US News

BETSY’S IN-LAW PUZZLE

Veteran cops say they have never seen anything like the death of Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum’s daughter-in-law, who apparently strangled herself while struggling to get free from cuffs in a Phoenix airport holding cell.

“In my 23 years, I have not come across something like this before,” said Sgt. Andy Hill, a Phoenix police spokesman.

According to a statement from Phoenix cops Saturday, the dead woman, Carol Anne Gotbaum, a 45-year-old mother of three, flew into a rage Friday afternoon when she missed a flight to Tucson.

After cops were unable to calm her down, they arrested her for disorderly conduct, cuffed her from behind and placed her in the holding cell.

“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,” the statement said.

Hill would not comment on whether the victim had a medical condition or whether drugs or alcohol were involved.

He said any determination would come from the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Betsy Gotbaum would not say why Carol Anne, the wife of her stepson, was in Phoenix or answer other questions about her.

“Carol was a wonderful, wonderful person. She was a wonderful mother. She was sweet, kind and loving,” Gotbaum told reporters across the street from her Manhattan apartment building.

“This is a horrible tragedy for my family – for my stepson and my three grandchildren,” she added. “This is obviously very, very difficult for us. We are dealing with it as best we can.”

The family is hiring a lawyer in Phoenix to look into the matter, a source close to the family said last night.

Carol Anne was the wife of Noah Gotbaum, an investor and the son of Victor Gotbaum, 86, one of the city’s most influential labor leaders, and his former wife, Dr. Sarah Gotbaum.

An attempt to interview Victor Gotbaum, 86, outside his son’s home were turned back by Betsy Gotbaum: “The family is in great distress. . . . Stop it and leave us alone.”

Additional reporting by David Seifman

andy.geller@nypost.com