Investigators say a respected pediatrician, mother and wife was killed by her husband.
Julia Pederson, 41, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, died after police allege that her husband, Jonathan Gatto, 41, strangled her inside their family home before deliberately setting the property on fire.
The fire was reported Saturday, Oct. 10, authorities said. Gatto was arrested four days later and charged with murder, arson and other offenses.
Police say Julia Pederson, 41, was strangled by her husband, who then set the family’s Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, home on fire. (Ever Loved Obituary, Abbey Pederson)
The Harrisburg Bureau of Police said the investigation determined that “the death of the victim, a 41-year-old female, was not caused by a fire.”
According to KATV, the couple’s 7-year-old daughter was asleep in an upstairs bedroom when the incident occurred.
Jonathan Gatto, 41, faces murder and arson charges in connection with the alleged killing of his wife and the subsequent house fire. (Harrisburg Bureau of Police)
Pederson was certified by the American Board of Pediatrics. She received her medical degree from Stanford University School of Medicine after earning her undergraduate degree at Harvard University.
NEXT UP: RJ Mitte Was Engaged to Girlfriend Before His Tragic Death at 34
Authorities accuse Gatto of deliberately setting the Harrisburg residence on fire. (Google Maps)
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Children’s Community Pediatrics said in a Facebook post that Pederson joined the organization in February.
A UPMC CCP spokesperson told News Outlet:
“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. 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. We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family, friends and loved ones, and ask that their privacy be respected during this difficult time.”
Before taking the UPMC position, Pederson practiced pediatrics with several organizations in Pennsylvania, California and Chicago.
Her obituary stated: “Through her medical career, Julia devoted herself to the health and well-being of children, providing care and support to the families who placed their trust in her.”
Friends and relatives have shared tributes and memories following Julia Pederson’s death. (Ever Loved Obituary: Shannon Itoyama)
Gatto remains held without bond in the Dauphin County jail. His next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 28.
