The coroner has ruled the death of Dr. Jacquelyn Kotarac in her boyfriend's chimney an accident, and has listed the cause of death as mechanical asphyxia.
Police said the chimney flue was only 15 by 7 inches at its largest point, and narrowed to just four inches as it went down. Meaning that when Kotarac slid in feet first, arms stretched overhead, gravity pulled her down and she suffocated as the walls became narrower. Police said it could have taken her anywhere from minutes to hours to die.
"It's going to be a huge impact on the community. This lovely, lovely person who cared about her patients," said Kimberly Houchin, whose daughter was a patient of Kotarac.
Kotarac medical office was back open Tuesday. Outside, patients and staff were visibly upset. "There are patients outside waiting who are in tears," Houchin said.
A staff member told 17 News Kotarac's patients, which number in the thousands, will be taken care of, and they are asking her patients to call the office at 322-3225 with any questions. The female staffer said an unnamed physician will be taking over her practice with the "same friendly staff." She also wanted to tell the public, "Staff members apologize; we want to continue the care."
"She was a smart physician, she was a great physician. I know there has been a lot of stuff that's been said about her, but that's her personal life and I don't think that impacted her professional skills," Kotarac’s friend, Dr. Hemmel Kothary said.
Police said Kotarac had been drinking Wednesday night and tried to break into her boyfriend's home by crawling through the chimney, and became stuck. Her body was discovered two days later after decomposition started and the odor alerted her boyfriend's house sitter.
