Wife’s CHILLING Fears She Was Being Drugged Before Murder: Cops

He's the Ivy League-educated husband and dad accused of strangling his wife to death, a prominent and beloved doctor, setting her body on fire and claiming it was the flames that killed her. But now there are allegations Jonathan Gatto would make special drinks for his wife, and she worried that she was being drugged in the days before her death. What more have you learned about these drinks that Jonathan Gatto allegedly was bringing to his wife? The district attorney investigating this case joins me with the latest on whether this husband's alleged plot to murder his wife started long before firefighters were called to their home. We're on the case presented by Law and Crime. I'm Chris Stewart. We've learned that the day before Dr. Julia Peterson died, she was planning to go get blood work done. She allegedly had not been feeling well, especially after she would consume special drinks that her husband would make her, and her husband would have those drinks delivered to her office by their seven-year-old daughter. Family members have allegedly told law enforcement that Julia was worried that she was being drugged. How did your investigators, uh, characterize his demeanor in the conversation that they had with him? As, uh, as calm, uh, and, but, uh, I mean, obviously there's, there's, uh, expressed sadness, but it didn't seem, uh, real. That's the district attorney of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. That's where Harrisburg is. His name is Fran Chardo. This is his case. I just spoke to him. He told me that Dr. Peterson's family members say they have text messages she claimed to be groggy, that she would have to lie down in her office and cancel appointments. She just felt that bad. And police alleged that she started to feel that way after she consumed these special drinks that her husband, Jonathan Gatto, allegedly made her. And police say that Gatto would make these drinks. Then he would have the couple's seven-year-old daughter allegedly go into the office, deliver them to her mom, all while Jonathan Gatto waited in a car outside. Now, we know that Gatto and Peterson, they were in a marriage that was coming to an end. We'll talk more about that here in just a moment. Police are now investigating whether those drinks were spiked with anything that could have harmed Dr. Peterson. Charges, as far as that part of it, have not been filed as of yet. Now, the day before Julia died, she reportedly felt so bad that she had to lay on the floor of her office, and she was planning to go get blood work done the next day to figure out what might be going on, but she never made it. Now, this is the search warrant that shows that investigators are looking for evidence in the couple's home in Harrisburg to help them determine if Jonathan Gatto was poisoning his wife. The DA said that they believed that these drinks were being made for Julia in the days leading up to her death. Now, investigators, they want to collect, quote, any and all water bottles, water containers, food containers, flammable liquid containers, or flammable chemicals to see if any of them could show that Dr. Peterson was consuming any sort of poison. Testing will need to be done on that part of it. Now, police are also looking into any and all details related to the marriage that Jonathan and Julia had, and Jonathan told investigators the marriage was on its way out. At the same time, this was not a couple, we have been told, that had a history of domestic violence, or abuse, at least that authorities know about. There were no previous 911 calls made to the home. Now, before we get to what the district attorney told me, I want to quickly lay out what we know and how we got to this point, and talk about the people involved in this story. So, you have Jonathan Gatto, and then Dr. Julia Peterson, and they met in college, and not just at any college. They both went to Harvard, then they both graduated from Stanford. I mean, on the surface, you talk about a power couple. Peterson went to med school at Stanford, Gatto got a master's in international policy there. The couple appears to have lived in California for a period of time before moving to Pennsylvania's capital in recent years, and they have a seven-year-old daughter. Dr. Peterson was a pediatrician, and Gatto didn't work, according to the district attorney. He allegedly was a stay-at-home dad. He also, apparently, was living elsewhere part-time, and he would only stay in the house once in a while, and then Dr. Peterson, and Gatto would stay in different bedrooms. Both of them were 41 years old. On Saturday, October 10th, Jonathan Gatto allegedly called 911 just after 7 o'clock in the morning from their home. When firefighters got to the house, they found light smoke coming from the front of the home. Firefighters found Julia in a downstairs bedroom. Gatto said he woke up to the sound of a smoke detector, grabbed his daughter, and they got out. He also claims to have tried to go back into the house and rescue his wife, but it was just too hot. He actually says he burned his hand trying to save her, and he had to bolt outside and wait for firefighters to get there. And that is part of the story that investigators say just does not seem to add up with the reality of what they saw and the evidence that they found inside the home. Police questioned Jonathan Gatto in the hours after the fire, and he appeared to be very upfront about his marriage and the fact that it was not going well, and they were on track for divorce. They were just trying to figure out how they would break the news to their daughter. Gatto claimed that Julia did not feel well the night before. He said that she was supposed to take their daughter to ballet, but she just felt so bad that she couldn't do it. He said that she had started taking some migraine medication, and that was making her not feel well. He says that his wife went to bed early. Then, at around 11 o'clock or midnight, he heard a loud noise, and he heard a loud thud. He said it was like someone falling down the stairs, and he claims that he yelled out to Julia if she was okay, and she mumbled that she was, and that was it. He then says, as the good husband that he was, that he would wake up at two o'clock in the morning and bring his wife ibuprofen. He says he woke up at two, and she told him she didn't want the medication. The next thing he says is he wakes up hours later to the sound of smoke detectors, and that's when he said that he grabbed his daughter. He calls 911, and while he's on the phone with the dispatcher, and we have not heard that audio yet, he claims to have gone back into the house to try and get his wife, but it was just too hot, and he couldn't reach her. An autopsy found that the smoke did not kill Julia Peterson. She was allegedly strangled to death, and police allege that the fire was not an accident. Gatto allegedly set her body on fire. They believe that he did that to try and cover his tracks. Police also noted that the fire was, quote, very small, which does seem to contradict what Gatto was saying, with it being just too hot for him to be able to get to his wife. Gatto allegedly killed his wife, all while their seven-year-old daughter was asleep in her room. Joining me now to talk more about this is the District Attorney of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, Fran Chardo. Thank you, sir, for taking the time to be with us here on Law and Crime. Well, we're continuing to look at that, and it's going to take a while for lab work to tell us precisely what it was, but we are asking them to examine it broadly, because sometimes the danger is that it can be something unique, and it wouldn't be detected if you didn't look at it broadly or know more precisely what you're looking for. How often was he bringing these? I know it was his daughter that would bring them into the office, and just according to the search warrant, that he would stay in the car. When was that going on? So we have initial indications that it had been happening for days, but we're continuing to look at it and see if there's more witnesses that can confirm this fact. And I know your investigators talked to members of her family, some of Dr. Peterson's close friends. How did they characterize this marriage before all this happened between Dr. Peterson and Jonathan Gatto? The marriage was coming to an end, and they were separated, and there are indications that the divorce was imminent. And that goes to why this likely happened. Was it still a surprise? I mean, clearly, anytime something like this happens, there's going to be a level of surprise. But even with the divorce coming to an end, what was their reaction knowing that he would be accused of this? Whose reaction? Just family members of Dr. Peterson and friends. Well, we were just in a court proceeding, and listen, there was sadness, clear sadness. But this is going to surprise anyone. I mean, there are a lot of separations and divorces, and the murder is unusual, but it is a motive that can be behind some of these. Was he considered a good? Husband before this? Would they consider him that? Well, I guess it depends on whom you're speaking to, but we're still asking those questions, and it's early on. We had enough where we felt it was, we had to move quickly and make the arrest and bring those charges but we're going to continue to gather evidence and we're doing interviews, as you know this very day. And, and I know just according to the, the affidavit that was released, you know, he spoke to investigators. After, you know, a couple hours after this fire had happened and he had said that, you know, he woke up to the sound of smoke alarms and to your understanding is he still going with that story that that this was an accidental fire that took his wife's life. Well, obviously, the defendants presumed innocent, but we wouldn't have that from him and he has no obligation to. To give further statements or, you know, we have the burden of proof and we won't know exactly what he's going to assert. How soon just in talking to your investigators. Did it seem like that this was not allegedly just a house fire. Well, so we are looking at early on and had kept an open mind but had suspicion from the beginning. And I'll tell you, being present at the autopsy. It was because there was suspicion. And that's one of those cases where the autopsy is going to be one of the things that drives the determination. I mean, if it's a gunshot wound, you know that the cause of death, but this was something that was someone tried to make it secret. And so the autopsy was essential and it was apparent there what we should do and what the cause and manner of death was. How did your investigators characterize this case. And how did you characterize his demeanor in the conversation that they had with them as as calm and but I mean obviously there's there's expressed sadness, but it didn't seem Real what about his story to you raise red flags when you first heard it. Well, first of all, that the nature of the fire. It's a very, very small fire confined It's a very, very small fire confined around our deceit and around our victim and I, you know, listening to the 911 call, you know, there were all sorts of things, the manner in which it was reported in it and the actual event. sort of made us realize this is something we really should analyze and it may be It may be a homicide. With what we know about where she was in the house. When she was found. Did it seem like she, you know, had tried to escape or were there any signs of That this was a person who if a fire had actually started in this room that this you know she she woke up and tried to get out. So the, the, the nature of the injuries that the blows that were inflicted This these occurred before the fire. She was dead before the fire set Have you ever had a case like this. We have actually where it was the fire was used as a cover. So this is not the first I've had it's it's a matter of manner in which some people think that they can cover up the crime and they can't And, you know, looking at, you know, there was, you know, dispatch audio that was out there. And I think the call came in that it was You know, the caller had said that it was a space heater that that started the fire and I know through the investigation that law enforcement did not believe that that took place. You know, the call came in that it was a space heater that that started the fire and I know through the investigation that that took place. But is that the story that he was giving initially that it was like a space heater potentially in the home or something like that. Well, I'll let the the The pleadings, let the the affidavit speak for itself because obviously the statement, the recording statement would be much more detailed and I can't get into that too much, but it that that speak for itself that that's that's what's conveyed and that's what's recorded in the affidavit. Do you believe that he actually went back into the house to try and I know part of his story was he was still in the house. The phone with the 911 call to go back inside. Is that something that you believe actually happened. Well, we're still looking at that because, you know, in this age of cameras, including ring cameras and being all over the place we're looking into other ways we can document that and, you know, even just, you know, less about a week out. It's a little more than we got it. It's we're not at the being that far into it. And we have more looking we're going to do and hopefully be able to get more in that department. Yeah, and I know I'm asking questions that there's a lot of things that you can't answer, you know, as an investigation investigation goes on. One other question I had just kind of reading through the documents, you know, he had said he burnt his hand, because he had gone back into the house to try and rescue his wife and did it. Did your investigators tell you, you know, at least when they spoke to him is that, you know, an injury that he had. Well, he kept talking about it and it's equally, excuse me, it could just as easily have been gotten in lighting the fire that was a cover up and or an attempted cover up, as opposed to going in to try and save someone. We know it wasn't the latter because she was already deceased, the victim of the homicide. And how long I know that they were both. I mean, you know, in terms of education wise, I mean, both of them I believe had gone to Harvard and Stanford, incredibly impressive, especially for Dr. Peterson. How long did they live in Harrisburg and in that area I know in the past that they had lived in California during that like what have you learned about their story and what brought them to your community. So we're still actually part of today we were looking at the reasoning for them coming here but they hadn't been here that long, and, you know, you know, with a year or so, but they've been in other parts and they've moved around a good bit, including in South America for a period that there was a connection down there. So, we're still looking at that and it's early on. The focus early on is obviously the events surrounding the homicide. Sure, without a doubt. Did, did he mention I know that the marriage was coming to an end and just according to the documents. You know they're trying to. You know, figure out how to break the news to their, their daughter and like I mean I can't imagine, you know, for that seven year old girl and everything she's she's going through but did he give a reason or what was the reason as to why this marriage was coming to an end. Well, so there was an expression that, and this is noted in the affidavit that they were, they were not getting along and that they had a bad relationship with, with her. That was interesting that he admitted that fact but it was. That does explain why. He was not always usually living in that house he was staying elsewhere, close by but elsewhere, and there was this, this parting that was imminent. Dr. Peterson, you know I know she was, you know, very much but you can just see the reaction from people, because of the line of work that she did and all the patients that she had. What did Jonathan I mean he had, you know, some incredible degrees as well I think he was in like international policy and political science and in that world but like what did he do for a living. Well right at the end, he was a stay at home that watching their child. And so he was not employed at the, at the time of the of the homicide. How is there and I, you know, it's hard to find a way to ask this question but I mean to, you know, for this seven year old girl, just to your understanding like how is she, you know, what is she going through right now, obviously with everything that's been alleged and everything that that happened inside the house. Well, I think the courts do a great job of watching out for someone in this position, she has more family, and though the court will make sure that she is taken care of. In a very constructive way. And, you know, I was president for proceedings today and the court does a great job in this, this area in very difficult circumstances. Yes. I know he had a preliminary hearing listed I think it was for October 28, what happened today in court. So this is separate proceedings you know just make sure that the child is in good care after the loss of a mother and a father who is incarcerated. So making sure that the, the grandparents have are able to care for the child. You know I know at this point with a search warrant looking through the house. And then, you know, for different pieces of evidence. What happens next, you know, at this point I know that Jonathan got those facing some very serious charges. Where would you say this point of the investigation where we're at right now. Well, we're going to continue gathering any information identifying people that know things we don't always know anybody that has information we're going to reach out to and find out what they know, but there's also the preliminary hearing is the next step for us. We're going to continue gathering any information identifying people that know things we don't always know anybody that has information we're going to reach out to and find out what they know, but there's also the preliminary hearings the next step from in the case itself, and you know these cases do not often resolve very very quickly and you know typically about a year to resolve. sort of allegations of abuse before this? You know, I'll let the, I mean, there's records of, you know, like the PFA and things like that. There's nothing like that to be found, so. Is there anything amiss or anything you'd want to add just for people who are getting caught up on this? No, listen, you always ask good questions, cover it very well. Well, thank you so much. Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo, I know it's a very busy time in your community right now, and you all are going through a lot. Thank you for taking the time to be with us. We appreciate it. Thank you for all you do. You take care. Not only is every allegation in this story horrific, but you also think of who else was in the house when Jonathan Gatto allegedly killed his wife, their seven-year-old daughter, who was asleep in her room. Jonathan Gatto is in the county jail in Dauphin County facing several charges, murder, abuse of corpse, tampering with physical evidence, endangering the welfare of a child, arson and aggravated arson. He has been denied bond. There is a GoFundMe that is available. He has raised tens of thousands of dollars to help with funeral expenses and to help Dr. Julia Peterson's daughter. Gatto is next slated for a preliminary hearing on October 28th. That will do it for On the Case, presented by Law & Crime. I'm Chris Stewart. See you next time.