Autopsy on Woman Who Died in Phoenix Police Custody Ruled Death by Hanging

Filed in archive Aviation News on November 9, 2007

You may remember reading about the woman who was killed while in police custody at the Phoenix airport. The woman, Carol Anne Gotbaum, was on her way to rehab when she was denied boarding on a plane to Tucson due to irate behavior. She was arrested and a few hours later she was found died. A few days after her death, her family consulted with a lawyer about their rights. Now, we learn that she strangled herself.

According to an article on MSNBC, Gotbaum's autopsy revealed she was high on alcohol and drugs when she died in police custody. The autopsy report also said she had over 35 cuts and bruises all over her body. The official cause of death was by hanging.

The family has accused police of mistreating Gotbaum, the mother of three whose husband, Noah Gotbaum, called the airport three times the afternoon of her death, telling officials he was concerned about his wife's whereabouts because she was depressed and suicidal.

Michael Manning, a lawyer for the family, did not immediately return calls Friday.

Police said in a statement Friday the autopsy report "substantiates" the findings of investigators on the cause of death, supporting the department's position that "officers acted appropriately and there was no misconduct during this tragic incident."

Gotbaum had been arrested on a disorderly conduct charge after she was kept off a connecting flight that was to bring her to Tucson, where she was to enter an alcohol treatment center.

She was handcuffed and shackled to a bench in the holding room. Police have said they followed proper procedures when dealing with her.

Gotbaum was arrested after becoming irate with gate crews who refused to allow her to board a plane. After realizing she missed her flight, Gotbaum used profanity and said, "I'm not a terrorist."

Before her arrest, she was seen on surveillance video running through an airport terminal, bowing abruptly as she appeared to yell and resisting arrest as three officers try to control her. Once handcuffed in the terminal, Gotbaum locked her legs as officers held her by the arms and pushed the still-standing woman through the terminal.