A Pennsylvania pediatrician reportedly told her family she feared someone had drugged her shortly before she was killed, according to investigators.
Dr. Julia Pederson, 41, was discovered at about 7:05 a.m. on October 10 after a fire erupted at the Harrisburg home she shared with her husband.
A medical examiner later determined that Pederson had died before the blaze began and classified her death as a homicide.
Her estranged husband, 42-year-old Jonathan Gatto, is accused of strangling her. He faces first-degree murder, abuse of a corpse and additional charges.
A search warrant obtained by PennLive now details Pederson’s concerns in the days before her death, including her belief that she might have been drugged.
In a September 10 text message, Pederson told her mother she was so groggy and weak that she could barely walk. She said she worried she had been drugged and had been forced to cancel appointments with five patients because she felt too ill to work.
According to the warrant, one of the pediatrician’s colleagues told investigators that Gatto and the couple’s seven-year-old daughter brought Pederson drinks at her workplace each day, even though she had not asked for them.
The colleague said Pederson often became extremely tired, experienced migraine-like symptoms and felt dizzy after drinking them.
Dr. Julia Pederson, 41, was found dead at approximately 7:05 a.m. on October 10. Relatives said she had expressed concerns about being drugged in the weeks before her death.
Jonathan Gatto, Pederson’s estranged husband, was arrested on October 13 and charged with first-degree murder, among other offenses.
The warrant states that Pederson had to lie down on the floor of her office on October 9. She planned to undergo blood tests the following day, but never made it to the appointment because she was found dead.
As part of the investigation, police sought DNA samples from each family member. They also asked to collect any bottles, water containers or food containers that Pederson may have used, according to the warrant.
The requested search also included containers holding flammable liquids or chemicals, security footage and documents relating to the couple’s relationship.
Gatto was taken into custody on October 13. Because of the seriousness of the allegations, he was denied bail and remains held at Dauphin County Prison.
An autopsy performed that same day found that Pederson had suffered multiple traumatic injuries.
Two days later, the district attorney and Harrisburg police returned to the residence with investigators. One officer was seen wearing a vest identifying the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, or ATF.
The federal agency commonly assists with investigations involving suspected arson.
Investigators spent slightly more than an hour at the property and were seen leaving with cardboard boxes and paper bags, PennLive reported.
A medical examiner concluded that Pederson was killed before the fire was started at the couple’s home and ruled the death a homicide.
During a police interview, Gatto reportedly said he and Pederson had planned to separate because of problems in their marriage. According to an affidavit reviewed by WGAL, the couple had also been discussing how to explain the separation to their daughter.
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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.
He told police he returned for Pederson, but burned his hand trying to get into the room, per the affidavit. Blood tests showed Pederson had been dead before the fire started.
Gatto allegedly told law enforcement that Pederson had not been feeling well on October 9 after starting to take new medication for her migraines.
He claimed to have heard a loud sound around 11pm or midnight that resembled someone falling down the stairs, according to the affidavit.
Gatto said he asked Pederson if she was okay, to which she allegedly mumbled and closed the bedroom door, WHP reported.
Law enforcement also allegedly heard that Gatto returned to the bedroom around 2am to bring his wife ibuprofen.
However, Pederson was allegedly startled, and he went back to bed, legal documents said.
A coworker told investigators that Pederson would fall ill after drinking the daily beverages her daughter and Gatto dropped off for her
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.
He then waited for emergency crews outside, per the legal document.
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.
Firefighters observed light smoke coming from the home, according to the 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.
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.
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) told CBS 21 that it was ‘deeply saddened’ by Pederson’s death.
UPMC called Pederson a ‘beloved pediatrician’ and a ‘valued member’ of its Children’s Community Pediatrics team.
Pederson had a blood test scheduled for the day she was found dead
‘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.
Pederson joined the hospital in February, according to UPMC.
Our News Outlet has reached out to Gatto’s lawyers for comment.
