The Victorian mushroom poisoning in which three people died and one had to fight for life contains ‘suspicious elements’, claims a leading criminologist.
Erin Patterson, 48, invited her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, along with Gail’s sister Heather and her husband Ian, to a family gathering at her estate in Leongatha in the Gippsland region of Victoria on Saturday, July 29.
All four guests became ill after eating the meal – believed to be laced with highly poisonous mushrooms – and went to hospital the next day.
Don and Gail, both 70, and Heather, 66, have since died, while Ian, 68, is in critical condition in hospital.
Police investigating the mysterious circumstances surrounding the lunch have also discovered a used food dehydrator – which they believe was used to prepare the mushroom dish – dumped at a Gippsland landfill.
The case took a shocking turn on Tuesday after it emerged that Erin’s ex-husband Simon Patterson fell ill last June and nearly died of a mysterious stomach illness.
Newcastle University criminologist Dr Xanthe Mallett said police would look at ‘all possibilities’ during their investigation. The possibilities include that the deaths could be due to innocent circumstances.
“The question mark the police will investigate is whether the poisoning was intentional or a misadventure,” she told Daily Mail Australia.
“Three people have unfortunately died and we have an unexplained illness. But we don’t have enough facts yet to conclude what really happened.’
Erin Patterson, 48, (pictured) invited her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, along with Gail’s sister Heather and her husband Ian, to a family gathering at her estate in Leongatha in Victoria’s Gippsland region on July 29.
Dr. Mallett said the circumstances surrounding the mystery illness will likely be investigated again.
“That’s something I’d like to do and ask those questions,” she said.
“To determine if there is a connection.”
She said researchers would keep an “open mind.”
“There seems to be a potential for a pattern of unusual disease,” she said.
“It may be totally unimportant, but the police will look at the history to see if there is a pattern of unexplained illnesses.”
Dr. Mallett said the dehydrator would be used as a key piece of evidence, with forensics testing the device for fingerprints and traces of the mushrooms, as well as evidence from the bodies of the deceased.
“They will try to find out who had access to the dehydrator, who came into contact with it and what it was used for,” she said.
When asked why the police had not revealed whether Erin had eaten the mushroom dish, the criminologist said that for “investigative reasons” the police would be careful about what information they released to the public.
“They’re going to be careful about what (information) they release and when… they don’t want the public jumping to conclusions,” she said.
Newcastle University criminologist Dr Xanthe Mallett (pictured) said police would look at ‘all possibilities’ during their investigation
It was revealed on Tuesday that Erin’s former husband spent three weeks in ICU and narrowly escaped death after falling ill with a mysterious stomach ailment.
“I collapsed at home and then was in an induced coma for 16 days, which led me to have three emergency surgeries, mainly on my small intestine, plus an additional scheduled surgery,” Patterson wrote on social media in June 2022.
“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.’
Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting that Erin Patterson was in any way guilty or responsible for his illness last year or the three deaths earlier this week. Daily Mail Australia also does not suggest that police suspect Ms Patterson was in any way at fault or responsible for the illnesses or deaths, only that there is reason to investigate.
Mrs Patterson, 48, was married to Simon, the son of Don and Gail Patterson.
The couple, who share two children, have been separated in recent years but were in a friendly relationship prior to the Pattersons’ deaths, according to police.
Erin lived in Leongatha’s house where lunch was held, while Simon reportedly lived in another property.
Three people have died and one is fighting for life after eating poisonous mushrooms over the weekend. The picture shows Leongatha’s house where lunch was held on Saturday
Flowers have been left at the gate of the property as the community reacts to the tragedy
Daily Mail Australia understands that Erin is a stay-at-home mom while Simon works in the real estate industry.
Police searched Leongatha’s house on Saturday and seized some items used during the preparation of the meal.
A police source close to the investigation told The Age on Tuesday that a food dehydrator had also been discovered in a nearby rubbish dump and was also believed to have been used at lunchtime.
Forensics are underway to find traces of the death’s-head mushroom.
Detectives were seen visiting Erin at the property on Sunday night. She was heard “crying loudly” before officers left, according to 7News.
The next day, the police announced that she was being treated as a person of interest in the case.
Speaking to reporters outside her home, an emotional Erin Patterson said she was devastated by what happened and denied any wrongdoing.
“I didn’t do anything,” she said Monday, wiping away tears.
“I loved them and I’m devastated that they’re gone.”
She then mistakenly confused Don with Ian by expressing her “hope” that “Don pulls through,” adding that her guests had always treated her kindly.
Victoria Police Detective Inspector Dean Thomas confirmed on Monday that Erin was being treated as a person of interest.
An emotional Erin Patterson (pictured) spoke to reporters outside her home and said she was devastated by what happened and denied any wrongdoing
Real estate photos show mushrooms growing at the base of a tree on the Leongatha property
“She (Erin) has not shown any symptoms, but we have to be open to this, that it could be very harmless, but again, we just don’t know at this point,” he told reporters.
“We’re working to try and determine what happened, whether nefarious activity took place or whether it’s an accidental situation.”
Mr Thomas described the case as a ‘very, very complex case’ and said detectives would work with toxicologists and medical experts.
Detectives believe the mushrooms the Pattersons and Wilkinsons ate were death caps.
Authorities have urged the public to be wary of consuming mushrooms that were not purchased from a supermarket.
Death caps are known to cause digestive problems — including nausea, diarrhea and vomiting — and severe liver damage.
In April, the Victorian Department of Health warned residents of the dangers of skullcap and yellow-colored toadstools, which grow all over the state in autumn.