- New details about items found by sniffer dogs
- Erin Patterson, 49, was arrested in November
- Mother of two remains behind bars
- READ MORE: Police seize computers during police raids on mushroom chef’s home
New details have emerged about the items found by technology detection dogs in the home of murder-accused mushroom chef Erin Patterson.
Patterson, 49, was arrested at her home in Leongatha, eastern Victoria, on November 2 and charged with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder.
Just six hours later, specialist sniffer dogs from the Australian Federal Police arrived at the home to assist with a search warrant executed by Victoria Police.
One of the dogs, Georgia, found a USB drive, a micro-secured digital card and a SIM card, a Senate hearing was told on Tuesday evening.
“Technology sniffer dog Alma has found a mobile phone, five iPads, a trail camera, a secure digital card and a smartwatch,” AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw said.
“These were not found during the initial searches by officers.”
On November 2, a police officer and a technology sniffer dog are seen at Patterson’s home
The accused mushroom chef (pictured) was arrested on November 2 and remains behind bars
The canines are considered the most elite of all sniffer dogs because of their ability to sense the micron-thin coating that protects computer circuit boards.
The AFP said their noses are so sensitive that they can even find small SIM cards or memory cards hidden in walls or hidden in fruit.
Patterson will remain behind bars while police complete an evidence brief, which will include analysis of a computer seized during the search.
The presentation is expected to take place on March 25, after a six-week postponement.
The three murder charges and two of the attempted murder charges relate to a beef wellington lunch, allegedly laced with death cap mushrooms, served by Patterson at her home in Leongatha, in Victoria’s South Gippsland Shire, on July 29.
The three other attempted murder charges relate to Simon, 48, after he became ill after meals three times between 2021 and 2022.
Mr Patterson is believed to have pulled out of the lunch at the last minute.
Pastor Ian Wilkinson was the only survivor of the deadly lunch, which killed his wife Heather Wilkinson, 66.
He spent seven weeks in hospital, including time in intensive care.
Gail Patterson and brother-in-law Don Patterson, both 70, also died.
Patterson is currently behind bars in Victoria’s largest women’s prison, the infamous Dame Phyllis Frost Center in Melbourne’s western industrial suburbs.
More to come.