A Victorian woman who is being investigated by police after mushrooms she served at a family dinner suspected of fatally poisoning three diners and causing another to fight for his life has been branded “outrageous” by her small town residents ‘ and a little shy.
Erin Patterson, 48, of Leongatha, two hours south-east of Melbourne, is said to have invited her estranged husband Simon Patterson, his parents Gail and Tom Patterson, 70, and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson and husband Ian, 68, to dinner.
Simon pulled out of lunch on July 29 at the last minute, but Gail, Tom and Heather were dead within a week and Ian remains in hospital in critical condition.
Doctors initially assumed the patients were suffering from gastroenteritis or possibly severe food poisoning. But as the weekend drew to a close, it became clear that the situation was far more serious.
Ms Patterson was questioned by police, who said the victims’ symptoms were consistent with eating death caps – the world’s most toxic mushrooms. An official toxicological report is still pending.
According to accounts from residents of the largely Christian rural town of Leongatha, Ms Patterson was a harmless – if distant and somewhat odd – person who enjoyed cooking, was a good mother and, as a neighbor described to The Australian, naive and ‘into unicorns’ .
It is understood that Erin Patterson initially told police during an interview that she bought the mushrooms from a grocer in the Leongatha area
Syd Whyte, who has been president of the Korumburra Community Development and Action Group for more than a decade, said Ms Patterson is responsible for putting together the community newsletter.
The Burra Flyer is published four times a year and contains local news, information on events and promotions for local businesses.
Mr Whyte said he found Ms Patterson’s manner outspoken and that she rarely engaged in small talk, but that she did her job well.
“She was quite capable of putting the flyer together… I thought she was fine,” Mr Whyte told The Australian.
Other parents in the city of 5,800 noted that Ms Patterson mostly kept to herself during school pickups in her bright red SUV.
Ms Patterson and her estranged partner Simon have two high school-aged children together.
The children were also present at lunch but, along with Ms Patterson, did not fall ill after being served food other than the possibly tainted Wellington beef, although all three went to hospital when the other diners developed symptoms.
Ian Wilkinson and Heather Wilkinson (both pictured) became seriously ill after eating wild mushrooms. Ms Wilkinson has sadly passed away while her husband remains in hospital in critical condition
Simon’s parents Gail and Tom Patterson, 70, contracted what was believed to be food poisoning or stomach poisoning after lunch until their symptoms became fatal
Simon had previously spent 21 days in intensive care after collapsing and falling ill at the family home in 2022.
It was one of several mysterious bouts of illness.
Chron Australia does not indicate that Erin tried to poison Simon or her four guests.
Several of Simon’s friends have told Chron Australia that he has never once accused his wife of a crime.
Sources have even told the Chron Australia that the fatal luncheon was an attempt to restore the failed marriage through church mediation.
Mrs. Patterson was involved in the church, although apparently not as much as her in-laws. Ian Wilkinson, clinging to life in hospital, is a local pastor at Korumburra Baptist Church.
Simon Patterson (pictured), Erin’s estranged husband, has reportedly suffered from mysterious stomach problems in the past
According to neighbors, Ms Patterson also has a fondness for animals and keeps sheep on the family’s hobby farm.
The hobby farm is one of two properties she owns, the other being a semi-detached house in east Melbourne valued at over $1 million which she inherited after her mother died four years ago.
A neighbor said he noticed graffiti on a wall at a previous family property.
Ms Patterson, who stayed at her family’s home this week while reporters camped outside, has staunchly denied she intentionally hurt her in-laws.
“I haven’t done anything; I loved her. “I just can’t imagine what happened,” she told reporters this week.
Homicide detectives continue to investigate how the four guests became seriously ill.
Detective Inspector Dean Thomas said the type of mushroom the diners ate was unknown, but the symptoms were consistent with eating a death cap.
He said it would be a while before investigators would wrap up the incident and that police were open-minded.
“It could be very harmless, but we just don’t know,” he said.
The family were all heavily involved with the Korumburra Baptist Church (pictured).
Mushrooms on the family home in Leongatha in the Gippsland region of Victoria
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
Through 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
Saturday 12 August
Locals from Ian’s town of Korumburra begin calling South Gippsland Councilwoman Jenni Keerie to offer her kidneys should he need a transplant