His story included another visit several hours later. He said he had set an alarm for 2 a.m. to bring her ibuprofen, but startled her when he entered, and she said she did not want anything. He then returned to sleep, according to the affidavit.
Jonathan said smoke detectors later woke him, prompting him to go to their daughter’s room and take her outside. After calling 911, he said he reentered the house while still speaking with dispatchers.
He told investigators he opened Julia’s bedroom door and reached in to try to pull her out, burning his hand. He said he then retreated outside to wait for emergency personnel. It all sounds perfectly reasonable and even cool-headed.
What Did the Examination Reveal About Julia’s Final Hours?
Fire investigators determined that the blaze had been deliberately started. It was small and reportedly confined to the lower-level bedroom. Then came the finding that made the circumstances so much harder to bear.
Following an autopsy on Tuesday, October 13, forensic pathologist Dr. Wayne Ross determined that Julia had been strangled before she was set on fire. Blood testing showed she had not inhaled smoke, supporting the conclusion that she was already dead when the blaze began.
