If Someone Helped, "She Might Still Be With Us Today"

The family of Carol Gotbaum, the New Yorker who died at Phoenix's Sky Harbor Airport on September 28, held a funeral for the mother of three at Congregation Rodeph Sholom yesterday. Her husband Noah, son of labor leader Victor Gotbaum and stepson of Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum, mourned his wife, saying, "Carol, you were an angel, and everyone knew it. My girl was born with the most beautiful smile on her face. It put people at ease, it made others smile, it radiated the warmth of Cape Town.” But he was angry as well, "If the airline or the police authorities had treated Carol with some modicum of dignity and grace or if one single person at that airport had put an arm around her shoulders, sat her down and given her some attention, she might still be with us today."

Gotbaum was upset when she missed a connection that would have taken her to Tucson, where she intended to check into alcohol rehab. She was arrested when she refused to calm down and was found not breathing in her holding cell. The police were not able to save her and believe she strangled herself with her handcuffs and shackles in an attempt to escape.

The Gotbaum family has questioned the airline's and police's tactics in dealing with a woman with mental issues. The police released videos and a report with their actions, while a more detailed portrait of Carol Gotbaum's problems and attempts to deal with them were offered in this past weekend's newspapers. The investigation into her death is still ongoing, but mental-health expert say, upon review of the video, "she appears to be frightened, panicked and possibly experiencing a psychotic episode" and "The outburst may have been caused by alcohol withdrawal, alcohol or drugs, or a sharp mood swing."

Rabbi Robert Levine did acknowledge the question many people have - why was she traveling along. He during the service, "She was fiercely independent and private and believed strongly, as did the rest of the family, that she could do this on her own. She wanted to do this on her own. So let us go forth and end the judgments. Hindsight is wonderfully prescient."

She was originally scheduled to take a direct flight from NY to Tucson, but opted for a later flight with a connection so she could say good-bye to her children. Noah Gotbaum left the funeral with 3-year-old son Tobias on his shoulders and holding the hands of 8-year-old Ella and 6-year-old Nathaniel.

Photograph of Noah Gotbaum and children by Diane Bonadreff/AP

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on October 8, 2007 3:40 PM

Comments [rss]

guest

I believe this happened due to the handcuffs being manufactured in China

guest

I would like a psychiatrist or pyschology expert to comment on the contradiction between Ms. Gotbaum strong instincts for survival and her being suicidal at the same time. She fought for her right to fly, she through down her phone, emptied her purse and lifted her blouse to show she was not a terrorist. She fought the police, she claimed you are hurting me, she tried to tell those arresting her she was of no danger to anyone, she was a pathetic, depressed, sick mom...and yet she killed herself, by strangling herself with her own handcuffs and her own strength...all 105 lbs. How long did it take her to work her handcuffs down under her legs to the front of her torso and then up to her neck to apply enough pressure to choke herself? She wasn't found hanging by the chain,so she didn't hang herself..which would make more sense.

guest

Arizona to undergo martial law training exercise Oct.15-Oct.20.

guest

Orwellspeak...Why don't these people just take their zombie pills. A nation of zombies won't resist.

guest

Awww...look at that sweet little girl. How sad for Noah Gotbaum and his family. This is such a tragedy. Cute kids.

guest

Why don't these people just take their drugs when they are told to?

guest

Why doesn't Arizona just fly the stars and bars and secede from the Union? With all their profitable Meth labs, I'm sure they'll do fine

guest

Apparently Phoenix police are just having a lot of people die while they cuff them. First a man died a few days after Carol Gotbaum, and now this story:

Phoenix police face second death lawsuit

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/wn_report/2007/10/09/2007-10-09_phoenix_police_face_second_death_lawsuit.html

BY ALISON GENDAR

DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Tuesday, October 9th 2007, 4:00 AM

The lawyer who represents the family of a New York woman who died in police custody in Phoenix plans to sue the same police department for the death of a 70-year-old grandmother who died under similar circumstances.

The family of Carol Anne Gotbaum hired Michael Manning of Arizona to investigate the 45-year-old woman's death in Phoenix police custody Sept. 28.

Manning said he has filed a notice of claim in the death of Doris Watson, an elderly woman who died of an apparent heart attack after being arrested March 13.

Watson was cuffed by Phoenix police after she refused to get out of her daughter's car. At the time, she was off her medication for bipolar disorder and depression, the lawyer said.

Manning said a distraught Watson went into cardiac arrest as she was subdued, but police told paramedics Watson was "faking."

The claim is seeking damages of $5.5 million for Watson's family and her estate.

guest

"An Arizona couple told last night how they raced to the airport after getting a call from the frantic husband of Carol Anne Gotbaum.

By the time David and Christine Watson arrived at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport Gotbaum was dead...

'I think we're all wondering why she was flying alone,' David Watson told the Daily News yesterday."

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007/10/06/2007-10-06_frantic_phone_call_from_carol_gotbaums_h.html

guest

I just wanted to agree with #17, it's easy to sit here and judge people, but the police do have a specific legal responsibility here.

ANYTIME ANYONE dies in police custody it should be investigated.Police officers have a huge amount of power over regular citizens and with great power comes great responsibility right?

This really does sound like a terrible and difficult situation, but police officers have dealing with terrible situations for a career.

guest

#33, where did you read that the friend was called only after Gotbaum missed her connection? That changes the story considerably.

guest

The Rabbi said "So let us go forth and end the judgments. Hindsight is wonderfully prescient."

I wonder if this attitude is shared by the Gotbaum's lawyers?

guest

I keep hearing that someone was supposed to meet her at the airport... which makes it seem like the family made arrangements for her travel in advance.

This is incorrect. The friends were only called to meet her at the airport after her husband realized she missed her connecting flight.

The fact is a highly unstable person was sent travelling alone (something which is incredibly stressful even for those of us with our wits about us). Her husband might as well sent her to the DMV with a loaded gun in her pocketbook.

guest

ME initial results..death by asphyxiation. I still don't see how she strangled herself to death.

guest

A very sad woman who died a very sad death. If I was her family I would have equally absurd things to say to deflect the blame and hurt. That said, everything was handled accordingly it seems in the videos and her behavior was her own.

I do not believe alcoholics and drug addicts are some how not responsible for their actions.

guest

#29 She stayed back so she had to repeat the course.

guest

I certainly don't think a grown adult needs to have her hand holded each time she goes to rehab - just how often did she have to go..?

guest

That poor little girl will grow up to be a young lady with low self-esteem and a daily regimen of serotonin-reuptake inhibitors - just the way I likes 'em...

guest

#25 "See yourself in her death. In those last desperate moments. That is the work we need to do together."

She was suicidal. She was probably happier than 99% of the people who die.

guest

Rabbi Robert Levine did acknowledge the question many people have - why was she traveling along. He during the service, "She was fiercely..."

The name "Jen Chung" has become synonymous with sloppy writing and poor editing.