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Doctor Strangled, Home Set Ablaze With Daughter Inside
15 Oct
Summary
- Husband charged with murder and arson after wife's death.
- Wife, a pediatrician, was reportedly strangled before the fire.
- Their daughter was asleep in the home during the incident.
Jonathan Gatto has been arrested and charged with murder and aggravated arson following the death of his wife, Dr. Julia Pederson, a pediatrician in Harrisburg. Authorities stated that Dr. Pederson was strangled before their home was set on fire last Saturday, with their 7-year-old daughter asleep inside.
Gatto reportedly informed police that his marriage was not going well and that he and his wife were contemplating how to discuss separation with their daughter. He claimed to have heard a fall downstairs and was later awakened by smoke detectors.
The coroner has ruled Dr. Pederson's death as a homicide due to multiple traumatic injuries. She was remembered as a beloved pediatrician who dedicated her career to child care and family support. Gatto's preliminary hearing is set for October 28.
