What was she thinking?? Dr. Jacquelyn Kotarac Dies In Chimney Trying To Break In

[Dexter Dogg]

This is sad - what a way to die. I am amazed people think you can just slide down a chimney.

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- A doctor involved in an "on-again, off-again" relationship apparently tried to force her way into her boyfriend's home by sliding down the chimney, police said Tuesday. Her decomposing body was found there three days later.

Dr. Jacquelyn Kotarac, 49, first tried to get into the house with a shovel, then climbed a ladder to the roof last Wednesday night, removed the chimney cap and slid feet first down the flue, Bakersfield police Sgt. Mary DeGeare said.



While she was trying to break in, the man she was pursuing escaped unnoticed from another exit "to avoid a confrontation," authorities said.

DeGeare said the two were in an "on-again, off-again" relationship.

The man's identity was not revealed by police, but the man who resides in the home is William Moodie, 58.

"She made an unbelievable error in judgment and nobody understands why, and unfortunately she's passed away," Moodie told The Associated Press. "She had her issues – she had her demons – but I never lost my respect for her."

Reached by telephone, Moodie did not dispute the police's characterization of his relationship with Kotarac. He would not comment on the circumstances that led to her death, saying it was more important to focus on the good she did in life.

Moodie, who runs an engineering consulting firm, said Kotarac was a superb internist who often provided service and medication free of charge to her patients.

Kotarac apparently died in the chimney, but her body was not discovered until a house-sitter noticed a stench and fluids coming from the fireplace Saturday, according to a police statement. The house-sitter and her son investigated with a flashlight and found Kotarac dead, wedged about two feet above the top of the interior fireplace opening.

Firefighters spent five hours late Saturday dismantling the chimney and flue from outside the home to extract Kotarac's body, DeGeare said.

Officials said Kotarac's office staff reported her missing two days prior when she failed to show for work. Her car and belongings remained near the man's house.

A cause of death has not been determined, and an autopsy was scheduled for Tuesday. Foul play is not suspected, though investigators have been looking into the incident as suspicious.

[Maple1]

I think she was thinking she was thinner than she actually was.

[Princess Zoe]

How sad. She had some serious problems if she thought this was actually going to work.

[Dexter Dogg]

I think she was thinking she was thinner than she actually was.

She must have been in an absolute blind rage.

[BigBrownDog]

Given a choice between breaking a window and going down the chimney - the chimney is the winner? She must have really believed all those Santa stories.

[jzgrlduff]

but her body was not discovered until a house-sitter noticed a stench and fluids coming from the fireplace

'Scuse me while I hurl.

[gundog]

I love it when people try things like that.....I mean you would have to get past the damper as well.

How could someone who was a DR be so stupid.

[Maple1]

Isn't it kind of strange that if the guy was there when she was trying to break in and he supposedly left, that he didn't come back for several days?

[BigBrownDog]

Isn't it kind of strange that if the guy was there when she was trying to break in and he supposedly left, that he didn't come back for several days?

and hired a house sitter!

[Dexter Dogg]

Given a choice between breaking a window and going down the chimney - the chimney is the winner? She must have really believed all those Santa stories.

Thats what I was wondering. I mean, she tried to get in with a shovel to start with as well!