How A Missed Flight Led To A Woman's Death In Arizona
From the outside looking in, The New York Times writes that Carol Gotbaum seemed to have it all. The South African native was married to Noah, whose family has wealth and political ties in New York City. Moreover, Gotbaum was the mother of three young children. Although the couple had met in London, Gotbaum and her husband decided to raise their family in New York. But as the HuffPost explains, the 45-year-old was also silently experiencing depression and alcoholism. In September 2007, Gotbaum made the decision to travel to a substance abuse rehabilitation center in Tucson, Arizona (per NBC News).
According to CNN, Gotbaum flew to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport and was late for her connecting flight to Tucson. The New York Times reports that Gotbaum became distressed when she was told that she was not allowed to board the said flight. A man offered his ticket to Gotbaum for a later time. However, for security reasons, she was also denied a seat on this flight. Gotbaum then began to yell (via The New York Times), "I'm not a terrorist. I'm a sick mother. I need help." Per the Phoenix New Times, police officers subsequently restrained Gotbaum with what has been described as "excessive" force.
If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
If you or someone you know needs help with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.
She died minutes after being placed in a holding cell
According to the Phoenix New Times, witnesses note that Carol Gotbaum was violently tackled to the floor and handled without care. The New York Times adds that the police officers cuffed Gotbaum's hands and placed them behind her back. Gotbaum resisted and was taken to a holding cell. There, HuffPost writes that she was shackled to the wall by a chain and left alone. By all accounts, Gotbaum was emotionally distraught by this incident and continued to scream. When she fell silent, the police entered the cell only to find that Carol Gotbaum had died. She had only been in there for six to eight minutes before tragedy struck (per The New York Times).
Per NBC News, the authorities also failed to notify Noah about his wife's death for hours. The Standard-Times reports that Gotbaum's cause of death was unclear at first. However, an autopsy later revealed that she died "as a result of asphyxia by hanging" (via another article from the Phoenix New Times). Moreover, the medical examiner, Ann L. Bucholtz, noted that "contributing factors were acute ethanol and prescription medication intoxication." She concluded that Gotbaum's death was accidental but did not give an explanation for how Gotbaum managed to hang herself. Taking all of these factors into consideration, Noah decided to take legal action.
If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 or by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
If you or someone you know needs help with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.
Her family filed a wrongful death suit
The Standard-Times writes that Carol Gotbaum's funeral was held in New York City in October 2007. CNN states that Noah spoke at the service and said that his wife's death was preventable. "If the airline or the police authorities had treated Carol with some modicum of sensitivity and grace, or one single person at that airport had put an arm around her shoulder, sat her down and given her some protection, she might still be with us today," he said. Per UPI, Gotbaum's family decided to sue Phoenix officials for their role in her death. The family alleged that the officers mishandled the situation and failed to get Gotbaum medical help, amongst other things.
According to the New York Post, the suit was filed on behalf of Noah and the couple's three children. The Gotbaums' attorney, Michael Manning, noted, "The treatment [of Gotbaum] was wholly improper and, ultimately, lethal." The HuffPost states that the police officers denied any wrongdoing and claimed that they had done their job correctly.
In October 2009, The New York Times reported that Gotbaum's family agreed to settle the suit for $250,000. Despite this, Noah announced, "This does not represent an end to our deep concern about how the law enforcement community and we as a society treat people who suffer from issues of alcoholism, mental illness, and emotional distress."
If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
If you or someone you know needs help with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.