A Pennsylvania pediatrician’s husband is accused of strangling her to death and setting her body on fire as their 7-year-old daughter slept.
Jonathan Gatto, of Harrisburg, was arrested on charges including murder, abuse of a corpse and arson on Wednesday, October 14, in connection with a “suspicious” death and fire investigation, Harrisburg Bureau of Police said in a news release.
The charges stem from four days earlier, when Gatto’s wife, Dr. Julia Pederson, was found dead after authorities responded to a fire at the couple’s home, according to an affidavit obtained by WHP-TV.
Investigators discovered the fire was intentionally set by Gatto, 41, who allegedly fatally strangled Pederson while their daughter had been sleeping, per the TV station. He is accused of setting his wife’s body ablaze after killing her.
Police said in the news release that Pederson’s death was “not caused by a fire.”
The fire occurred in a bedroom of the couple’s Harrisburg home and was contained, according to WHP-TV.
When police interviewed Gatto on Saturday, he said his marriage with Pederson was “not good,” and that they had planned to inform their daughter that they were separating, per PennLive.
He claimed that around Friday night or midnight on Saturday, he woke up to what he said was the sound of someone possibly falling down the steps, then checked on his wife, according to the affidavit viewed by the outlet.
Gatto reportedly told police he tried to give Pederson ibuprofen around 2 a.m. Saturday, but she didn’t take it. Afterward, he said he awoke to the sound of smoke alarms, got his daughter and brought her outside before calling 911.
Gatto said that he returned inside and reached into Pederson’s bedroom to grab her, but burned his hand in the process, according to the affidavit, PennLive reported. Then he allegedly left the home and waited for first responders.
A coroner ruled Pederson’s death as a homicide as a result of several traumatic injuries, the affidavit notes, per WHTM-TV.
Pederson was a pediatrician at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, according to the TV station.
“Julia Pederson was a beloved friend, daughter, sister, wife, and mother whose passing has left a profound loss for everyone who knew and loved her,” reads a GoFundMe page created in support of her family.
The page also described her as a “dedicated pediatrician” who “devoted herself to caring for children and supporting the families who trusted her with their care.”
In addition to murder, abuse of a corpse and arson offenses, Gatto is also charged with tampering with physical evidence and endangering the welfare of a child.
It wasn’t immediately clear whether Gatto had retained legal counsel.
