The mother who served a deadly lunch laced with lethal mushrooms told investigators she bought the fungi from a local shop and did not forage them.
Erin Patterson, 48, invited her former in-laws, Gail and Don Patterson, and Gail’s sister and her husband, Heather and Ian Wilkinson, for lunch at her Leongatha home on July 29.
Three of her four guests are now dead from suspected mushroom poisoning with Mr Wilkinson fighting for his life in hospital.
It’s understood Erin Patterson initially told police during an interview that she bought the mushrooms from a grocer in the Leongatha area, 7News reports.
She has since given police a ‘no comment’ interview during which she refused to say where the mushrooms were from.
Daily Mail Australia understands no mushroom product recalls have been made by local shops.
Investigators on Wednesday afternoon probing the unexplained deaths swooped on the rubbish tip to retrieve what could be a key piece of evidence in determining what happened at the lunch.
Victoria Police detectives were spotted once again on Wednesday afternoon at the same junkyard near Koonwarra, in Victoria’s Gippsland region, where officers earlier retrieved a food dehydrator
It comes as grieving loved ones have left flowers at the Korumburra Baptist Church, where Mr Wilkinson, who is still fighting for life, is a pastor
Detectives were spotted at the same junkyard near Koonwarra, in Victoria’s Gippsland region, where officers earlier retrieved a food dehydrator.
The uncommon kitchen implement was believed to have been used in the preparation of the fatal lunch. Daily Mail Australia has been told forensic testing is underway.
It is understood police were on Wednesday seeking to review CCTV footage from the rubbish tip, in order to see which vehicles entered the dump site.
Gail and Don Patterson – the parents of Erin Patterson’s estranged husband – plus Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, all died after they had lunch at the family property in Leongatha on July 29.
Ms Wilkinson’s husband Ian – a respected Christian pastor – was also at the lunch and remains in a critical condition in hospital, awaiting a liver transplant.
Erin Patterson has denied any wrongdoing and no charges are expected to be laid at this stage of the investigation, although she remains a person of interest.
A letter, written on behalf of the Wilkinson and Patterson families, is on display there at the church
Loved ones have visited the church as their pastor fights for life in hospital
Sources earlier told Daily Mail Australia that Ms Patterson also had invited her estranged ex-husband Simon Patterson to their formerly shared home for the fateful meal – but he did not attend.
‘Simon was supposed to go to the lunch but couldn’t make it at the last minute,’ a friend of his told Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday.
Mr Patterson had only just recovered after months of rehabilitation from a mystery stomach illness that left him fighting for life in hospital.
Simon’s friend claimed Ms Patterson had been keen to retain the family home, which she had been living in with the couple’s children since they split.
Flowers were dropped off at the church where one of the guests at the fatal lunch is a pastor at
Grieving loved ones have left flowers at the Korumburra Baptist Church, where Mr Wilkinson, who is still fighting for life, is a pastor. A letter, written on behalf of the Wilkinson and Patterson families, is on display there.
‘It is with profound sadness we share the news of a tragic event that has deeply affected our families, friends and church community,’ the note read.
‘Our beloved family members were cherished individuals. They were parents, grandparents, siblings, children and pillars of faith within our community.
‘Their love, steadfast faith and selfless service have left an indelible mark on our families, the Korumburra Baptist Church, the local community and indeed people around the globe.’
Simon Patterson was supposed to join his parents for the lunch that killed them
Gail and Don Patterson died after eating the mushrooms. It’s understood that Erin was previously married to their son, Simon
The above family tree shows the connections between the Pattersons and Wilkinsons embroiled in the unusual poisoning tragedy in Leongatha
A neighbour of Gail and Don Patterson told Daily Mail Australia that Simon had lived with his parents after splitting with his wife, but moved out late last year.
‘Sunday morning we saw the ambulance pull into their driveway and we didn’t know what was happening,’ he said.
‘They’d been very sort of mobile people. They were always out doing their own lawns. They were pretty active. Don used to go for walks every morning.’
The neighbour, who did not wish to be named, described his neighbours as kind people, who did maintain contact with their son’s ex-wife even after the split.
‘He was a pretty good sort of a person who wouldn’t hold those grudges. I don’t know the reason they were there, but probably to see their grandkids,’ he said.
News of the tragic deaths has been the talk of the small rural community, with allegations Simon may have suffered a serious stomach injury.
Simon Patterson lived with his parents while recovering from a serious stomach problem
Erin Patterson arrived home to a waiting media pack on Tuesday
Mushrooms seen on the family home at Leongatha in Victoria’s Gippsland region
It was revealed on Tuesday that Simon spent 21 days in intensive care after collapsing at his home in May 2022.
‘I collapsed at home then was in an induced coma for 16 days through which I had three emergency operations mainly on my small intestine, plus an additional planned operation,’ he wrote.
‘My family were asked to come and say goodbye to me twice as I was not expected to live.
‘I was in intensive care for 21 days, after which I was in the general ward for a week, and now I’m at a rehab place.’
Simon continued, writing the treatment ‘seemed to have fixed the serious gut problems’.
‘I have a big scar on my tummy which is healing itself slowly, and I have ICU acquired weakness which is a common condition of people who lie in intensive care for a long time as I did,’ he said.
‘I can walk and do all the normal daily functions myself, however my left shoulder in particular is very weak.’
Read Related Also: NYC’s war on ketchup and more: Letters to the Editor — Aug. 6, 2023
The Patterson’s neighbour told Daily Mail Australia Simon had been living with his parents while recovering from that illness.
‘After his illness, there might have been a separation,’ he said. ‘We don’t know why they split up. They were a very private family.’
Erin Patterson refused to answer questions about what she had cooked her guests
The property where the deadly lunch occurred at Leongatha, in Victoria’s Gippsland region
Daily Mail Australia does not suggest Ms Patterson was responsible for Simon’s illness or the three deaths.
She had returned home on Wednesday, but remained holed-up inside behind the safety of a large electric gate.
Homicide detectives searched the property on Saturday as part of their investigation, seizing a number of items.
A police source close to the investigation told The Age on Tuesday police were conducting forensic tests on the dehydrator – which was found at the nearby tip.
Ms Patterson was apparently unharmed by the food, if she ate any at all.
The home of Gail and Don Patterson remained empty on Wednesday
Erin Patterson hauls a suitcase into her red MG before driving off
Ian Wilkinson and Heather Wilkinson (both pictured) became severely ill after they ate wild mushrooms. Mrs Wilkinson died on Friday while her husband remains in a critical condition in hospital
On Tuesday, Ms Patterson was confronted by a media contingent keen for answers.
But the stay-at-home mum provided few, telling reporters to get off her property.
‘What happened is devastating and I’m grieving too and you guys don’t have any respect for that,’ she said.
Ms Patterson was forced to navigate around a media scrum to enter her front door.
‘Can I just get to my door, stop standing in front of me,’ she said.
Ms Patterson refused to answer what dish she served her guests, who are believed to have ingested poisonous mushrooms.
A black dog rushed out of Ms Patterson’s home as she opened the front door, infuriating her further.
‘You don’t have any permission to be on my private property or harass me,’ she said.
‘This kind of behaviour will send someone right off a bridge.’
Asked ‘How she was going’ by a reporter, Ms Patterson stated the obvious.
‘I’m going ****house. Thanks for asking. You guys aren’t helping,’ she responded.
Moments later, Ms Patterson was seen loading a suitcase into the boot of her red MG and leaving.
