The husband of a Pennsylvania doctor allegedly strangled his wife to death and then set her body on fire while their seven–year–old daughter slept nearby.
uncertain
daughter → strangle → fire
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center pediatrician Dr. Julia Pederson, 41, was found dead around 7.05am Saturday in Harrisburg, about 100 miles west of Philadelphia, after a fire broke out at a home on the 2900 block of Green Street.
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fire → find → Street
Harrisburg police said it investigated Pederson's death and determined that it had not actually been caused by the blaze.
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it → say → blaze
Pederson's husband, Jonathan Gatto, 42, was arrested Wednesday and charged with first–degree murder.
Gatto has also been accused of abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, endangering the welfare of children, arson and aggravated arson.
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Gatto → arrest → children
He told police during an interview that the couple intended to get a separation because of marriage struggles and were deciding how to tell their daughter, according to an affidavit seen by WGAL.
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couple → tell → WGAL
Gatto claimed he suddenly woke up to smoke detectors going off, causing him to rush into the home's downstairs bedroom to get the little girl.
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him → claim → girl
He told police he returned for Pederson but burned his hand trying to get into the room, per the reported affidavit.
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he → tell → affidavit
Blood tests showed Pederson had been dead before the fire started.
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fire → show → ?
Dr. Julia Pederson, 41, was found dead on Saturday after a small fire broke out at a home in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg police said an investigation found that Pederson's death had not been caused by the fire.
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death → find → fire
Her husband, 42–year–old Jonathan Gatto, was arrested and charged with murder
Gatto allegedly told law enforcement that Pederson had not been feeling well on October 9 after starting to take new medication for her migraines.
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Pederson → arrest → migraines
He claimed to have heard a loud sound around 11pm or midnight which resembled someone falling down the stairs, per the reported affidavit.
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someone → claim → affidavit
Gatto said he asked Pederson if she was okay, to which she allegedly mumbled and closed the bedroom door, WHP reported.
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WHP → say → door
Law enforcement also allegedly heard that Gatto returned to the bedroom around 2am to bring his wife ibuprofen.
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Gatto → hear → ibuprofen
However, Pederson was allegedly startled and he went back to bed, per the reported legal document.
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he → go → document
When Gatto woke up again to the smoke detectors later, he claimed that he was effectively unable to reach Pederson because of the blaze inside the bedroom.
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he → wake → bedroom
He then waited for emergency crews outside, per the reported document.
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He → wait → document
An autopsy conducted on Tuesday found that Pederson died from traumatic injuries before the fire, and her death was ruled a homicide.
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death → conduct → fire
The blaze was described as 'very small' by investigators, while a Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal found that it had been intentionally set after inspecting the scene.
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it → describe → scene
Firefighters observed light smoke coming from the home, according to the reported affidavit.
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smoke → observe → affidavit
First responders performed CPR on Pederson and then rushed her to the Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center, where she was declared dead.
Gatto allegedly told police that Pederson had not been feeling well after starting to take new medication for her migraines
Gatto told police that he woke up to smoke detectors going off at the home on the 2900 block of Green Street
A GoFundMe fundraiser started by Pederson's sister, Abbey, noted that her daughter was in the second grade.
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daughter → perform → grade
The fundraiser looked to cover funeral expenses and establish a scholarship fund for the little girl's future.
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fundraiser → look → future
As of Thursday, about $23,800 had been raised.
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23,800 → raise → Thursday
Pederson was a Harvard University graduate who received her medical degree from Stanford's School of Medicine and did her pediatric residency at Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago.
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who → receive → Chicago
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) told CBS21 on Tuesday that it was 'deeply saddened' by Pederson's death.
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it → tell → death
UPMC called Pederson a 'beloved pediatrician' and a 'valued member' of its Children's Community Pediatrics team.
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UPMC → call → team
'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,' the statement continued.
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statement → devote → colleagues
Pederson joined the hospital in February, according to a Facebook post from UPMC.
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Pederson → join → UPMC
Pederson was remembered as a 'beloved pediatrician' with a daughter in the second grade after her death
Fran
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Pederson → remember → death
Chardo, the Dauphin County district attorney, called the circumstances around Pederson's death 'devastating.
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Chardo → call → death
'
'With the domestic violence case, it can happen,' Chardo said, according to WGAL.
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Chardo → happen → WGAL
'These things occur suddenly and without any warning.'
Gatto has been denied bail.
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Gatto → occur → bail
He remained at Dauphin County Prison as of Wednesday, according to Pennsylvania court records viewed by the Daily Mail.
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He → remain → Mail
He is scheduled to appear in court on October 28 for a preliminary hearing.
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He → schedule → hearing
Gatto did not have an attorney listed in court records.
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attorney → have → records
Legal filings said he had not requested a public defender.
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he → say → defender
The Daily Mail has reached out to the Dauphin County District Attorney's Office and the Dauphin County Coroner's Office for further comment.
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Mail → reach → comment
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