Dr. Jacquelyn Kotarac was a highly regarded internist who ran a private practice in Bakersfield, California. Those close to her described her as possessing an exceptional mind—she graduated from medical school at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with excellent grades. Jacquelyn's IQ was a staggering 170 (for comparison, Albert Einstein's IQ is estimated at 160).
She was known in the local community for her dedication to her work. Patients sought her help not only during routine visits but also in times of need – she treated the poorest for free and provided them with essential medications. In her private life, the doctor had a long-standing relationship with 58-year-old William Moodie, owner of an engineering consultancy. However, their relationship was volatile and tempestuous – the couple broke up and got back together several times. Jacquelyn and William also frequently argued.
On Wednesday, August 25, 2010, the situation between the partners escalated dramatically. After an evening spent at a restaurant, during which Dr. Kotarac drank alcohol, she showed up at Moodie's house around midnight. The property owner, wanting to avoid another grueling argument, decided to discreetly leave through the back door and spend the night with friends.
The doctor didn't realize her partner was no longer inside. She wanted to talk to him and desperately tried to get inside the house. First, she used a shovel to force open the garden door. When that failed, she leaned a ladder against the wall and climbed onto the roof. After removing the chimney cap, she slid feet first into the narrow flue.
When Dr. Kotarac failed to show up for work on Thursday, August 26, her employees reported her missing to the police. The woman's car and personal belongings (e.g., her purse) were still at Moodie's property. Moodie himself only briefly appeared at the house, noticed the ladder and abandoned items, but didn't suspect the tragic turn of events and departed shortly thereafter on a previously planned trip abroad.
The body was discovered on Saturday evening by a person caring for the house while the owner was away. Concerned about an unpleasant odor and fluids appearing around the fireplace, she shone a flashlight into the fireplace. She found the missing woman's body in a tight duct, about 60 centimetres above the fireplace outlet. It took firefighters five hours to gradually demolish the brick chimney from the outside to safely remove the body.
An autopsy revealed the cause of death to be mechanical asphyxiation. The body's weight and the confined space exerted constant pressure on the chest, preventing lung expansion and breathing. Investigators categorically ruled out third-party involvement, classifying the incident as an accident.
The death of Dr. Jacquelyn Kotarac is a moving example of how strong emotions and momentary desperation can lead to tragic decisions. William Moodie emphasised in media interviews that although his partner struggled with her own difficulties, he always held her in high regard as a human being and an outstanding specialist. The circumstances of this tragedy demonstrate that in situations of extreme stress and intense agitation, even someone with exceptional intelligence, academic training, and extensive life experience can take irrational risks, the consequences of which cannot be reversed.
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