The small Australian town of Leongatha has never gained international attention like it has over the past three months.
The local news is usually dominated by petty crime, local council debates and sporting achievements. But that quickly changed when the town made global headlines when three people died after eating beef wellington while at a home-cooked lunch.
Victoria Police Inspector Dean Thomas echoed this sentiment on Thursday, saying the case was unlike anything he had ever seen.
“Over the last three months, this investigation has been subject to incredibly intense levels of public scrutiny and curiosity,” he told media, shortly after arresting Erin Patterson, the woman at the centre of fatal meal.
“I cannot think of another investigation that has generated this level of media and public interest, not only here in Victoria but nationally and internationally.”
Within minutes of the Patterson’s arrest, global media outlets were sending out alerts, including The Washington Post, BBC, the Los Angeles Times and CNN.
The case also piqued the interest of American weekly magazine People, who kept running tabs on the saga.
The New York Times even published an in-depth report into the timeline and background of the case.
The story was also picked up by American broadcast television network NBC, who covered the day-to-day developments.
Patterson has since been charged with multiple counts of murder and attempted murder.
Heather Wilkinson, 66, her sister Gail Paterson, 70, and her husband Don, also aged 70, all died following the lunch on July 30 in Victoria’s Gippsland region.
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The Age crime reporter John Silvester said he couldn’t remember another case gaining such worldwide interest over his career.
“It’s one of the few cases that has really sort of attracted international curiosity,” he told Today.
“The little town of Leongatha, we should remember is really grieving for three of its most favourite residents.
“It is a real case with real tragedy.
“At the same time, everyone’s really curious about events of that particular lunch.
“This case is quite extraordinary.”
Patterson has been remanded in custody to next face court on May 3.
