An eerie and fortuitous detail has surfaced in a community newsletter once put out by a couple who tragically died from suspected mushroom poisoning.
Erin Patterson, 48, hosted her former in-laws – Gail and Don Patterson, as well as Gail’s sister and her husband Heather and Ian Wilkinson – for lunch at her home in Leongatha in Victoria’s Gippsland region on July 29.
But within days, three of their four guests died from suspected mushroom poisoning. The surviving guest, Mr Wilkinson, continues to fight for his life in hospital and requires a liver transplant.
Seven years ago, while authorities investigate the deaths, a haunting photo of mushrooms was published in a local newsletter once run by the Pattersons before their then-daughter-in-law later took over.
From March 2013 to February 2018, Gail and Don actively curated the community newsletter Burra Flyer. They often featured photos on the front page, often contributed by their son Simon.
On the cover of the June-August 2016 issue is a photo taken by her son of three poisonous red toadstools on a nature strip.
In March 2018, the couple handed the reins to his then-daughter-in-law Erin, who publicly thanked her for her support.
Erin Patterson was pictured leaving her home in Leongatha on Thursday, nearly a week after her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, died of suspected mushroom poisoning
In 2016, Gail and Don Patterson ran the community newsletter by posting a photo of toadstools that Simon had taken for her. The couple later died from suspected mushroom poisoning
Erin seemed to be in charge of editing the newsletter for the next two years, continuing the tradition of regularly posting photos of her husband Simon.
Several pictures showed her two children enjoying various activities in the area.
Sometimes it was a photo of her daughter and son playing near their lavish Leongatha home, other times it was pictures of koalas or birds nesting in their sprawling 6-acre garden.
Her home has been described as a “natural wonderland,” a private paradise filled with “abundant bird life” and its own creek.
Simon Patterson was supposed to go with his parents to the lunch that killed them
Her home has been described as a “natural wonderland,” a private paradise filled with “abundant bird life” and its own creek
The Pattersons’ 6-acre garden is now the scene of a terrible tragedy
But behind the facade of her quiet life, something unsettling was going on.
Simon – well known locally in South Gippsland for helping run a children’s basketball team – suddenly fell ill last year.
He declined to discuss the incident further, but revealed in a Facebook post that he nearly died from a mysterious intestinal condition that left him in a coma.
Not long after, Simon moved out of his family home to live with his parents – while Erin and the kids stayed behind.
Then, late last month, a second bolt of lightning struck.
Don and Gail, both 70, along with Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, 66, and her husband Ian, 68, were rushed to hospital after accompanying Erin and the children to lunch.
At first the doctors thought she had gastrointestinal problems. It made sense, they’d all eaten the same mushroom dish, which was probably a Beef Wellington Pie.
But when Don, Gail, and Heather died – and Erin survived – serious questions were asked.
Police are continuing to investigate the deaths and authorities warn the incident could be “very harmless”. Erin Patterson has denied any wrongdoing.
As the police investigation into the mysterious “unexplained” deaths continues, Chron Australia lays out the questions that remain to be answered about the case.
Gail and Don Patterson died after eating the mushrooms
Ian Wilkinson and Heather Wilkinson (both pictured) became seriously ill after eating wild mushrooms. Ms Wilkinson died on Friday while her husband remains in hospital in critical condition
1. Where do the mushrooms come from?
When the four family members arrived at local hospitals in the early hours of July 30, it was initially thought they were suffering from gastrointestinal illnesses.
It was only when their condition worsened and they were taken to Melbourne that doctors determined that their symptoms were consistent with death cap poisoning.
It’s still unclear where the mushrooms came from and how they got into the meal.
Seven News reported that Erin told police she bought the mushrooms at a local store.
Dean Thomas, Victoria Police Chief Homicide Superintendent, said those details were still being investigated – and Erin declined to answer the question when asked by journalists on Monday.
Where the killer mushrooms came from may remain a mystery, but the source is not, as they grow throughout Victoria in warm, humid weather.
Autumn offers ideal flowering conditions for the mushrooms. In April, state health officials warned Victorians to be cautious about eating mushrooms found in the wild.
Mushrooms on the family home in Leongatha in the Gippsland region of Victoria
2. What meal was served at the family dinner?
The question on everyone’s lips: What exactly was the meal? Was it a mushroom risotto, and some have speculated about it? When asked by reporters, Erin Patterson repeatedly refused to confirm which meal was consumed.
Rumors circulated around the small town that Erin had served a casserole. However, police sources have since confirmed to Chron Australia that this is also false.
Reports surfaced on Thursday that a Beef Wellington Pie was on the menu.
However, Inspector Thomas confirmed on Monday that investigators had identified the meals served to both the adults and children at lunch, but declined to give further details.
3. Did Erin Patterson dine with her guests or her children?
According to police, the four guests received different meals than Erin’s children.
When asked by reporters if the mother-of-two had eaten the mushrooms, Inspector Thomas didn’t give a definitive answer, but did note that she hadn’t gotten sick.
“She had no symptoms,” he said.
“So whether or not she ate any of the mushrooms is part of our investigation.”
The criminologist Dr.
“You’ll be careful about that.” [information] “They publish and when … they don’t want the public to jump to conclusions,” she said.
4. Did the guests know they ate wild mushrooms?
Neither police nor Erin Patterson have revealed whether those who attended the luncheon knew they were eating wild mushrooms.
Inspector Thomas also didn’t elaborate on whether Erin was known to be a mushroom picker, but said it would be part of the investigation.
Police have not revealed how the mushrooms were incorporated into the dish, which will help investigators determine whether the mushrooms were a main ingredient or a subtle addition.
When the four guests were taken to the hospital, they initially thought they had gastrointestinal problems and did not mention that they had eaten collected mushrooms.
It was only later that doctors linked her symptoms to death lines.
5. Why did Erin’s ex-husband skip lunch?
Police said Erin and Simon’s relationship was “amicable” despite the couple’s split.
Sources told Chron Australia that he was also scheduled to attend lunch
“Simon was supposed to go to lunch but couldn’t make it at the last minute,” a friend said Wednesday.
6. What was Simon Patterson’s mysterious illness?
Simon Patterson nearly died last year from a mysterious stomach illness.
After collapsing at his home in May 2022, he spent 21 days in intensive care.
“I collapsed at home and was then in an induced coma for 16 days, undergoing three emergency surgeries, mainly on the small intestine, plus one other scheduled surgery,” he wrote on Facebook after his recovery.
“Twice my family was asked to come and say goodbye to me as they didn’t expect me to survive.”
“I was in intensive care for 21 days, then I was in the general ward for a week and now I’m in a rehab facility.”
Simon continued, writing that the treatment “appeared to have resolved the serious bowel problems.”
Simon Patterson nearly died last year from a mysterious stomach illness
“I have a large scar on my abdomen that is slow to heal and I have ICU acquired weakness, a common condition in people like me who are in ICU for long periods of time,” he said.
“I can walk and do all normal everyday tasks by myself, but my left shoulder in particular is very weak.”
Anyone who knows Simon says he never explained the background to his stomach problems.
A friend who wished to remain anonymous told Chron Australia if he knew what caused the illness he had not told friends or family.
“He worked really hard to be rehabilitated.” “He went to live with his parents and there was nothing unusual at the time,” the friend said.
During Simon’s hospital stay, his ex-wife continued to update his concerned friends on social media about his condition.
“As far as we all knew, they were quite friendly. He never said a bad word about her. He wouldn’t. “They have children together and he’s such a person,” said another friend.
7. Was a dehydrator used to prepare the meals?
Police have seized a dehydrator that was reportedly found in a landfill near Erin’s home. Food dehydrators are used to produce dried foods such as beef jerky, fruits, herbs, and of course, mushrooms.
The device is currently being tested to determine if it was used to prepare food that Erin served for lunch.
Inspector Thomas would not provide any further information about the dehydrator, such as whether it was confirmed to belong to Erin or what led to its discovery at the landfill.
However, he said that a search of Erin’s home on Saturday had found a number of items and further tests were being conducted.
Pictured: The landfill where the police found a dehydrator
8. Are the police treating the deaths as suspicious?
Inspector Thomas said no charges were expected at this point in the “very, very complex investigation”.
He also stressed that while homicide detectives are working on the case, it’s not yet clear whether the deaths — which are being treated as “unexplained” — are suspicious.
However, he said Erin Patterson is being treated as a person of interest in the case because she cooked the meals.
Speaking to reporters outside her home shortly after Inspector Thomas addressed the reporters, an emotional Erin Patterson said she was devastated by what happened and denied any wrongdoing.
“I didn’t do anything,” she said Monday, wiping away tears.
“I loved them and am devastated that they are gone.”
Erin said all four guests were wonderful people and always treated them kindly.
“Gail was like the mother I didn’t have because my mother died four years ago and Gail had never been anything but good and kind to me,” she continued.
“Ian and Heather were some of the best people I’ve ever met. They never did anything to me.’
Chron Australia is not claiming that Ms Patterson was in any way guilty or responsible for her husband’s illness last year or the poisoning and three deaths earlier this week.
Chron Australia also does not suggest that police suspect Ms Patterson was in any way guilty or responsible for the illness or poisoning and three deaths earlier this week, merely that she is a person of interest.
MUSHROOM POISONING: A SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Saturday 29th July
Don and Gail Patterson and Heather and Ian Wilkinson (a pastor) meet for lunch at Erin Patterson’s home in Leongatha, northeast Melbourne.
Sunday 30 July
All four lunch guests come to the hospital ill. It is initially assumed that they have Gastro.
As their condition worsens, they are transferred to hospitals in Melbourne.
Friday, August 4th
Gail and Heather die in the hospital.
Saturday August 5th
Don dies in the hospital. Police search Erin Patterson’s Leongatha home and confiscate a number of items.
Sunday 6 August
The police are seen returning to Erin’s house to question her. They are heard howling loudly inside the house before the four officers leave.
Monday, August 7th
Victoria Police Detective Homicide Superintendent Dean Thomas confirms that Erin is being treated as a person of interest in the case.
However, he says the investigation is still at an early stage and it is yet to be determined whether the deaths are suspicious.
A short time later, Erin breaks her silence and talks to reporters outside the house. She says she was devastated and “love” the four relatives who came to her house. She denies any wrongdoing, but does not answer questions about where the mushrooms came from, who picked them, or what food she prepared for her guests.
Tuesday, August 8th
In a bizarre twist, it was revealed in June 2022 that Simon Patterson had been suffering from a mysterious stomach condition. He fell into a coma and was in intensive care for 21 days. His case has yet to be clarified by doctors.
Forensic testing is underway to find any traces of death cap on a dehydrator found at a landfill. Police believe it was used in the preparation of the meal.
Wednesday, August 9th
Chron Australia reveals Simon Patterson was expected for lunch but pulled out at the last minute
Chron Australia is not claiming that Erin was in any way responsible for his illness or the three deaths.