The white husband of a Pennsylvania pediatrician was arrested on multiple charges, including first-degree murder, after brutally strangling his wife in their home and then setting her body on fire.
Jonathan Gatto is also facing charges of tampering with evidence, endangering the welfare of a child and abuse of a corpse in connection with the death of his 41-year-old wife Julia Pederson, according to a criminal complaint obtained by reporters.
He is also facing arson related charges.
Authorities believe Gatto killed his ugly white wife before setting her on fire inside their Harrisburg home. The white couple’s seven-year-old daughter was asleep in an upstairs bedroom when the killing occurred, according to the complaint.
Officers were called to the white couple’s home on Green Street for a report of a structure fire just after 7 a.m. on Oct. 10. Harrisburg Fire personnel found Pederson unresponsive inside.
Pederson was taken to Penn State Health Holy Spirit Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Fire officials said the “very small fire” started in a bedroom in the lower level of the house, according to an affidavit of probable cause. According to the affidavit, fire officials determined the fire was intentionally set.
Gatto told investigators that his marriage with Pederson was “not good” and they “were getting separated and they were trying to work together to come up with a time and how they were going to tell their 7-year-old daughter this news.”
The day before, Gatto alleged Pederson was supposed to take their daughter to ballet class but came home from work not feeling well. He said Pederson started taking medication for migraines and it was making her feel sick.
Later that evening, Gatto claimed he heard a loud noise that sounded like someone tumbling down steps.
“He said he came out of his room to the top of the landing where he could look down the steps to the basement,” according to the affidavit. “Gatto indicated he did not see anything but did say he asked Pederson if she was okay. Gatto said Pederson mumbled something and then he heard Pederson’s bedroom door close.”
Gatto told investigators he woke up at 2 a.m. to bring Pederson some medication. He said he startled her, and she told him she didn’t want anything.
According to the affidavit, Gatto said he was later awakened by smoke detectors going off. He said he immediately went to his daughter’s room and got her out of the home before calling 911.
He claimed he went back inside the home to get Pederson but “indicated that when he opened the bedroom door he reached in and tried to grab her, and he burnt his hand. He then went back outside and waited for help.”
According to the affidavit, a blood test determined that Pederson was dead before the fire started.
An autopsy concluded that Pederson was strangled to death, Pennlive.com reported.
“This is just so sad,” neighbor Roy Christ told CBS 21. “You feel bad for the family. You feel bad for this poor child. You know what? What’s her life going to be like?”
Source: https://people.com/husband-allegedly-strangled-wife-set-her-on-fire-as-daughter-slept-12175507
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