Carol Gotbaum: Update

New update: Apparently she was enroute to a rehab at the time of the incident. Sad story all around.

For better or worse, I suspect the story of Carol Gotbaum, who died in custody at a Phoenix airport, will be one of those stories where there's more to the story than we first heard. That she died from strangulation due to her having been in handcuffs and trying to work her way out of them was only a theory.

Via first link above, Ms. Gotbaum appears to have been in a somewhat animated state of mind while claiming she was sick. An autopsy will be done.

The daughter-in-law of one of New York's top officials screamed, "I'm not a terrorist!" and fought with security officials in the Phoenix airport before being wrestled to the ground and handcuffed, witnesses told the Daily News yesterday.

Carol Anne Gotbaum, 45, of the upper West Side, 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!" yelled 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.

More: Also Gotbaum, previously divorced and originally from South Africa is the daughter of a South African Naval diving school Commander. Gotbaum and husband Noah appear as contributors on a site for Military Kids.

Police say they checked on her every 15 minutes; she had been screaming the entire time, but at one point, police realized she was quiet and found that she was not breathing. She had been handcuffed behind her back but when Gotbaum was found, her hands were front of her and the handcuffs were up by her neck, leading police to believe she was trying to get out of the handcuffs. Sergeant Andy Hill had said, "It appeared as though Ms. Gotbaum had possibly tried to manipulate the handcuffs from behind her to the front, got tangled up in the process, and they ended up around her neck area."

Also see here:

The daughter of a retired commander of the South African Navy Diving School, Carol Anne Gotbaum had a master's of business administration degree from a prestigious Johannesburg university and worked for a time as a senior buyer for a British department store.

Noah Gotbaum is the son of Betsy's husband, Victor Gotbaum, and his former wife, Dr. Sarah Gotbaum. Victor Gotbaum is a retired labor leader who served for 22 years as president of AFSCME District Council 37, New York's largest public employee union.

Comments

[Trish Dubois]

Pig Butcher is one angry person. My final comment, Noah Gotbaum killed his wife, based on info from todays N.Y. Times.
Carol Stiger was a well educated, successful buyer for the House of Frasier in London. After she married Noah she gave up her career, converted to the Jewish religion and moved across the Atlantic to New York (She was from South Africa). In New York they lived in his brothers apartment until they were thrown out and then a rented home. At this time Noah was working in DENVER leaving Carol alone with the children.
Lets do the math girls, a 45 year old woman with children 7, 5, and 3! This poor woman was not only far away from her home, but had spent the last 8 years with morning sickness, carrying a child, in labor, breast feeding with no time off. Who's great idea was this? What of the future? Menopause before the oldest hits high school and being 65 when the youngest graduates college. I would be depressed too.
And where was wonderful Noah and the Gotbaums when this woman was falling apart alone in the airport? Probably doing "business". Noah's first call came an hour after she was dead!!! Now they have a lawyer, a pathologist, a private detective and a public relations guy trying to blame the police. Bunch of bastards!!! I bet Noah is remarried within a year, some other poor soul to tend to his and the Gotbaums desire and help clean up this mess.

[rem]

Gee, Trish, it seems that it is you who is the angry person.

One cannot draw any conclusions about this tragedy on the basis that "she was rich, pretty and pampered" and "from a part of society that most of us can not even imagine". Do you really mean to suggest that if a poor person, who had led a hard life, were turned away from his or her flight at the gate, it is inconceivable that they might get a little frustrated and throw a fit? And by the way: can "most of us" imagine what it's like to be poor? None of this makes any difference at all in this case. As far as the media being interested because "she was rich, pretty and pampered", this story was in the news long before anyone knew the victim's background -- people dying in police custody in airports is still, thankfully, a rare occurrence.

And Leilani: good for you that you travel so much! But here's the thing: it was YOU, not Carol, who played the race card -- it was YOU, not Carol, who made the association between terrorists and people of Arab descent. Nice job! As far as your keen desire not to have to be around people who act out in airports (despite the airlines' stunning tendency, as widely reported, to take off and leave late, to overbook, and to lose luggage), who's being entitled now? One might want to avoid drunks and profanity at baseball and football games, too, but it seems to be the price of a free society. You want guarantees, take a private plane; but in any event you might consider trying hard to confront your own prejudices and not pass judgment on people and events that don't concern you and about which you know nothing.

[Deborah B]

I have watched the video of Carol in the airport and I see people walking around her and looking. Why did'nt anybody stop and offer her help? They could have offered help, called 911 for paramedics. I think everyone who witness this in that airport holds some responsibility for her death. We have become a very cold and cruel country

[Deborah B]

I have watched the video of Carol in the airport and I see people walking around her and looking. Why did'nt anybody stop and offer her help? They could have offered help, called 911 for paramedics. I think everyone who witness this in that airport holds some responsibility for her death. We have become a very cold and cruel country

[Deborah B]

I have watched the video of Carol in the airport and I see people walking around her and looking. Why did'nt anybody stop and offer her help? They could have offered help, called 911 for paramedics. I think everyone who witness this in that airport holds some responsibility for her death. We have become a very cold and cruel country

[Deborah B]

I have watched the video of Carol in the airport and I see people walking around her and looking. Why did'nt anybody stop and offer her help? They could have offered help, called 911 for paramedics. I think everyone who witness this in that airport holds some responsibility for her death. We have become a very cold and cruel country

[Trish Dubois]

Dear Rem, thank you for your response. We are going to disagree, but that is probably good. Get a view from both sides.
First of all I live in Albany New York and the ONLY reason this was on the local news was because "she was the daughter of Betsy Gotbaum". Had it been Trish Dubois I think only my wife would have known. I also think it is interesting that the papers were very quick to point out she was the "step-daughter-in law of Betsy Gotbaum".
And yes, being "rich, pretty and pampered" does make a difference. You have access to services that most of us do not. Carol spent time at St. Lukes-Roosevelt in New York and a week at Fours Winds psychiatric hospital just up the road from me in Saratoga Springs. That cost $$$$$$. The family admits she tried to commit suicide at least once. She was heading to the Cottenwood de Tucson clinic that charges $42,000 and month, something I am sure you can afford.
SO WHY WAS THIS POOR WOMAN ALONE AT THE AIRPORT IN PHOENIX, and WHY WAS IT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE POLICE TO TAKE CAFE OF HER???
As a woman, yes I am angry. Noah Gotbaum and even Besty Gotbaum should have been at the side of the mother of their children/grand children, but no, they left her alone!! Because they were too busy?????

[Trish Dubois]

Going to ad a little spice to the story. Something I know about from personal experience. Was Carol Stiger left to die because "she was not really a Jew?".
Tough question, but in reality, cultural and religious beliefs are very strong.

[lara taylor]

What concerns me most is that we are all forgetting that this woman was mentally ill.
She should in no way have been allowed by her family to travel alone with the history of the behaviour she exibited. There have been enough horror stories of what has happened to people with mental illness and airport security in this post 9/11 era we live in, and it is no surprise to hear that the police have once again caused the death of a person who is not stable enough to travel alone.
The family bears some responsablity for this tradgedy, someone could have easily taken a day off from thier routine to fly with her to her destination.
I have relatives who suffer from depression and panic disorder, and I would not let them get on a plane alone anymore for fear that if they even showed the slightest bit of agitation or anxiety they would find themselves arrested or worse.
This is an issue for the advocates for the mentally ill to bring to the forefront, and we need to see that proper measures are in place for those people who are still marginalized by society for illnesses that are misunderstood by law enforcement agencies in general, and especially for those that need to travel the airways.

[Trish Dubois]

My first brush with racial/cultural bias came while I was dating a guy from Cornell who was from a very strong Sicilian family. If the father was absent the oldest brother sat at the head of the table, the women cooked, served and cleaned up. At Christmas there were the 'seven fishes' served in the basement kitchen with all the relatives drinking and playing cards. They were nice times, but I was looked at as a "waste of time". Why this blue eyed blond? You need a good Sicilian girl to be a good mother for your Sicilian children. We were not serious, so I laughed it off.
After College I was not so lucky, I fell madly in love with a Jewish man from a very large, strong Jewish family. After months of joy, my world came crashing down. It was over because I was not Jewish and nothing I could do would make me Jewish in the families eyes. No mater what I did I would never be good enough and I certainly could not give him Jewish babies. I was crushed emotionally for months, a feeling of hopelessness filled me. But I am glad I did not try to fight the battle with them.
Carol Stiger was a well educated professional who grew up in Cape Town when she met Noah Gotbaum in London, and from what I have read in the New York Times she gave her soul to him. She converted to Judaism and agreed to raise all her children as Jews. According to Noah's mother "She converted for Noah. She wanted to please him." THIS WAS A VERY LOVING ACT! Turning your back on your own 33 years of family, religion and culture. Not like agreeing to being a Yankee fan instead of a Red Sox fan. She gave up her career and moved to New York for Noah and did he buy her a home? No!!! Living in the bother in laws place and then a rented Brownstone. No place to call home. And was Noah home? No!! He was flying to Denver Sunday and coming home Friday. Great life for Carol, who at the age of 37 was turned into a "baby machine.", a new child every two years. That is a lot of work and pain.
Nov.1st 2006 Noah Gotbaum found Carol passed out on the floor and what did this 45 year old graduate of Amherst and Yale do? He called his step mother!!!! What a guy. Since then it seems they have sent Carol places. No mention if any Gotbaum went with her or if any Gotbaum changed their life style to help Carol. There is Victor Gotbaum, Sarah Gotbaum, Besty Gotbaum , Noah Gotbaum,two brothers and two sister in laws, and npt one could go with Carol to Tucson.
And now we are spending $$$$$$ to prove the police did it and by the way, they have hired the public relations expert Howard J. Rubenstein. I am sure that is in the best interests of Carol Stiger.
And yes I am angry, I have the nagging feeling that all this boils down to "she made Noah happy, but she was not Jewish", never quite good enough.

[Patrick]

There is a lot about this death that is very troubling.We have few hard facts. But if we apply the Law of Parsimony, better known as Occams Razor, what do we then have.

She was late for her gate but had better than an hour layover in Phoenix. Could she have been drinking during that time? That would explain her disorderly conduct in the airport. The police then place her in a small room cuffed and shackled to a bench, alone. I'm not gonna label this as cruel but, it can be traumatic. I suspect that she struggled with her confinement, hyperventilated, passed out and fell from the bench.I dont think that the chain/shackle strangled her. I think that the autopsy will show that she asphyxiated on her own vomit.

A very tragic death but not murder by Police as some on this thread would have us believe. Just my opinion.

[mexinaco]

beeing a mexican close to arizona i'm concerned about the way my family and i are threated everytime we get to the USA, we pass thru the most observed and secure border in the world. after that we have watched those "minutemen" close to the wall and on the hills (nazi style) airport authority it's a piece of cake, cuz' they are always looking for suspicious people, people who look like: terrorist,bombers, usama's friend...... anyone who could glue a bomb to the belly...... i mean.... i've been in that airport a lot of times, trying to undestand all the involved... who cares if she was a spoiled lady?... that doesn't matter when police security aren't doing their jobs the right way, stick to the facts. there wasn't police brutality..... but negligence. maybe they should use better technics to treat with people. and of course: be trained to deal with disturbed travellers, they said they wouldn't leave her alone if they know she was suicidal..... they shouldn't leave unatended people on cells, or with handcuffs. no matter what, mental state, color or anything. i have never been mistreated, but i have been over questioned by US.BORDER PATROL and airport authorities...... maybe next time i plan my vacations on YOUR country wouldn't mind taking the bus.

[Joe Antifascist]

"rich, white, connected, AND Democrats."

not COMPLETELY "white".. but rather "obnoxious New Yorkers" or "northeastern liberals" or "east coast lefties" or whatever other synonyms for Jewish this thread will unearth. The fact is.. that this woman was small... and she might have been shouting in a loud voice and really throwing a rod having missed her plane... It must have been an anxious time for her. Fourty minutes later she was dead leaving a 3 YO and a 6 YO without a mother... it isn't really right to callously dismiss her death behind the defense of proper police procedure. The family has been quite restrained in its response. Had a truly WHITE woman.. say a well connected anglo local to the area or from the western U.S. ended up dead inside of an hour under these circumstances, I can assure you that the threats coming from her family would not involve litigation.

This woman should not be dead. She may have been murdered. It is possible that, if her body really was found in a stress position amidst handcuffs and chains.. that it may have been PLACED THERE by a law enforcement officer with the same attitude towards "big city types" as has been amply demonstrated on this thread. However... short of being able to demonstrate outright strangulation of this woman by one of these officers.. they will inevitably escape responsibility for this woman's safety which they had. They were responsible to make sure this woman didn't hurt herself and the fact that she did was their failure and maybe even their crime. Also.. I brought up the fact that Carol Gotbaum, who probably had a south african or australian sounding accent and may not have "looked Jewish", was a Jew because more important than ANY of the other identities or political affiliations she may have had... being Jewish.. with the commonly held anti-semitic belief that she was unduly rich, powerful, or successful and unnecessarily litigious.. gives her and her family an inherent distrust of state authority that is different from the anti-authoritarianism of conservatives and right wingers. It's not a "drivin' my Hummer 'n you can kiss my ass" thumbing of the nose .. but rather the realization that the state can reduce you to piles of gold teeth if you don't restrain it at the bud of power abuse.

I'm sorry this happened to this woman and that so many people, editorial writers, and commentators feel the need to shrug their shoulders and say "too bad. she was travlin' alone and da cops HAD to cuff her to a bench" for fear of sounding like Al Sharpton if they raise questions and doubts and yes even consider that the airline employee and the cops he called to get this woman out of his hair may be culpable in murder or manslaughter in this matter. And if they are guilty of such... may all 5 or 6 of them be fully prosecuted, convicted, and imprisoned for long terms for their trouble.

[eema]

Yes, maybe the police could have and should have done things differently for Carol Gotbaum but maybe if her family and friends had taken her alcoholism and depression seriously and not viewed it as a "privileged mom looking for attention" or "spoiled girl who should be sent to her room to think about it" so let's send her to sunny Phoenix for some r&r&r(ehab), she would not have been flying alone - or maybe getting her out of New York was a relief from her hysteria which I am sure was driving her husband crazy - or maybe being in that room alone (literally and physically) was her opportunity (I am going to kill myself; be reunited in heaven with my father who was the only one who really cared about me - nobody ever thinks they are going to hell; and let my husband and high-profile mother-in-law be ashamed; let them try to explain me and my craziness away this time - HAH!)

[m pyles]

IF YOU DONT WORK FOR AN AIRLINE, DONT BOTHER COMMENTING. I AM GRATEFUL, AS A FLIGHT ATTEND , THAT SHE DIDNT GET ON MY FLIGHT...WHAT A NIGHTMARE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN. SHE WAS LATE FOR HER FLIGHT, BECAUSE SHE HAD BEEN IN THE BAR FOR AN HOUR. IT'S SCARY IN AIRPORTS THESE DAYS...TSA HAS A RIGHT TO OVEREXTEND SOMETIMES...YOU WOULDNT BELIEVE WHAT AIRLINE PERSONNEL HAVE TO CONTEND WITH. BOTTOM LINE...IT'S HER FAMILY'S FAULT SHE WASNT PROTECTED. HER HUSBAND SAID IN HER EULOGY, IF ONE PERSON HAD HELPED HER SHE WOULD BE ALIVE TODAY. HE'S THE HUSBAND . WHY DIDNT HE HELP HER? AND WHY COULDNT THEY CONTACT THE PERSON MEETING HER, WHO MISSED HER ARRIVAL ? WITH ALL THE MONEY THEY HAVE FOR LAWYERS, THEY COULD HAVE HIRED A MEDICAL ESCORT TO ENSURE HER SAFE JOURNEY, AND IT WOULDNT CUT INTO THEIR BUSY SCHEDULES.

[Gail]

Let's see: husband allows alcoholic and suicidal wife to fly alone to a rehab center because he couldn't be away from the children. And, her flight was not on a direct flight, but one with a 2 hour layover. Wife arrives late for her flight and can't get on board. So she becomes irrational, biting and fighting with the airport security. Unfortunately, she dies in custody.

And somehow this is the airport security's fault. Where was the husband? He managed to get away once she was dead. It's also very suspicious that he called the airport to tell them of her suicidal tendancies AFTER she was already dead.

[sam perl]

It is only a matter of time before NY magazine or some other rag does an article on the unfortunate Ms. Gotbaum. The family will surely expose itself to some unwanted publicity and possibly censure. I guess the potential money prize makes this all worth it. Probably all sides in this controversy are waiting for the tox reports.

[Julie Cunningham]

I can just imagine the scene she caused. I live in NYC but not from NYC and these high powered entitled rich Jewish New Yorkers can really throw one.
Now they will have their lawyer pitbulls go after the police who were only trying to deal with a crazed, lunatic woman. If she contorted herself in some weird way how could the police know she was that much of a nutcase?

Posted by: VL | Tuesday, October 02, 2007 at 11:44 AM

Yeah, you anti-semitic ignorant idiot. These "high powered rich Jewish New Yorkers..." Gosh they can really make scenes, huh? Way bigger scenes than any Christian or Athiest or Hindu or Buddhist could ever make. They "can really throw one." Fucking idiot. Don't comment if you are going to take it back to the race/religious card.

[Patrick]

Nice language, Julie. You must be a Democrat.

[Pasquale]

PHX police acted very unprofessional and had total disreguard for Mrs. Gotbaum's condition. Where was the airport medical team? PHX's entire emergency response plan show's that there was none. So if you are sick or have an anxiety problem STAY AWAY FROM PHOENIX!!! I AM.

[Pasquale]

...AND I AM REPUBLICAN!!!

[janetta]

Although I don't want to believe it, I guess anti-semitism is alive and well in the United States. Amazing how the Jews get blamed for the most far fetched things. This family may have shown extremely poor judgement, but being Jewish had nothing to do with it. Despite their legal actions, we don't know what type of pain they are in. And they no doubt blame themselves as well. If you have lived with someone suffering from alcohol or drug addiction, you would know that it is a family "disease" and that enabling is a recurrent problem. That is likely what this lapse in judgement was about - Carol insisted that she was well enough to go to the clinic on her own, and the family wanted to believe in her. To doubt her would have appeared to be a lack of trust and they made the misguided decision to try and let her feel empowered, to take this step toward recovery. I lived with a family member who had a drug problem and I can tell you I did not know myself during those years. I allowed him to manipulate me because I loved him so desperately and was afraid I would lose him forever if I used "tough love". Thank God our story turned out happily, and he is now living a sober, productive life. I would like to think that Carol Gotbaum would have had the same success story, had she lived to go through her recovery program. I don't totally blame the cops for not knowing how to handle this sick woman. It is just a very sad story and a little compassion would be a good thing.

[Dee]

I have yet to read anyone stating what seems obvious to me: If this woman was so precious and beloved by her family, and they knew she was an alcoholic who was so addicted she needed to go to rehab, why they hell did they send her alone? She is so necessary to them, yet they sent her off by herself, assuming the rest of the world would just "take care of her". Thanks, but I've go my own addicted relative to take care of and when I fly, I expect anyone who isn't capable of doing it alone to not inflict their home movie on me. She had already had a drink on her last flight!! Why isn't her family suing that airline, and the liquor manufacturer who made whatever she was drinking!! As usual, nothing that happens to us is our fault...the fact that she probably had this problem for YEARS and had experienced other medical/accident/hyterical type scenarios doesn't matter, right? As long as there is an authority to blame, now that husband can rest easy even though HE failed in his responsibility toward this "special, irreplacable person".

[jack]

I fail to see how this is the fault of the police. From what I have read they followed procedure and she ended up strangling herself because she couldn't calm down. At the time the police were not aware of all of her issues and shouldn't be expected to figure this out between the time they detained her and the time of her death.

Her actions caused her to accidentally take her own life. This is sad and tragic. But I feel the responsibility lies with her and her family. If she was in such bad shape they should have taken the necessary steps to ensure her safe travel. They knew her situation better than anyone else.

Also, why is this particular incident getting so much press coverage? Everyday there are so many deaths that have sad and tragic circumstances and I am not sure why this one stands out above the rest.

[Ralph]

The police should of been more patient.Once she was cuffed and lifted off of the ground they should of sat her down at a nearby seat rather then cart her away with such force.Calm her down by speaking with her until she was under control.She was of no threat to anyone.

[Pablo]

I am a California cop. Carol Gotbaum represents what police are faced with every day: People suffering from emotional/mental/substance abuse problems acting out in a public place. We're not experts in diagnosis and providing treatment for complex human problems. We are trained to restore order and use a reasonable, not perfect, amount of force. Mrs. Gotbaum exercised her right to travel alone, and, according to the autopsy reports, drink and use drugs. It certainly can be assumed that she ignored advise not to do these things. Mrs. Gotbaum excercised her perceived right to throw a tantrum, cause a disturbance, and be unwilling to calm down without police force. She aparently excercised her perceived right to try and slip out of her handcuffs, which caused her death. Bottom line, Mrs. Gotbaum had more control of her fate than the police or anyone else. I am a father and certainly feel for her children and family. Since the goal is to understand and find responsibility, the responsibility lies with her. Mark these words: hundreds of thousands of people, after hearing the account of her death, will drink, use drugs, and act out in public. After people like yourselves call us, we will do our best to evaluate another human disaster in progress and take reasonable action. I hope the next death will have people asking: "Didn't that person hear about Carol Gotbaum?? What were they thinking!!"

[kelly]

My only thought on this whole unfortunate happening, and apparently others agree, is that if my husband were as concerned as her's apparently was (see his calls to police) that he would NOT have let me travel alone. But has the family publicly taken responsibility for their inaction - to the extent that blame is being placed on everyone else (airport personnel, police, etc)? Not that I have seen/read.

[freedom1405]

Bummer for her family. There shouldn't be that much sympathy- - - when the police arrest you, you should maybe comply. If you're so heavily intoxicated on alcohol and drugs - you should have learned some where along your 45 years of life - and being for the lives of your 3 children - that you should maybe be a little "more connected" to well-being. If you choke yourself to death because you've been arrested and you're all hopped up like an addict - maybe better for the rest of us who choose to live by the law and embrace common sense. And the family wants to sue???? The should sue them selves for living a lie.... the truth hurts.

[Sarah]

Here's my question - if her family knew that she was such a "danger to herself" to the point where her husband called the airport to warn them that day, then why the hell was she traveling by herself from New York to Arizona? Someone should have been with her to keep her calm and make sure she arrived at rehab safely. As far as I'm concerned, the family was negligent in putting a person who they strongly suspected would have problems on a cross-country trip by herself.

[Trish Dubois]

It is now Nov. 10th. Turns out Carol was "drunk as a skunk", taking 2 types of brain medication plus various types of cold medication (started out with a Bloody Mary on the plane), and guess what?? Husband Noah and the rest of the Gotbaums are asking for an apology, a change of police tactic or $$$$$ before they sue the police. Is there any wonder why Carol was on the booze??? What a bunch of self absorbed boobs these Gotbaums are. She is probably a lot happier now, sad to say.

[Thomas]

C'mon people. Let's put race, politics,wealth, police brutality aside. This lady was an alcoholic plain and simple. As most alcoholics tend to do, they choose not to be responsible for their behavior. She had a lay-over, she drank and had taken prescription drugs. She did not pay attention to the time- and was late to the gate. She knew she would have to explain that to her family, or who knows maybe it was attempt to delay treatment. Her family should have had her escorted to Tucson. Don't blame the police, the airport staff, the democrats, the rich, the white, the jews, the arabs, etc...Carol Gotbaum put herself into that situation with tragic consequences. Lighten up people.

[Diane Gordon]

Yeah, the family is not exactly innocent in this. That said, the police were rough - ok, she was difficult - but in the end, their negligence was in leaving her alone. Police are supposed to get psych training and they're obliged to use what they have learned. One NEVER leaves a distraught person alone. Sure, the people police deal with can be downright obnoxious. But this is a major problem. No matter what circumstances lead Carol Gotbaum to her demise, and it hardly matters - she shouldn't have been left alone. I don't know the statistics, but I do know that people not used to being arrested do commit suicide ibn custody. The police were dead on right in arresting her and removing her and other airport civilians out of harms way. But they should have known this basic fact of dealing with others professionally in stressful situations. And yes, her family was downright creepy in not preventing her from the trip. But neither the family or the police did anything illegal, though. Just a bunch of bad judgements all around.

[Kathy]

I am sick over this story. I read that one person did agree to give up his seat for Carol (because her seat was given away because she was late - don't know why she was late.) But the AIRLINES said no. Anyone would have "freaked out" So, in that case- the airlines are wrong. Secondly, I can see the police having to take her away if there was a huge commotion. This would save other lives potentially too. HOWEVER, all reports said Carol yelled, "I am a depressed mom". Why was Carol ever left alone? Gotbaum family, I support you. We need changes to how mentally ill persons are treated. Carol did not die in vain and I want to get involved in a campaign for mental health. Maybe a bracelet - green - that says - I support mental health. Information can be on the inside of it, with identifying information if the mentally ill person needs help. We have defribrillators in major airports, why not trained mental health professionals? Get people more help. 3 - cops - one could have sat with Carol. Carol should not have died. I am sure the husband regrets leaving her alone. But that is why we ALL need to help each other. When someone yells they are depressed - HELP them out.

[Don]

Kathy, nice post, seriously.....

To those who think that Mr Gotbaum "lawyering up" was wrong. Consider this, according to the police report, the arresting officers' attorneys were at Sky Harbor Airport advising their clients on what to say before the corpse was even cold.

And does ANYBODY really believe the only thing Carol Gotbaum said in the elevator with the 2 arresting officers is "she was a housewife, not a terrorist"? All thru-out the police report we are told when Mrs Gotbaum, yells, curses, wimpers and cries. Yet, the only thing she did on that elevator is say those 7 words according to those officers, horse hockey! RIP Carol Gotbaum and God Bless her children and husband.

[Rhonda Cherryman]

Witnesses who testified on CNN give quite a different account of Gotbaum's behavior than the police do. Per witnesses, she was not using profanity. Their testimony sounds like she was tased but they didn't understand what was happening to her. Was she tased in the neck? Is that why they wouldn't release her neck, heart and brain?

[Margo Ducane-Windsor]

Its such a shame, this woman's family, specifically her husband, knew the problems she was having yet he let her travel alone, unaccompanied. It was disaster in the making.