The Maricopa County medical examiner found that the death of a New Yorker in police custody at the Phoenix airport was an accident. Carol Gotbaum, who was flying from NYC to Tucson with a stopover in Phoenix, died of "asphyxia by hanging" on September 28. Gotbaum, stepdaughter-in-law of Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum, had been traveling alone to check into alcohol rehabilitation. When she missed her connection to Tucson, she became upset and disruptive, and...
Carol Gotbaum Autopsy Reveals Alcohol, Drug Use
Gotbaum's Family Grieves As Debate Over Her Death Continues
The Daily News and NY Times both look at the life of Carol Anne Gotbaum, the New Yorker who died while in police custody at Phoenix's Sky Harbor airport over a week ago. She is portrayed as a vibrant woman and loving mother to three children who had become depressed in recent years.
Phoenix Police Release Video of Gotbaum's Arrest
Police Officers Andrew Woyna, Duane Rigg and Dick Richards approached Gotbaum and asked her to calm down, the video shows. When she continued to yell, one of the officers moved to arrest her...more ›
Gotbaum Family Lawyer, Phoenix Authorities Face Off
The lawyer for the family of Carol Anne Gotbaum, the New York resident who died while in police custody at the Phoenix airport last Friday, continued to blast the Maricopa County medical examiner's office as well as question police tactics. Gotbaum, who was traveling to Tucson for alcohol rehabilitation, had become agitated when she missed the flight. Since they were unable to calm her, police arrested her and left her handcuffed to a bench in a holding cell. She died during, apparently from strangling herself on her shackles, perhaps in an attempt to get out. Lawyer Michael Manning (pictured) said the Gotbaum family "has no quarrel whatsoever with police intervening. It's the way they intervened. You don't tackle, shackle and cuff (without first talking to her)."
Questions Surround Carol Anne Gotbaum's Death
The family of Manhattan resident who died while in police custody at Phoenix's Sky Harbor International Friday night is awaiting more details about her death. US Airways and airport police say that Carol Anne Gotbaum, who was married to the stepson of NYC Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum, had been acting irately and would not calm down, so she was handcuffed and left in an airport holding cell.

