Victorian mushroom deaths: The Chase star forced to apologise for ill-timed joke about poisoning with food

Victorian mushroom deaths: The Chase star has to apologize for an ill-timed joke about food poisoning

Chase star Mara Lejins made an awkward gaffe on Monday night’s show when she made an ill-timed joke about poisoned food.

Lejins, 27, nicknamed “The Smiling Assassin” on the quiz show, joked that she had put her boyfriend in the hospital because of her poor cooking skills.

Although the episode was filmed weeks ago, its release was ill-timed after the mushroom poisoning in Victoria.

Erin Patterson hosted a July 29 luncheon at her home in Leongatha, in Victoria’s southeastern Gippsland region, and three of her relatives by marriage died of suspected mushroom poisoning, while a fourth man remains in a coma.

Pastor Ian Wilkinson was the only person to survive the poisonous beef wellington served up by Mrs Patterson.

Chase star Mara Lejins made an awkward gaffe on Monday night’s show when she made an ill-timed joke about poisoned food. Lejins, 27, who is nicknamed ‘The Smiling Assassin’ on the quiz show, joked that she had put her boyfriend in the hospital because of her poor cooking skills

His wife Heather, her sister Gail and husband Don Patterson all died after eating the poisonous meal.

The Chase star Mara made the unfortunate comment on the Channel Seven show when she was up against a contestant who loves to cook.

‘I’m also a great chef and when my boyfriend comes out of the hospital he’ll definitely support me. I did not do it!’ she laughed.

Mara took to Instagram the next day to address the awkward blunder.

Mara shared a screenshot of a news headline about the situation, writing, “I promise this episode was filmed before the Death Cap debacle.”

Although the episode was filmed weeks ago, its release was ill-timed after the mushroom poisoning in Victoria.  Erin Patterson hosted a July 29 luncheon at her home in Leongatha, in Victoria's southeastern Gippsland region, and three of her relatives by marriage died of suspected mushroom poisoning, while a fourth man remains in a coma.

Although the episode was filmed weeks ago, its release was ill-timed after the mushroom poisoning in Victoria. Erin Patterson hosted a July 29 luncheon at her home in Leongatha, in Victoria’s southeastern Gippsland region, and three of her relatives by marriage died of suspected mushroom poisoning, while a fourth man remains in a coma.

Meanwhile, Ms. Patterson is currently under police investigation after mushrooms she served at the family lunch are suspected of fatally poisoning three guests and leaving another to fight for life

She allegedly invited estranged husband Simon Patterson, his parents Gail and Tom Patterson, 70, along with Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson and husband Ian, 68, to the meal.

Simon pulled out of the July 29 luncheon at the last minute, but Gail, Tom and Heather were dead within a week and Ian is still in critical condition in hospital.

Daily Mail Australia does not suggest that Erin tried to poison Simon or her four guests.

On Tuesday, a trader claimed to have taken a photo of a so-called ‘death wall’ covered in gruesomely scribbled images and warnings at Ms Patterson’s former home.

Mara took to Instagram the next day to address the awkward blunder.  Mara shared a screenshot of a news headline about the situation, writing,

Mara took to Instagram the next day to address the awkward blunder. Mara shared a screenshot of a news headline about the situation, writing, “I promise this episode was filmed before the Death Cap debacle”

A tradesman came forward to say he was paid to remove disturbing graffiti from an interior wall of a house occupied by Erin and Simon Patterson and their two high school-aged children in the Gippsland town of Korumburra, 15 km from Leongatha.

The trader said he was tasked with removing the images and words last year as the pair prepared to sell the property, which fetched $545,000 last August.

The images, seen by Daily Mail Australia, include images of headstones and bizarre scribbles with themes of death and destruction drawn in black and red ink – the latter symbolizing blood.

The blunder came before the most recent update in the 'Death Cap debacle' in which Victorian Erin Patterson allegedly accidentally poisoned her in-laws

The blunder came before the most recent update in the ‘Death Cap debacle’ in which Victorian Erin Patterson allegedly accidentally poisoned her in-laws

MUSHROOM POISONING: A TIMELINE OF EVENTS

Saturday July 29

Don and Gail Patterson and Heather and Ian Wilkinson (a minister) meet at Erin Patterson’s home in Leongatha, northeast of Melbourne, for lunch and east of her beef wellington

Erin’s two kids go to the movies

Sunday July 30

Erin’s kids eat leftover beef wellington but with the mushrooms scraped off.

All four lunch guests who come to the hospital feel sick. At first they are thought to have gastro.

As their condition worsens, they are being transferred to Melbourne hospitals.

Erin also goes to the hospital.

Monday July 31

Erin is taken to a Melbourne hospital where she is treated for poisoning

Friday August 4

Gail and Heather die in hospital.

The police find Erin’s dehydrator dumped at a tip

Saturday August 5

Don dies in hospital. The police search Erin Patterson’s home in Leongatha and seize a number of items.

Sunday August 6

The police return to Erin’s house to question her. She hears loud crying from inside the house before the four officers leave.

Monday August 7

Victoria Police Detective Inspector Dean Thomas confirms that Erin is being treated as a person of interest in the case.

However, he says the investigation is still in its early stages and it has yet to be determined whether the deaths are suspicious.

A short time later, Erin breaks her silence and speaks to reporters outside the house. She says she is devastated and “loves” the four family members who came to her home. She denies any allegations, but won’t answer questions about where the mushrooms come from, who picked them, or what kind of meal she prepared for her guests.

Tuesday August 8

In a bizarre twist, it was revealed that Simon Patterson suffered from a mysterious stomach illness in June 2022. He fell into a coma and was in ICU for 21 days. His case has yet to be explained by doctors.

Forensics are underway to find traces of the dead cap mushroom on the dehydrator. The police suspect that it was used during the preparation of the meal.

Wednesday, August 9

Daily Mail Australia reveals that Simon Patterson was expected to attend the luncheon but pulled out at the last minute

Thursday, August 10

Erin Patterson tells reporters she is driving to Melbourne to see her lawyers. A representative from the law firm later arrives at her house to deliver a letter, but she is not home.

Friday August 11: Erin Patterson makes a long written statement to the police