The New York woman was handcuffed and placed in a holding room alone after she proved to be disruptive according to a report from
CNN. She was checked on after 10 minutes and found unconscious and not breathing. It appears that she strangled herself accidentally while trying to get out of the handcuffs.
"According to investigators, 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," Phoenix Police Department spokesman Sgt. Andy Hill said.
Police personnel performed CPR to no avail.
Mrs. Gotbaum is the daughter-in-law of New York City Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum. Her husband and three young children survive her.
Betsy Gotbaum called Carol Ann Gotbaum "a wonderful, wonderful person" and a great mother. She said the family was dealing with the situation "the best way we can."
There will be an autopsy conducted on Monday morning.
