THE BODY OF A WOMAN who had attempted to gain entry to her boyfriend’s house by sliding down the chimney was discovered three days after he left the premises in Bakersfield, California.

Dr Jacquelyn Kotarac, 49, tried to get in to the house using a shovel, before climbing a ladder on to the roof.

While she was attempting to enter, her boyfriend left the house unseen in an attempt to avoid a confrontation with her. The couple’s relationship was described as “on-again, off-again”.

Her medical office staff reported her missing the following day when she failed to show up to work. Her car was found near his house.

Police say she removed the chimney cap and slid down, but became trapped in the chimney shaft.

The body was only discovered when a house sitter investigated a bad smell in the house when she arrived to feed pets. She found the body wedged about two feet above the fireplace opening.

It took police two hours to break open the chimney shaft enough to remove the body.

Her boyfriend, William Moodie, 58, has refused to comment on the circumstances of her death, saying that it was more important to focus on the good she had done. He told AP:

She made an unbelievable error in judgment and nobody understands why, and unfortunately she’s passed away.

She had her issues — she had her demons — but I never lost my respect for her.

Footage in this CNN report shows the efforts made by police to recover Kotarac’s remains: