they could have asked for a medical opinion, and had her taken to hospital.

So sorry this happened, esp when she was seeking help. I wish that a family member had flown with her and this could have been prevented.

I am still kind of new here and did not know about the hide guest tool. This is way better now.

Thanks Monster Mash for enlightening me. You're the best. ; >

Monster Mush shouldn't you be worrying about other things? If you have said it before and nothing has changed then you have to assume that your idea SUCKS.

I've said this before. I don't know why Gothamist doesn't have the confidence to just do away with guest comments. It doesn't need the traffic from these people and apparently it's only alienating its base of posters who have actually bothered to register. The hide guest comment tool is only so effective because half of the registered posters are talking about guest comments, so the whole discussion is full of non-sequitors when it's turned on. Just make people register. It's not that hard and it makes people accountable for their moronic views.

you can block an IP then unhappy guest

uses Torpark firefox plug in to anonymize and create new ip each time...

block that genius!

explainer: Answers to your questions about the news.

Strangled by Handcuffs?

Carol Gotbaum, and the dangers of contortionism.

By Michelle Tsai

Posted Monday, Oct. 1, 2007, at 6:19 PM ET

http://www.slate.com/id/2175054/nav/fix/

According to escape artists, here's how you slip handcuffs from behind over your head (don't try this at home): First, push the left arm as far to the right as possible, or dislocate the shoulder altogether. Rotate the right wrist clockwise within the handcuff until the inside of the wrist faces outward, then bring up the right wrist as if in a bicep curl; the left arm will be tugged upward at the same time. Next, the right arm moves up, scraping up the shoulder blade, until both hands are basically behind the neck and the right elbow points up above your head. Then, tucking your chin into the chest, bring the crook of your right arm over your head. To finish the maneuver, pop the handcuffs around the left forearm, dislocate the left shoulder (if you haven't already), and bring the left arm down in front. (Here's a slow-motion video of the whole thing.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYjNUoZgXTQ

(this guest is an anti-dumb-white-bitch guest)

I can just see sloppy foaming at the mouth, and virgirl making back handed comments, and mary grease hunting down those free speakers. Thank goodness they don't have to post a picture with their rants.

mary grease give it a break.

As I said Slappy, Cowards hiding behind "Guest".

Don't sweat it. And if they need help to block his IP, I do have the know how!! ; >

Slappy;

Don't bother trying to portray this kid as a threat of some kind. It only makes his day. No one will pay attention to him in real life and it drives him crazy, so he comes here to try to get a rise out of people. Don't confuse this kind of chickenshit anonymous commenting with actual, dangerous racism. That kind stands out in the street and lets everyone get a good look at them. This kind spews garbage in a basement, and then slinks out of the house with a shit-eating grin. Why do you think he says this shit? Because he's scared to death of everyone.

yep, there's only one guy who hates Jews.

Yes, there is only ONE anti-semitic jerk here - afterall, the Jews are such an unselfish loveable lot...

This antisemite jerk comments on every post he thinks has something to do with jews or being jewish. He is also probably the main racist here posting dumb comments about blacks and latinos. I'm sick of it. I am taking Gothamist off my blog list if something isn't done about it. Turning off guest posts is not the answer because many guests have intelligent things to say. Why doesn't Gothamist block this guy? If you don't have the inhouse tech knowhow to do it. Get in touch with me and I will do everything I can to help you figure it out. There is a HUGE difference between free speeck tolerance and ignoring fascist racist antisemitic crap. Just letting it be facilitates it. One can, at the very least, speak up in protest. And so I do.

Can someone at Gothamist please find out who this antisemitic jerk is by tracing his IP and put a block on it? It is almost certainly one person pretending to be multiple "guests". I am for free speech, but Gothamist does not HAVE to be the conduit for this nut. Its a choice to give him your platform to rant. I find him extremely offensive, and I also believe that tolerating this hateful stupidity is as offensive. That's why I, for one, am speaking out against this jerk who revels in using these comment posts as a personal soapbox for ideas which, in the end, are totally irrelevant to the post. What's the difference if she's jewish or not.

Jews are artists, scientists, financiers...and neo-con thinkers - however, they are NOT fighters. Therefore, I say we should allow Iran to obliterate the "country" of Israel asap as the first step in solving our Middle Eastern ills...

#79 No way the holocaust could have occurred. Who is stupid enough to allow six million of it's own people to perish?

A lot of losers posting comments on gothamist. . .

Why was she late? She was probably having a few pops at the airport lounge to settle her nerves before the flight.

Kind of reminds me of the old Dean Martin Foster Brookes routine on Youtube.

I am so sorry I am a guest because I am so offended by the guest...she was a person....a mother. I am in the million mile club on planes and have seen alot but people don't kill themselves in 15 minutes. I don't like it.

And for all of the perfect people out there

It must be so nice to be you....get real and don't even tell that what happened was ....well ended up as it did.

I don't know what to say except she is dead. how is that possible? I read all the reports, the e-mails. I guess she might have had issues....but she it gone. I thinking something needs to be reviewed

God bless her and her family

First my ID is JRPATAK

I got a ticket at PHX and it was very over the top.

I dropped off my wife and daughter and I thought I was going to be takin in for makin a right turn across two lanes. I am a big supporter of the police but I do not see how hands cuffed behind can make it up over the neck. If she got the cuffs under her legs and put them to her neck she would pass out first not die...............

#44 Interesting point - how DID all those jews manage to allow themselves to be gassed and shot?? I suppose there was really no fiduciary advantage to resist...?

Great, her kids will now remember their mom as a byitch who managed to strangle herself...lol. Let's not forget that she brought all this upon herself.

This is total BS.

First, they claimed that her hands were around her neck with cuffs on. Try it. Impossible. Under the ass yes, around the neck? NO.

Then we find out that she was shackled to a bench AND handcuffed.

Then we find out that her Mom-in-Law is the next candidate for Mayor of NY.

Someone took her out.

She sassed off, some cop got pissed, some one physically or sexually abused her... she threatened to have their jobs and when it was realized who she was.

Someone killed her to protect himself.

Goodbye.

She 'strangled' herself.

Give me a break.

You know it's time to stop reading the comments when the holocaust deniers show up.

First she was 120 pounds, then she was 110 pounds and now on WNBC site she was 105 pounds. Sounds like a great weight loss program.

The Staten Island Ninja did it.

I think she choked on her own vomit.

http://www.flicklife.com/47094f571e40efead390/How_to_get_out_of_hand_cuffs.html

She should have been shot on the spot.

I just want to know how the fuck do you strangle yourself with handcuffs?

Getting hand cuffs from the back to front, you work them past your butt, then over your legs... nowhere your neck.

Plus there is nowhere enough chain between the cuffs to strangle yourself.

How did she strangle herself with the cuffs?

This does not add up and something weird is going on.

These incompetetent "cops" are covering something up.

you're wrong, you're suppose to bend it 180 degrees south towards the waxing moon with a black cat watching you.

what kind of witchcraft are you proposing there?

Mary Grace (any relation to Nancy Grace, probably) I think that #53 was saying was that his/her privacy is from people like you.

oh mary grease

would you please keep your paranoia in check

HOW TO GET HANDCUFFS OFF

First of all you need to be DRUNK

Second, step through your hands to get your hands in front

Next, and this is the tricky part, lift your arms straight up and put your arms behind your head to get a bobby pin from your hair (paper clips work too) and be careful you do not to get any clothing caught in between your arms and your neck. After you get it out from your concealed place, you bend it 90 degrees so the part with the jagged end is horizontal while holding the other end vertically. Insert the jagged end into where the arm locks and when you pull it out put pressure on the arm and then it should come out.

roh rooh, independent pathologist?

does not sound good for the people trying to cover this up.

#62

I would like to see that myself. Under the butt yes, but the other way I don't think is possible. I tried myself and nothing happening over the head method. I can't figure it out either.

#53 Guest

Privacy, I think not. They have your ISP even without your name. They can track you down if they really want too. It really is not that hard. They know how long you are on their site, what pages you looked at and how long for each page, what posts you left, etc. Privacy? What privacy? I guess you never had a website before. You are far from anonymous.

How could this woman have choked herself. I put handcuffs on behind by back. I would have to be double jointed or I would have to break my own arms to get the cuffs over my head and anywhere near my neck. I personally would have tried to go under my legs to get the cuffs to the front, that just takes flexibility. I feel sorry for the woman and her children. HOW THE HELL DO YOU CHOKE YOURSELF WITH HANDCUFFS? I need a picture drawn to understand how she could have done it.

Wow. Some of you folks are really redefining the term "guest" here.

HHAHHAHHAHA!!

WHOOPS! DRUNK BITCH!

POOR WHITE REHAB REJECTOID!

DRUNK! LOSER!

SHAME ON YOU!

bye bye bye !!!

see ya, no longer need your alkie babblings disturbing the peace and comfort of everyone around you!

im sure your family is secretly happy that your gone, you are a nuisance and embarrasment!

I'm with ya Tim N. I'm just having a hard time picturing how she could have choked herself whith the cuffs. Also wonder if there was a surveillance camera in the holding cell?

There was probably a television present. And we all know what happens to females named Carol Anne when there's a TV in the room...

Don't tase her, bro!

A LOUD DRUNK.

I am sure the family is glad to be done with her and her childish outbursts.

Ah, so she was a drunk.

good riddance! self entitled new yorker got what she deserved!

this is an anti-white-asshole comment.

not an antisemetic comment!

try explaining to the kids why mommy is dead!

mommy is dead because she thought she could act like a selfish bitch in an airport!

oh Mary Grace you are so above everything.

What gives you the right to make fun of small minded children let alone children? Leave the kids out of this.

People aren't hiding behind anything. It is a matter of internet privacy!!!

#47 don't stop reading. It is better to know how other people think so that you are aware of the idiots around you. It is all part of being in a community. Don't give up hope on humanity.

Only 10% are the asshole haters and they hide behind the Guest post name because of shame. They know what they think and say is not honorable. I promise. The rest of us are just understated and under represented or just don’t waste our time getting into a pissing match with these small minded children!!

What could make someone think that this is a case of police misconduct?

How about their story (she tried to get out of her own handcuffs? When cuffed behind her back?) really, really stinks?

Police are people. When they're in the right, they don't lie. When they're not... this is the beginning of this story, not the end.

That lone antisemite racist is here posting as a guest 4 or 5 times. Just sayin.

shreksfiona you are so clueless you thought this whole thing took place in Tucson. (see your post at #27)

And as far as affording you ... are you a prostitute?

quest, You must have grown up with a very critical and unloving environment. Didnt you ever have anyone who taught you about honesty with caring and not just how to build yourself up by putting other people down over a simple one-word mispoken.

Obviously you cant see the big picture in this situation or you would had a more intelligent reply than to just critize one word in a multi-line post.

You are a sad little person who should consider professional help.

P.S. You couldnt afford me if I ever thought about your case. Maybe meds would help you.

I immediately regret reading these comments. I might even stop reading gothamist altogether and give myself the illusion of having faith in humanity again.

The so-called "holocaust" was designed and perpetuated by jews against other jews. The Germans had a hands-off policy regarding the jews.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judenrat

Much like most of the slaves were sold by other africans.

#39 - throws the bagel card

You know if the jews stopped wearing the beanies and BLENDED in with the rest of America instead of making themselves "the chosen" everyone would get along.

The police should have taken her to the entrance of the Airport and dropped her off, put her on a NO FLY list for the Phoenix airport and made her find other travel arrangements home. Perhaps a long Greyhound bus ride would have cooled her off by time she made it back.

#39 6m? Get real, the "Holocaust" is pure propaganda! Who is stupid enough to allow themselves to be "exterminated" like that....?

1) Why the hell would you be placed in a holding cell for getting angry? Is it a crime to get angry or to yell at Airport Security?

2) Why was she still handcuffed AFTER she was placed in the cell?

Frankly, this stinks. It sounds like a bunch a goons in uniforms who decided that they WERE the law.

#31, quit trying to pull out the bagel card and cry anti-semitism all the time.

There is no freaking anti-semitism in America. When all the banking executives, the media executives, and the neo-con elite are all Jews, how the hell is that anti-semitism?

And I know they are jews by their names and noses. The names end in -itz or -berg, they jews. If they sport a Sarah Silverman nose, they are jews. Sarah Silverman is hot in a porn star kind of way.

reading the comments above is why I don't help anyone from NY. I also give out wrong directions, hoping they'll end up under the Bruckner or one of the bridges going into the South Bronx.

and, if I find something, me keeping it, I will never, NEVER return the item no matter how much intrinsic value it has.

oh, I also like to put my loogies and snot on subway handrails. sometimes tinged with blood because I raked my nostrils good.

thank you very much, NY.

Her side of the story:

"I was late and missed my flight, because "(place excuse here)" then when customer service refused to call back the 747 with 200 other people whose travel plans I have absolutely no care for in the world, I knew that I wasn't going to have it MY way, and the airline was going to treat me just like everyone else, why I had no recourse, but to scream and demand that the airline would do what I wanted, never mind the poor people behind me in line wanting to get their personal airline issues resolved, for all I cared they could have stood there till hell froze over while I screamed pointlessly. Then the really mean antisemitic police arrived. And had the GALL to ask me to quit annoying the several thousand people around me, who are just peons anyways, and it doesn't matter that they are being subject to my childlike behavior. So I then told the police I wouldn't calm down and there was nothing they could to ME. The policeman being ill-informed as to WHO I AM then placed me in handcuffs, unbelievable!!. When we got to their office, I refused to calm down because, of course, being better than anyone else, this situation was intolerable for me!! As soon as they closed the door I tried getting their stupid handcuffs off of me. After all, they had no right to put these things on me in the first place. I wanted to show them that I didn't have to calm down if I didn't want to. Wouldn't you know it, not being an trained escape artist, I didn't know what the hell I was doing and ended up choking myself to death. And all we had to do to prevent this was have things my way at any point in the process. These people are unbeleiveable!!"

6,000,001 dead! NEVER FORGET!!

1. She was late -- her fault.

2. She argued with airport staff as if she was entitled to special treatment -- that attitude gets you nowhere. Once, when I checked in late, I was told I would have to take the next flight. Rather than argue, I profusely apologized and nicely asked the attendant if there was anything she could do to help me out. She got me on the plane, purely out of goodwill. I doubt she would have done so if I was demanding or rude.

3. She became irate with airport security -- a reasonable person knows, or ought to know, that this just makes things worse for you.

4. She tried to get out of her handcuffs -- no one else should be held liable for such an unwise decision.

I have been witness to a 45 year old entitled brat tantrum where the womanchild was so worked up she was spitting while screaming and accusing the Duane Reade employee of being antisemitic. This type of behavior is totally unacceptable.

uppity bitch was probably high on coke & drunk

the truth will come out!!

lesson learned, yoga class does not equal magical ability to escape handcuffs!

they should have tasered her ass 10 times to teach her a lesson!

what's with the anti-semitism? her religious background is irrelevant here. i can't understand all this needless hate.

I was there. she was screaming "I am an important New Yorker! Who are you people to stop ME?"

My rule is never give up a subway seat for a pregnant jewess or one with kids in tow. I also never hold the door for those with strollers - but hey, that's just me! LOL

The real story will come out.

It's good to see that anti-semitism is alive and well in this city - and I don't mean this sarcastically.

#27 I would have hoped you learn the difference between Phoenix and Tucson (120 MILES!) in school.

I guess shreksfiona was too lazy to READ the story completely

Wow, when you turn the guest comments off, it's like activating an anti-dipshit ray.

Leave it to the Jews to make a hate crime out of this. As far as feeling sorry for the family, I do, they had to deal with her behavior everyday. Can you imagine?

As an old psych nurse I find it intreging that this woman who was obviously destressed and even verbalized that, "I sick" was not immediately assessed by some kind of medical control; ie airport EMS.

Anyone who has worked security for any kind of time knows that you NEVER leave a hysterical person in ANY form of physical or chemical restraint unattended.(Constant visual observation is most often required.)

What if this woman had a seizure or a heart attack? The fact that the prelimary assessment is that she suffocated/strangled herself on the mental handcuffs tells me that she should have NEVER be left alone in that holding cell.

Hope the City of Tucson has a good legal team because this has MAJOR liability written all over it. Someone should lose their job over this one.

Just Sharing information.....

Thank you, Phoenix PD.

I'm so sick of these entitled, upper west side jewesses who throw hissy fits whenever they can't get their way.

Another Christ Killer sent to hell.

Gee, maybe it's not a good idea to have a bunch of frustrated power-tripping thugs in a customer service role in a place like an airport where customers are routinely f-ed over. If she'd been a p-o'd customer at Home Depot whe might have been thrown out or calmed down by someone who doesn't use force as a first resort but in an airport with the new fascism in effect, she ended up dead. Sick times. Sick culture.

Now, I've read everything,

The Battle of the Bad Cops. who knew?

Number 20, nail on the head. Talk about schadenfreude. I hope the family never happens upon this post.

#18 - I get your point, and I'm with you on not throwing tantrums.

But insofar as civilized people don't throw tantrums, is it fair to suggest that civilized people would also not refer to this woman as a "j cunt"? (as #17 did)

I think it's also fair to suggest that civilized people take the death of a 120 pound mother of three in police custody as seriously as they take civilized behavior in the airport.

No?

I'm wondering why someone this small person necessitated restraint. I think every nurse has dealt with far more dangerous, and far larger people, without resorting to restraints. Why were the cops so freaked out here? Or are they simply not trained to show any self-discipline themselves?

This is Arizona for ya, a knee to the back.

I bet it took a dozen tough cops to bring her down while yelling, RELAX! RELAX!

At least they didn't put 41 bullets in her like the NYPD. Clean up your own house before you put down other places.

#7 - thanks for identifying in your second sentence, just what it is that people are reacting to, here.

Another uppity bee-yatch, and the guys are loving the slapdown, even if it means the death of three kids' moms.

Man, people must have it real bad these days to react this way to a woman's death...

I'm disgusted not by Gotbaum's freakout, or whatever her psych profile was, but by the readiness of the posters here to cheer on a death.