A mushroom casserole, a fatal risotto or a fatal funghi linguini? Welcome to Leongatha, population 5,800, where everyone has a theory about the deadly lunch everyone in Australia is talking about
It started as a slow simmer on Saturday and quickly boiled over amid reports that stay-at-home mom Erin Patterson was being treated as a suspect in the deaths of her three in-laws.
Mrs. Patterson’s in-laws Gail and Don Patterson died after having lunch at her house.
Just like Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, as her husband Ian is in hospital fighting for life.
Erin Patterson cooked the meal with deadly mushrooms that killed three and left another fighting for his life
Gail and Don Patterson died after eating the mushrooms. It is clear that Erin was previously married to their son, Simon
Tribute to the Dead: Everyone in Leongatha seems to have a theory about what happened during lunch
Sources have told Daily Mail Australia that Ms Patterson, 48, had also invited her estranged ex-husband Simon Patterson to their former family home in Leongatha, Victoria’s Gippsland region, but he had to reluctantly cancel.
On Wednesday, the economic boom caused by the tragic incident was evident in Leongatha and nearby Korumburra, where many of those involved in the deadly luncheon lived.
Simon Patterson would join his parents for the lunch that cost them their lives
Scene of the fateful family lunch that ended so tragically
Mushrooms seen at the family home in Leongatha in the Gippsland region of Victoria
Reporters from virtually every media outlet in Victoria had descended on the towns, and some news agencies from around the world employed freelance reporters to cover the story.
A stroll through the streets of both towns sees locals huddled together talking about the tragic luncheon.
Many have a theory about what happened, largely fueled by nothing more than the barrage of reports that have been published since the weekend.
On Wednesday, local residents were assured that the deceased were served a deadly ‘casserole’ by Mrs. Patterson.
The apparently distraught mother of two refused to say on Tuesday what she had served to her house guests.
Ms Patterson was released on bail by reporters at her home on Tuesday and refused to answer questions about the menu. She told them she was about to “jump off a bridge.”
She has firmly denied any suggestion that she deliberately caused harm to her loved ones.
“What happened is devastating and I am also grieving and you have no respect for that,” she said.
A man delivers flowers to Korumburra Baptist Church on Wednesday – the deceased family was deeply involved with the church
A woman mourns the loss of those who died in the tragic mushroom lunch mystery
The above family tree shows the connections between the Pattersons and Wilkinsons embroiled in the unusual Leongatha poisoning drama
On the ground, the “facts” have become murky.
The locals seem convinced they know exactly what’s going on.
“She served them a poisonous casserole,” the lunch detectives at the Korumburra Bakery assured.
It’s a recipe that locals are sure was on the menu.
Police sources have told Daily Mail Australia they are wrong.
But what was served will not be revealed by Victoria police any time soon, if at all.
On Wednesday, reporters hounded local police officers, who by all accounts seemed annoyed that poisonous mushrooms had ever been made public.
Victoria Police has concluded an ongoing commentary on what it is doing.
“We will look at all relevant circumstances as part of the investigation,” a spokesman told Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday.
If speculation was rife after police announced they were ‘suspicious’ about the cook, reports published online by Ms Patterson’s ex-husband sent it into a frenzy.
It was revealed on Tuesday that Simon has been in intensive care for 21 days after collapsing at his home in May 2022.
“I collapsed at home and was then in an induced coma for 16 days, undergoing three emergency surgeries, mainly on my small intestine, plus an additional scheduled surgery,” he wrote.
“My family has been asked twice to say goodbye to me because I was not expected to live.
“I spent 21 days in intensive care, then a week in the general ward, and now in a rehab center.”
Those who know Mr. Patterson say that he never told anyone the reasons why he was cut down by the stomach ailment.
A friend, who wished to remain anonymous, told Daily Mail Australia that if he knew what caused the illness, he would not have told friends or family.
“He has worked very hard to rehabilitate. He went and stayed with his parents and at that time there was no question of anything untoward,” the friend said.
The couple had already divorced when he fell ill with the mysterious illness.
During the time Mr. Patterson was in hospital, his ex-wife continued to update his concerned friends on social media about his condition.
“As far as we all knew, they were quite friendly. He never said a bad word about her. He wouldn’t. They have kids together and he’s that kind of person,” said another friend.
Locals say it’s not uncommon for people to pick mushrooms when they see them and eat them.
“Country people, we’ve been eating mushrooms all our lives,” said one resident.
Many locals have fond memories of buying mushrooms from a local merchant who would forage them themselves with the help of like-minded locals.
“At this time of year there are a lot of fungi, but from what is said, these were dried out,” said another local resident.
Ian Wilkinson and Heather Wilkinson (both pictured) became seriously ill after eating wild mushrooms. Mrs Wilkinson died on Friday while her husband is in critical condition in hospital
Homicide detectives searched Ms Patterson’s property on Saturday as part of their investigation and seized a number of items, including a food dehydrator believed to have been used to prepare the mushrooms.
A police source close to the investigation told The Age on Tuesday that police were conducting forensic tests on the dehydrator – which was found at a nearby tip.
Mrs. Patterson was apparently unharmed by the food, if at all.
“If the kids are springing up like mushrooms and not eating them, they may have dehydrated them. She apparently doesn’t eat them either,’ said a friend.
Daily Mail Australia has learned that the case has left forensic experts so baffled that tests are being conducted by others in the field around the world.
Meanwhile, those deeply affected by the tragedy – and there are many – began showing up Wednesday at Korumburra Baptist Church, where the deceased were active members.
People were seen dropping flowers outside the church, some weeping openly as they paid tribute in silent prayer.
With the answers to the tragedy not coming anytime soon, the good people of Leongatha and Korumburra will no doubt have to endure a few more days of pushy media types banging on doors and filling their pubs.