BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (AP) — 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.
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umrebel1991
Posted on September 16, 2010 at 2:36pmOk it said he escaped to “avoid a confrontation” which means he obviously KNEW she was trying to break in. Did it not register to him that when the ladder and her car and belongings were still there that she was probably still there somewhere? I mean that just seems like common sense.
Report Post »danglingbagless
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 8:27pmDon’t worry dangling… there are plenty more doctor ladies out there for you. Did she start to stink after a while??? I’ll be prayin for ya.
Report Post »bagless
iheartfreedom
Posted on September 5, 2010 at 4:37pmWhy would a women chase after a man who would not open his door to her? It’s hard to understand why some women act so pathetic and desperate. Goes to show that even if your smart enough to become a doctor, you can still be foolish in love. God bless her family.
Report Post »Gene130
Posted on September 2, 2010 at 6:06pmAh, The Scent of a Woman.
Report Post »joshua
Posted on September 1, 2010 at 2:48pmi know of stories of peole who got stuck in chimmney’s, but to die….autopsy please
Report Post »tromso
Posted on September 1, 2010 at 2:34pmEmotion can do funny things to an otherwise intelligent person. Remember that astronaut dame that wore a diaper and a wig all the way from Houston to Orlando? Love is a strong thing. It’s a sad story.
Report Post »NWeaver
Posted on September 1, 2010 at 2:31pmUgh, what a horrible way to die. Why didn’t she cry out for help? You would think someone in the house would be able to hear her. I feel so sorry for her friends and family. And shame on all of you who are making jokes about the death of anyone. She has people who love her…imagine their pain at your heartless comments.
Report Post »OrdinaryGirl
Posted on September 1, 2010 at 11:33amwow…what obsessive love will lead a person to do..
Report Post »larryz
Posted on September 1, 2010 at 10:59amAnyone attempting to gain entrance using a chimney should be aware that they contain an adjustment in the flue to adjust air flow to control burning. They are closed in most cases when the fireplace is not in use.
Report Post »flintandsteel
Posted on September 1, 2010 at 2:47pmThis was my first thought.
Report Post »dressseller
Posted on September 1, 2010 at 8:23amVery sad story. God comfort her family, friends, patients and all who knew her.
Report Post »LoisLane1951
Posted on September 1, 2010 at 7:45amMay God comfort her family and friends.
Report Post »Old Fart
Posted on September 1, 2010 at 6:14amThat’s sad. Obviously having the brains it takes to become a doctor and save other people’s lives, doesn‘t necessarily mean you’ve got what it takes to save your own.
stevesmithjr
Posted on September 1, 2010 at 5:42amYeah, they really need to put warning labels on the tops of these things… they’re just way too dangerous…
/sarcasm off
Idiots.
Report Post »NUTN2SAY
Posted on September 1, 2010 at 3:48amDamn! I guess one could say, that was a relationship that went up in smoke!
Report Post »groovystef
Posted on September 1, 2010 at 3:37amFor me, it helps to accept that people / men don‘t call because they don’t want to talk to you..they don‘t come over because they don’t want to see you..they don’t answer the door because…
It’s called a clue.
My condolences to her family and loved ones.
Report Post »TimTheEnchanter
Posted on September 1, 2010 at 3:14amReally? REALLY? This has to be the 17th time I’ve read about someone dying trying to enter a house through a chimney. Am I going to have to sit through PSAs now warning people about the dangers of breaking and entering via chimney?
Report Post »Assi
Posted on September 1, 2010 at 3:10amGood thing it wasn’t winter.
Santa woulda been pretty upset about the delay.
Report Post »elkslayer43
Posted on September 1, 2010 at 2:58amI agree with marthal
Report Post »jkcinsalem
Posted on September 1, 2010 at 2:23amI’m sorry. The woman sounds as dumb as a box of rocks.
MD PhotoGuy
Posted on September 1, 2010 at 8:37amLove, Honor and Respect starts at home maybe some of the people who post comments here should visit or revisit Glen Becks speech on 8/20/2010.
Report Post »Sefton
Posted on September 1, 2010 at 1:04am“…though investigators have been looking into the incident as suspicious.”
Report Post »Ya think?
“Her car and belongings remained near the man’s house.”
Sounds to me like Moodie wanted the “on-again, off-again” relationship turned off permanently.
MarthaL
Posted on September 1, 2010 at 1:01amMay she rest in peace. Heartfelt sympathy to her family members, loved ones, friends and patients. She was my adult daughter’s doctor at one time, and my daughter knows some of her other patients. In each case, Dr. Kotarac was a superb diagnostician and an extremely thorough, kind and caring doctor. She recognized illnesses and serious, life threatening health problems that other physicians had missed for years. She happened to be tall, slender, very fit and quite beautiful. Please do publish funeral or memorial service information on this web site, because I know that many people will want to express their deep admiration, gratitude and respect, along with their extreme sympathy for all her loved ones.
flan8tive
Posted on September 1, 2010 at 12:52amShe obviously flue into a rage. I don’t suppose the ladder tipped up against the house was in any way suspect…
bocapatriot
Posted on September 1, 2010 at 8:30amSorry that this woman was so off the tracks as to do what she did. But often brains are not better then common sense !
A Patriot
Posted on September 1, 2010 at 9:16amGood thing they found her before the first cold snap, smoked bimbo could have caused a chimney fire. Darwin Award winner of the month, probably a liberal.