An Australian woman, Erin Patterson, has been arrested in connection with the suspected mushroom poisoning deaths of three individuals who fell ill after attending a family lunch in Leongatha, Victoria, in July. A fourth person was hospitalized in critical condition. While Patterson has been taken into custody, she has not yet been charged and maintains her innocence.
Victoria Police have confirmed that Patterson will be interviewed by detectives, and a search warrant has been executed at her residence. Homicide squad Inspector Dean Thomas emphasized the complexity of the case during a press conference, describing it as a tragedy that could have far-reaching consequences for years. This investigation has generated significant media and public interest both within Victoria and on a national and international scale.
The victims of the suspected mushroom poisoning were Gail and Don Patterson, the parents of Erin Patterson’s ex-husband, along with Gail Patterson’s sister Heather Wilkinson and her brother-in-law Ian Wilkinson. All four individuals fell seriously ill and were hospitalized on July 30. Tragically, the Patterson couple and Ms. Wilkinson passed away within days, while Mr. Wilkinson, after two months of treatment, eventually recovered.
In September, Mr. Wilkinson’s loved ones expressed immense relief and gratitude for his recovery. Erin Patterson had previously stated that she herself had been hospitalized after the meal due to stomach pains. She was administered a saline drip and medication to prevent liver damage. Patterson explained that she had prepared a beef wellington pie using a combination of button mushrooms purchased from a supermarket and dried mushrooms bought from an Asian grocery store months earlier. In a statement in August, she expressed devastation at the possibility that these mushrooms may have contributed to the illness of her loved ones, emphasizing that she had no motive to harm them.