# What a nasty (and bizarre) way to die **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 2, 2010, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-nasty-and-bizarre-way-to-die/552375 "2010-09-02T12:44:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Girl\_From\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Girl\_From\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_From_Mars)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-nasty-and-bizarre-way-to-die/552375/1 "2010-09-02T12:44:28Z")
[The body of Jacquelyn Kotarac was found on Saturday, three days after she slid feet first down the chimney of the Bakersfield home, police said. “The pressure being placed on the chest wouldn’t allow her lungs to expand and she suffocated,” Kern County sheriff-coroner spokesman Ray Pruitt said after an autopsy.]([http://www.theage.com.au/world/lover-died-of-asphyxiation-in-boyfriends-chimney-coroner-20100902-14nx8.html?autostart=1](http://www.theage.com.au/world/lover-died-of-asphyxiation-in-boyfriends-chimney-coroner-20100902-14nx8.html?autostart=1)) This sort of thing sounds like my nightmare. Then again, I don’t think I’m likely to be trying to sneak into someone’s house using the chimney. ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-nasty-and-bizarre-way-to-die/552375/2 "2010-09-02T13:02:08Z")
Ugh, my nightmare too. so I shall add this to list of unpleasant ways to die that I am likely to avoid, well most of us are really. ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-nasty-and-bizarre-way-to-die/552375/3 "2010-09-02T13:24:32Z")
Seriously, had she never seen _Gremlins_? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-nasty-and-bizarre-way-to-die/552375/4 "2010-09-02T13:32:23Z")
It was the night before Thursday, and all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse The stalker was stuck in the chimney _sans_ air and her target had cautiously slept elsewhere… ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-nasty-and-bizarre-way-to-die/552375/5 "2010-09-02T14:31:27Z")
That woman sounds insane. First she tries to break into the house with a shovel, then slides down the damn chimney? Who does that? Also: probably not the best way to convince your ex-boyfriend to take you back. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-nasty-and-bizarre-way-to-die/552375/6 "2010-09-02T14:37:56Z")
At its widest point the chimney was only 18 centimeters? I wouldn’t be able to get in up to my thighs. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-nasty-and-bizarre-way-to-die/552375/7 "2010-09-02T14:42:57Z")
> [@Jenaroph](#): > > Seriously, had she never seen _Gremlins_? She’s definitely showing the ex-miss spirit. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-nasty-and-bizarre-way-to-die/552375/8 "2010-09-02T14:48:47Z")
I remember reading about a crook who went down store’s chimney intending to rob it, only he hit a pipe in the middle of the chimney right between his legs. Was stuck there from Saturday night till Mondy morning with black and blue testicles the size of grapefruits. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-nasty-and-bizarre-way-to-die/552375/9 "2010-09-02T14:56:22Z")
So, she was unable to flee through a flaw in the flue? ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-nasty-and-bizarre-way-to-die/552375/10 "2010-09-02T15:04:55Z")
The one where the guy fell in the big vat of manure or sewage and suffocated/drowned is still the worse, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-nasty-and-bizarre-way-to-die/552375/11 "2010-09-02T15:08:14Z")
> [@](#): > > The night before, she tried to get into the house with a shovel, then climbed a ladder to the roof, removed the chimney cap and slid down, police said. > Meanwhile, the man she sought left unnoticed to avoid a confrontation and slept elsewhere that night, authorities said. This confuses me. So, the man knew she was trying to sneak in, snuck out himself and slept elsewhere, but never called the police? I mean, I can see not wanting to hurt someone’s career, but when somebody takes a shovelt o your house, it’s time to speak up. I have a sneaking suspicion that he knew she was int he chimney. I mean, he left, and hired a housesitter?!? ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-nasty-and-bizarre-way-to-die/552375/12 "2010-09-02T15:10:16Z")
_Police said Dr Kotarac, a 49-year-old internist, wanted to [confront](http://cache3.asset-cache.net/xc/3395527.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=45B0EB3381F7834DB9819F80F37B3ED1E3DB80009F230EAC5223CE6E4BAF89B1) the man with whom she had an “on-again, off-again” relationship._ ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-nasty-and-bizarre-way-to-die/552375/13 "2010-09-02T15:20:58Z")
Some years ago, a burglar’s remains were found in a chimney in [Natchez, Mississippi](http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=94297&page=1). ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-nasty-and-bizarre-way-to-die/552375/14 "2010-09-02T15:24:10Z")
I confess that I e-mailed the link in the OP to a colleague, under the heading “When Internists Go Bad”. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-nasty-and-bizarre-way-to-die/552375/15 "2010-09-02T15:29:14Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > At its widest point the chimney was only 18 centimeters? I wouldn’t be able to get in up to my thighs. My head would barely fit in 18 cm, and that’s the widest? Nobody’s shoulders or hips could fit. And didn’t anybody see the ladder? ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-nasty-and-bizarre-way-to-die/552375/16 "2010-09-02T15:38:09Z")
38 x 18 cm _or_ 15 x 7.1 in. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-nasty-and-bizarre-way-to-die/552375/17 "2010-09-02T15:45:27Z")
I dunno, suffocating right away sounds easier than what would happen to you if you spent a day or so in a chimney in Bakersfield heat. I’m betting you’d die in some sort of slow heat-induced fashion. ---
**Author:** ![LionelHutz405](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lionelhutz405/32/536_2.png) [@LionelHutz405](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LionelHutz405)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-nasty-and-bizarre-way-to-die/552375/18 "2010-09-02T16:31:10Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > I have a sneaking suspicion that he knew she was int he chimney. I mean, he left, and hired a housesitter?!? Well, a woman died so it must somehow be a man’s fault. Why jump to the conclusion that he did an unspeakably cruel thing, when the more reasonable explanation is that he didn’t know she was there. ---
**Author:** ![Clark\_Cello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@Clark\_Cello](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clark_Cello)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-nasty-and-bizarre-way-to-die/552375/19 "2010-09-02T17:22:13Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > The night before, she tried to get into the house with a shovel, then climbed a ladder to the roof, removed the chimney cap and slid down, police said. > > Meanwhile, the man she sought left unnoticed to avoid a confrontation and slept elsewhere that night, authorities said. > > This confuses me. > > So, the man knew she was trying to sneak in, snuck out himself and slept elsewhere, but never called the police? I mean, I can see not wanting to hurt someone’s career, but when somebody takes a shovelt o your house, it’s time to speak up. > > I have a sneaking suspicion that he knew she was int he chimney. I mean, he left, and hired a housesitter?!? It’s possible, but I think a more plausible explanation is that he found out (through noises, finding the shovel, etc.) that she was trying to get in, but had assumed she had left. He didn’t feel threatened by her, so he didn’t call the police, but he also didn’t want to deal with her in the likely chance that she returned. So he took off for a while and had someone keep an eye on things. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-a-nasty-and-bizarre-way-to-die/552375/20 "2010-09-02T17:31:18Z")
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