A woman whose poisonous mushroom lunch killed her three family members, including her former mother-in-law, has denied wrongdoing.
Erin Patterson, 48, hosted a luncheon with her former in-laws, Gail and Don Patterson, on July 29, along with Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, and her husband Ian at her home in Leongatha, Victoria’s Gippsland region.
All four guests fell ill after eating their meal, which included hand-picked mushrooms.
They went to hospital the next day when their condition worsened, and the two sisters, aged 70 and 66, died on Friday. Don, 70, died on Saturday night.
Ian, 68, is still in critical condition in hospital and is believed to be awaiting a liver transplant.
Erin Patterson (pictured), who is at the center of the suspected poisoning of four people, burst into tears and denied any wrongdoing when confronted by the media
An emotional Erin spoke publicly for the first time Monday outside the home where the fatal luncheon took place.
“I didn’t do anything,” she told the media.
“I loved them and I’m devastated that they’re gone.”
She then mistakenly confused Don with Ian by expressing her “hope” that “Don comes through.”
Erin spoke for a few minutes, but didn’t answer questions about where the mushrooms came from, who picked them, or what kind of meal she prepared for her guests.
“I’m so devastated about what happened,” she said, wiping away a tear.
She described the two couples as “some of the best people I’ve ever met.”
Erin broke down when she explained that Gail was like a mother to her after her own mother passed away.
“Gail was like the mother I didn’t have because my mother passed away four years ago and Gail had always been good and kind to me,” she said.
‘Ian and Heather were some of the best people I had ever met. They have never wronged me.
Ian Wilkinson and Heather Wilkinson (both pictured) became seriously ill after eating wild mushrooms. Ms Wilkinson died on Friday while her husband is in critical condition in hospital
Gail and Don Patterson died after eating the mushrooms. It is clear that Erin was previously married to their son, Simon
“I’m so devastated by what happened and the loss to the community and to the families and to my own children, they lost their grandmother.”
Erin repeatedly said she was “devastated” and couldn’t “fathom what happened.”
“I’m devastated, I loved them and I can’t believe this happened and I’m so sorry they lost their lives,” she added.
Erin was previously married to Don and Gail’s son, Simon, and has been living on the Leongatha property for the past 12 months, according to the Announce sun.
Homicide detectives questioned Erin when they searched the premises on Saturday.
She was released pending further investigation.
Victoria Police Detective Inspector Dean Thomas confirmed that Erin was a person of interest because she cooked the meal.
“She hasn’t shown any symptoms, but we have to be open to it, that it could be very harmless, but again, we just don’t know at this point,” he said Monday.
No fees are expected to be charged at this stage of the investigation.
Erin didn’t answer questions about where the mushrooms came from, who she picked, or what meal she made for her four guests (pictured, mushroom picked)
The property where the deadly luncheon took place in Leongatha, in Victoria’s Gippsland region
Mr Thomas added that while investigations into the trio’s deaths have not necessarily meant they have been treated as suspicious, they are “inexplicable”.
Erin’s two children also attended lunch, but Mr. Thomas said they ate different meals than the adults and did not experience any illnesses.
Those two children were taken to hospital as a precaution and have been removed from their mother’s care.
Mr Thomas said police ‘assumed’ the deaths were from mushrooms, adding that the symptoms presented are related to deadly mushrooms.
“We have seized a number of items related to the case, many of the items seized will be forensically tested in the hope that they can shed some light on what happened,” he said.
Mr Thomas previously told Radio 3AW that officers were working to determine whether any ‘nefarious activity’ had taken place.
“Or if it’s… in this case… it’s an accidental situation where these people died from some form of poisoning, you know, not at the hands of someone else. So we don’t know yet,” he said.
“We will be working closely with medical experts, toxicologists… in hopes that we can understand exactly what is going on and provide some answers to the family.
“We’re trying to understand who ate what at lunch, whether or not that person who didn’t get sick ate the mushrooms… And of course we’re trying to determine what caused the poisoning… to the four people present. ‘
Investigators say it is not yet known if the case is suspicious as they are still trying to establish the circumstances surrounding the case (pictured, mushroom picked)
Earlier this year, Victoria Health also warned people not to pick dangerous mushrooms after weeks of wet weather.
On Sunday, the Wilkinson and Patterson families released a statement about the tragedy.
“This past week has been a time of shock and sadness for all of us,” said the local newspaper, the South Gippsland Sentinel-Times.
“They were parents, grandparents, siblings, children and pillars of faith in 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 even people around the world.”
“Our families will assist the appropriate authorities in any way they can and respect all necessary processes in the midst of this tragedy.”