Erin Patterson’s past life revealed: ‘Genius’ mushroom cook was an air traffic controller responsible for running airspace before settling down in the country

Erin Patterson once worked as an air traffic controller and was considered very intelligent by her colleagues, it turns out.

Patterson, who is charged with three counts of murder following the deadly mushroom luncheon held at her home earlier this year, took an air traffic control course in 2001. Herald Sun reported.

She went on to work at Tullamarine Airport before leaving the job in 2002, a former colleague said.

“She was given a field assessment and was actually responsible for airspace management for a while,” he said.

The former colleague said Patterson — who then went by her maiden name Erin Scutter — was considered something of a genius.

‘She’s very smart and much brighter than people might think. She managed to wrap men around her little finger even though she was very unkempt,” he added.

The ex-colleague said when news broke of the deaths in Leongatha, in Victoria’s Gippsland region, fellow air traffic controllers thought the woman in the middle of the beef Wellington meal looked familiar.

“She had put on some weight, but she looked so familiar, and she had the same first name and we were 90 to 95 percent convinced at the time that it was the same person, but when we saw it in the paper the name her mother was Scutter, we were absolutely certain,” he said.

Airservices Australia confirmed that Patterson worked for them between February 2001 and November 2002.

Patterson went on to work as Tullamarine Airport (ATC tower pictured) before leaving the job in 2002, a former colleague said

Patterson, 48, appeared in court Friday charged with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder

Court documents show that Patterson attempted to kill her husband Simon four times: between November 16 and 17, 2021, between May 25 and 27, 2022, on September 6, 2022 and during the mushroom lunch in July 2023.

The court heard that much of the case will focus on the alleged killer’s computer records, with specialist dogs used in a search of her property this week.

Patterson did not attempt bail, with Magistrate Tim Walsh telling the alleged killer he had no power to grant that bail even if she had applied.

“Good morning, Ms. Patterson,” Magistrate Tim Walsh said as he entered the courtroom.

“Good morning,” she replied in a soft voice.

Prosecutors asked for a 20-week delay before her next appearance, citing the time needed to “analyze a piece of computer equipment seized yesterday.”

This was questioned by Magistrate Walsh, who asked why they needed a delay when the informant, Detective Acting Sergeant Stephen Eppingstall, was ‘confident enough to charge this woman yesterday’.

“It’s a triple murder!” he exclaimed before agreeing to the delay.

Patterson’s lawyer, Ben Doogue, told the court his law firm had been involved “for a while” and hinted the case “could go on for a very long time.”

He is expected to apply for bail in the coming weeks.

As Mr Walsh explained he had no power to grant her bail, Ms Patterson could be seen nodding repeatedly.

Patterson appeared disheveled as she stood in court for the very first time.

Dressed in a beige sweater and wearing tortoiseshell glasses, Patterson’s hair looked dull and untidy as she sat behind bulletproof glass in prison.

Flanked by two burly security guards wearing body armor and goggles, Patterson looked uncomfortable as she watched the brief hearing.

Patterson spoke softly when addressed by the magistrate, nodding and forcing an awkward smile.

Detectives from the homicide team have asked the court for 20 weeks to compile their evidence against the alleged triple murderer.

A prosecutor said the time was needed to allow police to forensically analyze new evidence recovered from her home on Thursday.

A specialist police team of investigators on Thursday searched Ms Patterson’s home, where the fatal family lunch took place on July 29.

Forensic experts were spotted rummaging through a busy garage at the home and searching the interior of her red MG ZS SUV in the property’s driveway.

Detectives also used specially trained ‘technology sniffer dogs’ that can detect USB memory keys and SIM cards to search the property.

Detectives from the homicide unit enter the court on Friday

Patterson’s attorney Bill Doogue outside court Friday

Erin Patterson enters the Wonthaggi police station, where she was charged with three counts of murder on Thursday

Prosecutors’ request concerned Mr Walsh, who questioned the length of time required.

“Twenty weeks to analyze computer equipment in a triple homicide?” he asked.

“Where the informant (the lead police officer) is confident he had enough evidence to accuse this lady yesterday?”

The court heard that detectives planned to present a ‘voluminous’ body of evidence against Patterson.

Mr Doogue told the court his client was aware the case against her was likely to contain a wealth of material.

Much of it, he revealed, had not even been presented to him because it had not yet been analyzed by police.

Mr. Walsh took a moment to explain the situation to Patterson. She smiled and thanked him.

“The most important thing is that this matter is processed through the system as quickly as reasonably possible,” he said.

Mr Doogue said it was “unfortunate” he could not make an application for bail.

There were no supporters of the accused killer in sight in the packed courtroom, as dozens of other observers watched the five-minute proceedings via video link.

Media gathered at the Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court on Friday

Television crews prepare for a live cross outside the court

It is understood Patterson will be kept behind bars until her next court appearance on May 3, where she is expected to appear in court via video link.

However, a bail application can be made at any time, requiring Patterson to prove to the court why she did not pose a risk to the community while awaiting trial.

Her next appearance in court will likely revolve around the question of which witnesses can be called at a preliminary hearing.

The end of that hearing will determine when and if her case goes to the Supreme Court of Victoria, where she will stand trial.

The trial is not expected to go ahead until late next year at best due to Victoria’s clogged court dockets.

Patterson also faces five attempted murder charges, including two over lunch.

They involve Ian Wilkinson and her ex-husband Simon Patterson, who were believed to have pulled out of the deadly meeting at the last minute.

Three other attempted murder charges also relate to Simon, 48, after he fell ill after meals three times between 2021 and 2022.

Pastor Ian Wilkinson was the only survivor of the deadly lunch, which killed his wife Heather Wilkinson, 66.

Gail Patterson and brother-in-law Don Patterson, both 70, also died.