I always thought the "getting stuck in the chimney and dying" thing was an urban legend. Turns out it can really happen. This story is from a couple months ago, but there's still a lesson to be learned:

The decomposed body of a California doctor was found lodged in her boyfriend's chimney, several days after she had apparently attempted to get inside his home, police said.

Internist Jacquelyn Kotarac, 49, had been reported missing on Thursday, Bakersfield, California, police said in a statement Tuesday. Her body was found lodged in the fireplace flue on Saturday.

Kotarac was last seen Wednesday night at about 10:15 p.m., "trying to force her way inside (the home) as she was involved in a dating relationship with the resident," police said. "The resident left the house undetected to avoid a confrontation and stayed the night elsewhere."

This is a horrific story for everyone involved. Please stay out of the chimneys this holiday season.