Erin Patterson: New mystery as mushroom cook’s ex-husband vanishes from his home after her arrest on murder charges

The ex-husband of a woman accused of killing three people with a deadly mushroom meal has not been home since she was accused of carrying out four attempts on his life.

His neighbor revealed that Simon Patterson has not returned to his home for several days as the community grapples with the ‘bloody awful’ allegations.

“He’s a nice guy, it’s just terrible,” the neighbor said on condition of anonymity.

His ex-wife Erin Patterson has been charged with murder after cooking a mushroom meal that left three people dead and one person hospitalized.

Erin Patterson has been charged with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder

Police claim it was her fourth attempt to kill her 48-year-old former partner, who pulled out of the lunch at the last minute.

Erin Patterson, 49, appeared briefly in the Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court on Friday morning after a police raid on her home on Thursday led to charges in an alleged poisoning case.

She is charged with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder.

Charge forms released to the media by Magistrate Tim Walsh show that police allege Ms Patterson attempted to kill her ex-husband four times between 2021 and this year.

The attempts are said to have taken place between November 16 and 17, 2021, May 25 and 27, 2022 and on September 9 last year.

Charge forms released to the media by Magistrate Tim Walsh show police allege Ms Patterson tried to kill her ex-husband four times between 2021 and this year

The fourth alleged attempt is said to have occurred on July 29, when Patterson’s parents, aunt and her husband became ill after eating a meal at her home in Leongatha.

Patterson was expected to attend the luncheon, which was organized as part of a church mediation process for their relationship, but pulled out at the last minute.

His parents, Gail and Don Patterson, both 70, and aunt, Heather Wilkinson, 66, died in hospital days after the alleged poisoning.

Mrs Wilkinson’s husband Ian spent seven weeks in hospital in a critical condition after lunch.

Don and Gail Patterson died after allegedly ingesting poisonous mushrooms. Image: supplied

Ms Patterson is accused of the attempted murder of the 69-year-old Korumburra pastor.

She has repeatedly denied responsibility for the deaths.

At a memorial service for his parents on August 31, Mr Patterson described his parents as “a team working on life together”.

“The fact that they died on consecutive days is in some ways fitting because it reflects the togetherness as a couple that they have always worked so hard to grow,” he said.

‘My mother’s last message in our group chat when she was in Dandenong Hospital was: ‘Lots of love to you all.’

Erin Patterson, 49, appeared briefly in the Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court on Friday morning after a police raid on her home on Thursday led to charges in an alleged poisoning case

Detectives from the Homicide Unit at Erin Patterson’s Leongatha home remove evidence from the home. Image: NCA newsWire / Ian Currie

In August, Ms. Patterson claimed to reporters that she had also been admitted to hospital after lunch with severe abdominal pain.

In a statement to police, she wrote: “I am devastated to think that these mushrooms may have contributed to the illness my loved ones are suffering from.”

“I really want to reiterate that I had absolutely no reason to hurt the people I loved.”

Heather Wilkinson died in hospital. Image: supplied.

Ian Wilkinson was released from hospital after seven weeks. Image: Seven News

Mrs. Patterson has steadfastly denied responsibility for the deaths.

“I lost my in-laws, my children lost their grandparents,” she told The Australian on August 16.

‘And I’ve been portrayed as a wicked witch. And the media makes it impossible for me to live in this city. I can’t have friends over.’

She was taken into custody on Friday and will appear in court again in May next year.