Detectives painstakingly search Erin Patterson’s home after she was arrested over the poisonous mushroom meal that led to the deaths of three people.
Patterson was arrested at her home in Leongatha, eastern Victoria, at around 8am on Thursday. No charges were filed.
Heather Wilkinson, 66, her sister Gail Patterson and her husband Don Patterson, both 70, all died in August, just days after eating a beef wellington prepared by Ms. Patterson.
The Pattersons were the parents of Ms. Patterson’s estranged husband, Simon.
Ms Wilkinson’s husband, Baptist Church pastor Ian Wilkinson, 68, was the sole survivor but fell seriously ill and spent almost two months in hospital.
A specialist team of police investigators is currently searching Ms Patterson’s home, where the fatal family dinner took place on July 29.
Forensic experts were seen rummaging through a cluttered garage next to the house and combing the interior of their red MG ZS SUV in the property’s driveway.
Detectives have also brought in specially trained “technology sniffing dogs” who can detect USB memory sticks and SIM cards to help search the property.
READ MORE: Erin Patterson Arrested LIVE: Photos show cops swooping on key item at mushroom chef’s home
Police have arrested Erin Patterson, the woman at the center of the investigation into the toxic mushroom flour that led to the deaths of three people in Gippsland, eastern Victoria
Detectives have brought in specially trained “technology sniffer dogs” who can detect USB memory sticks and SIM cards to help search the property
Investigators were seen searching Erin Patterson’s car (pictured) during a search of her property on Thursday
On Thursday morning, police could also be seen rummaging through the overflowing contents of the garage next to the house
The technology sniffing dogs have been provided by the Australian Federal Police, who say they can find storage devices
The technology detection dogs have been provided by the Australian Federal Police, who say they can find storage devices such as USB sticks, hard drives, mobile phones, memory cards and SIM cards.
Considered the elite of all sniffer dogs, the dogs are able to sense the micron-thin coating that protects computer circuit boards.
Their noses are so sensitive that they can detect tiny SIM or memory cards hidden in walls or even fruit.
The dogs were seen exploring various locations around the house, with a sofa on a back patio of the house being closely inspected.
Ms. Patterson’s car was also thoroughly searched several times by investigators and sniffer dogs.
On Thursday morning, five cars, including Ms. Patterson’s, were parked in her driveway. Ms. Patterson’s empty trash cans remained uncollected outside her property.
Her arrest came after Pastor Wilkinson allegedly helped homicide detectives with their investigation following his release from the hospital on September 23rd.
Police believe the symptoms experienced by the four guests were consistent with the effects of eating death cap mushrooms.
“Today’s arrest is just the next step in a complex and thorough investigation by Homicide detectives, which is ongoing,” said Detective Inspector Dean Thomas.
“Once the search of the premises has been completed, the woman will be questioned by homicide detectives. “We will provide updates throughout the day.”
“Over the last three months, this investigation has been the subject of incredibly intense public scrutiny and curiosity.”
“I can’t think of any other investigation that has attracted so much public interest, not just here in Victoria but nationally and internationally.”
He added: “Remember that essentially three people lost their lives.”
“These are three people who by all accounts were well-loved in their communities and will be greatly missed by their loved ones.”
The dogs were seen exploring various locations around the house, with a sofa on a back patio of the house being closely inspected
A sign on the fence of Ms. Patterson’s home warns visitors against trespassing on the property
A team of police investigators is currently searching her home in Leongatha, where the fatal family dinner took place on July 29
Five cars, including Erin Patterson’s, were parked in her driveway Thursday morning
Ms Patterson became the focus of the police investigation after it was revealed she had cooked the meal. She has strongly denied any wrongdoing.
She said she took the last remaining plate, ate a portion and later gave the remains to the hospital’s toxicologist for examination.
After the tragedy, Ms. Patterson spoke of her love for the victims of the poisoning and especially her in-laws.
“Now I’m devastated to think that these mushrooms could have contributed to my loved ones’ illness,” she said.
“I really want to reiterate that I had absolutely no reason to hurt these people I loved.”
Ms Patterson said she made the killer lunch with a mix of mushrooms from a major supermarket chain and dried mushrooms from an Asian grocery store in Melbourne.
In her statement to police, which was released to the media, Ms. Patterson said she portioned the food onto plates and let her guests choose for themselves.
A food dehydrator was later dumped at the local landfill because she feared her estranged husband would blame her for his parents’ deaths and gain custody of their two children, she said.
Death caps contain deadly amatoxin that catastrophically attacks a person’s body, essentially “melting a person’s liver”, a medical expert told Chron Australia.
It’s so powerful that you don’t even have to eat part of the mushroom for it to be deadly.
Simply consuming the liquid in which the mushrooms were cooked may be enough to kill them.
On Thursday morning, Victoria Police confirmed they had made an arrest in the case.
Erin Patterson was arrested on Thursday morning and taken to Wonthaggi Police Station for questioning. It is understood no charges have been filed at this time
Heather Wilkinson (left) died after the fatal family dinner in Leongatha on July 29. Her husband Ian Wilkinson (right) was the only survivor
Erin Patterson’s estranged in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, both died after the fatal family dinner
“Homicide detectives have arrested a woman this morning as part of their investigation into the deaths of three people following an incident in Leongatha earlier this year,” a statement said.
“On July 30, four people were admitted to hospital after falling ill following a meal at a private residence in Leongatha the previous day.
“Two women from Korumburra, aged 66 and 70, died in hospital on August 4. A third person, a 70-year-old man from Korumburra, died in hospital on August 5.”
“A 69-year-old man from Korumburra was discharged from hospital on September 23.”
“A 49-year-old woman from Leongatha was arrested at her home address shortly after 8am on November 2nd.
“A search warrant was executed at the Gibson Street address with the assistance of AFP’s technology sleuths.”
“The woman is now being questioned by police and investigations are ongoing.”