Dr. Jacquelyn Kotarac, photographed in 2007.
But this small related detail in the Bakersfield Californian follow-up was absurd enough on its own.
Following the missing person report, the doctor’s family consulted a psychic who couldn’t feel the doctor’s presence, according to Wayne Wallace, a private investigator. He said he was consulted by the family Saturday to look into Kotarac’s disappearance.
I don’t fault the family doing whatever it could out of desperation. But this psychic’s credentials should be reevaluated, if he/she didn’t help in cracking the case. It’s not clear what “couldn’t feel the doctor’s presence” means. Did the psychic rightly detect that Dr. Kotarac was no longer with the living? Or was the psychic just giving an untestable answer, which would cover everything from Kotarac’s death to her taking a spontaneous trip to Malibu or being kidnapped by Bigfoot.
Psychic-patronizing friends of mine tell me that a psychic can’t be bothered with predicting concrete yet unknown facts…or else, why would a good psychic be begging for $2 a palm read when he/she could win the Powerball? It’s about feeling “energy” (even so, it seems that at least some facts should be basic for a psychic to predict: one of my friends had her session recorded, and the psychic asked if she was an only child…something that just about any dolt could divine after a 30-second Q&A of non-direct questions about her childhood).
OK, but if you’re a psychic who can’t detect the “energy” from the sheer horror of someone dying in a chimney (as a result of a fit of jealous love and rage)…what would you say, you do here?
Jackie Kotarac was my doctor for almost 15 years, and I always had the utmost admiration for her intelligence and passion. She told me she was devoted to science; she called it her religion, in fact. It saddens me that a so-called psychic would have exploited the family’s desperation to find her, especially in light of the tragic way she died.
There has been enough gossip about Jackie’s personal life and relationships, and many cruel comments from people who never met her. The last few times I saw her as a patient, I could sense that she was troubled. Whatever that trouble was, it led her to take a desperate action that resulted in tragedy.
Having now seen some of her family members interviewed on TV, I can see where Jackie got her warmth, intelligence and character. They are maintaining their composure in the midst of horrible publicity. They are going out of their way in a time of terrible grief to keep Jackie’s medical practice open.
What extraordinary love it must take for a family to set aside their grief to help the thousands of strangers — staff and patients — impacted by Jackie’s death. What extraordinary evil it must take for a “psychic” to exploit that love with false hope.
I am Jacques sister – Marci – and I contacted the Psychic to help me determine if she could help find Jacque. She was not a “user” and was the first to tell us of Jacques passing – she could not feel Jacques energy. This told me Jacque was probably dead. She also insisted that the police go back to Moodies house and search it. She did this all on Saturday morning – long before Jacque was discovered in the chimney. I have only the best things to say about the Psychic who helped us.
As far as Wayne Wallace is concerned I’m sorry we ever talked with this guy. He was arrogant, mean, unprofessional and cruel.
Marci Carrillo
Jacques Sister