Any new info on airport drunk/dead woman? (Phoenix: live, racist)

[aj661]

Originally Posted by Artliquide

Hopefully the father will marry someone else who is not an alcoholic or insane. They will miss their mother, sure, but at least they could have a positive female role model around instead.

If a sick person refuses to be helped, does that mean that people who supposedly care about the ill should not help them? I've seen that excuse in news stories, that one of the reasons they didn't have a guardian for her is because she refused. What kind of logic is that?

We'll never know, but it's possible that the husband and mommy in law were contributing factors to her substance abuse in the first place - (this includes alcohol, the most abused drug on the planet; nothing else comes close). The husband didn't care enough to accompany her, and the MIL was so embarrassed she wanted Gotbaum's maiden name used. Except for a restraining order, being in jail or incapacitated in a hospital, there is absolutely no excuse for the husband to stay behind. Zero, at least in my world. Again there's no way to know for sure, but I think she wanted to go alone so she would have unrestricted access to her meds and bloody marys. One last chance to binge for a month.

[wit-nit]

Very well stated aj661...

[sassieb75]

Originally Posted by SMG

I bolded out the piece above that I want to speak to. Like you said, she did not want anyone to accompany her. Like you also said, the alcohol and drugs do cloud the judgement and decision making process. So, it should not have been her decision on whether a family member accompanies her or not. If I were sending my loved one cross country on a lonely journey for rehab purposes, she would not make that decision. so your statements above are correct...She did not want to have an "escort" and her decision making was probably pretty messed up.

I agree! I never said it was the "right" choice to NOT have an escort. This woman should absolutely NOT have been traveling alone. Nevermind the depression issues, but had someone been with her, it could have prevented her from stopping in at the bar and getting hammered!

[Elmonellie]

Originally Posted by Artliquide

Maybe they were trying to protect the cops, whom she was kicking and hitting.

Wow. Har har har. Huh?

[ibarrio]

Private Pathologist Says Police Negligent in Gotbaum's Death


Link to article: Private Pathologist Says Police Negligent in Gotbaum's Death

[Bill-]

Originally Posted by ibarrio

Private Pathologist Says Police Negligent in Gotbaum's Death


Link to article: Private Pathologist Says Police Negligent in Gotbaum's Death

If you read the article this pathologist was hired by the victim's family, it certainly sounds like he's posturing for his testimony in the wrongful death lawsuit we all know is coming. Check out the wikipedia article on this guy:

Cyril Wecht - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Despite attempts to reach a plea deal, Wecht was indicted by the grand jury on January 20, 2006 on 84 counts ranging from mail fraud and wire fraud to theft from office.[30][31] The indictment alleges that Wecht used the resources of the Allegheny County Coroner's Office for his private financial gain. The indictment alleges Wecht did this in a number of ways, including: the use of Allegheny County employees, resources, and property to perform private business functions; directing Coroner's Office employees to refer all calls for private autopsy business to Wecht's private company; and the trading of the bodies of deceased individuals with no known next of kin, and other consideration, to a local college for his private autopsy business. As a result of the indictment, he resigned as Allegheny County Coroner.

[Artliquide]

Originally Posted by Bill-

If you read the article this pathologist was hired by the victim's family

Also, the last sentence of the article: " An independent pathology expert who reviewed the autopsy report for the AP said that amount wasn't fatal by itself, but it could have rendered her unconscious and unable to extricate herself from the accidental hanging."

Another independent pathologist, since the findings are different than Wecht's. Interesting to note that multiple pathologists/examiners could have such different conclusions, Wecht being the black sheep of the bunch putting blame directly on police, while the others put blame on Mrs. Gottbaum.

[Elmonellie]

Originally Posted by sassieb75

I don't think that was a fair comment! This woman was obviously sick! I have heard they offered to have someone accompany her and she refused. She was embarassed! People who are sick, mentally, and then abuse alcohol and drugs obviously cannot make good choices. This is what this story is all about. I don't believe this wealthy family is all about gaining money from this tragedy. True, they want to blame someone other than the wife/mother. I don't know what the answer is but, we haven't walked a mile in their shoes, we should not pass judgement! These poor children have no mother! May she R.I.P......

Yes, I hope she rests in peace. I feel badly for her kids.

I think it was a fair comment. And, yeah she was sick. Her family looking for $$$ is also sick. Very.

[Elmonellie]

Originally Posted by diggitydot

That was done by the mother-in-law who is an elected official in NY.

Witnesses: Gotbaum's flight teary (broken link)



This is just such a tragedy, all the way around. For her family, for the people who encountered her along her trip, and even though I don't believe those officers should shoulder any blame, I'm sure they're devastated by this, as well.

Yes. I feel bad for the cops involved. Her MIL is a jerk.

[Bill-]

Originally Posted by irwin

This is not normal and does not happen in other states (well, maybe in Texas because of their death penalty factory they have there). If Phoenix and Arizona want to be considered a real, modern city and not a backwoods, dusty land of rednecks and three-toothed inbreds, they need to join the 21 Century and start acting like a civilized place where they don't take sadistic pleasure out of the death and torture of people in their prisons or held in police custody.

Here's another one for you Irwin:

CANOE -- CNEWS - Crime: Vancouver Taser video released (http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Crime/2007/11/14/4655717-cp.html - broken link)

It even happens in other countries !