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The husband of a beloved Pennsylvania children’s doctor strangled her to death then heartlessly set her body on fire in their home — while their 7-year-old daughter was asleep, according to court documents.
Jonathan Gatto, 42, was charged Wednesday with the murder of his pediatrician wife Julia Pederson, 41, after allegedly starting a blaze at their house Harrisburg Saturday, according to an affidavit cited by local21news.com
Gatto allegedly told police he was suddenly awakened by a smoke detector early Saturday and then saw a small fire had broken out in a downstairs bedroom, according to the affidavit.
He claimed he rushed to get his young daughter outside then called 911 — but when he tried to go back inside to save Pederson, he burned his hand, according to the affidavit.
Blood tests, however, reportedly showed Pederson — who was well-liked at her University of Pittsburgh Medical Center job — had been dead before the blaze broke out, the outlet reported.
Along with first degree murder, Gatto faces arson charges for allegdly intentionally starting the fire. He was also charged with of abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence, and endangering the welfare of children.
During a police interview, Gatto reportedly also told officers that his marriage with Pederson was on the rocks. He said they planned to separate and were trying to figure out how to talk to their daughter about it, the station reported.
The coroner ruled Pederson’s cause of death as homicide by multiple traumatic injuries, according to court documents.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic passing of Dr. Julia Pederson, a beloved pediatrician and valued member of our UPMC Children’s Community Pediatrics team,” the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center said in a statement.
“Dr. Pederson devoted her career to caring for children and supporting families, and her loss is felt deeply by colleagues, patients, and communities she served.”