Your bolded part below the 'snipped' says that her chest was compressed to the point where she was no longer able to breathe. Well, her hips had to go down first. Seems the bottom part of anyones body would be the largest. The outside opening to the air at the top of the chimney would have been above her head, so there was air from the opening.
In one of the articles, IIRC, it was stated that the 'housesitter' said she came in to check the fish tank, noticed a foul odor, and saw 'fluids' in the fireplace. She then supposedly got a flashlight (good neighbor to know where the flashlight was kept), and looked up the chimney. My question is if the damper blocked the body, then how did that housesitting neighbor see the body in the chimney?
I saw the diagram you have of a chimney, Joe Friday, but I cannot understand how this housesitter saw the body with a flashlight. I have always had a fireplace, so I am familiar with the flue part because I close it every summer. I stilll think there is just something not quite right here. I suppose I am delusional, because I do see that the coroner did rule it an accident and LE stated her chest compressed to the point she was no longer able to breathe. I am just not yet buying it even tho the cause of death has been ruled on.
JMO