HARRISBURG, Pa. (TCN) — A 41-year-old pediatrician who was allegedly strangled and set on fire by her husband had reportedly alleged to friends that she felt “drugged” after consuming drinks her husband made for her in the weeks leading up to her death.
WGAL reports that on Oct. 10, police and firefighters responded to a home after receiving a report of a house fire. When they arrived, they found Julia Pederson and performed CPR before transferring her to the hospital for treatment. She was pronounced dead, and a blood test later revealed that she had died before the fire was set.
Pederson’s death was ruled a homicide on Oct. 13 after an autopsy revealed that she had died from multiple traumatic injuries, according to WGAL.
Investigators learned that on Sept. 10, Pederson had texted a family member that she felt like she was being drugged and could hardly walk. She reportedly was brought drinks by her daughter at work, and her husband, 41-year-old Jonathan Gatto, would allegedly wait in the car while the child brought the drinks to her. WGAL reports that according to a co-worker, Pederson always felt worse after finishing a drink.
The day before the house fire, she was reportedly lying on the floor of her office and looked “very out of it,” according to WGAL; Pederson scheduled blood work for the following day.
According to court documents obtained by WHP, investigators allege that Gatto strangled her before setting her on fire, while their 7-year-old child was in the home.
During his police interview, Gatto alleged that his marriage to Pederson was not good and that they were planning a separation and working on how to tell their child about it, according to WHP.
The Harrisburg Bureau of Police announced that on Oct. 14, Gatto was arrested and charged with murder, abuse of a corpse, evidence tampering, endangering the welfare of children, arson, and aggravated arson.
Pederson’s obituary describes her as a Harvard-educated doctor who loved to read and was learning how to crochet. She “was a beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, and friend whose passing has left a profound and lasting loss in the lives of all who knew and loved her. She will be remembered for her dedication to caring for others, her love for her family, and the meaningful impact she made throughout her life.”
The investigation is ongoing.
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