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THESE MEALS TURNED OUT TO BE DEADLY
Last month, Australian mother Erin Patterson was charged with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder after three people died after eating atoxic mushroom meal she had cooked earlier this year. At time of press, she had not yet entered aplea, but has previously denied deliberately posioning her former family members.
On 29 July, Patterson, 49, from Leongatha in Victoria, served abeef Wellington to her estranged parents-in-law Gail and Don Patterson, both 70, as well as Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, 66, and her husband Ian, 68. Six days later, Gail and Heather died, followed by Don, who died on 5August.
Ian was left critically ill and spent almost two months in hospital.
Patterson’s ex-husband Simon had been invited to the lunch, but was unable to make it at the last minute.
Despite saying she had also been admitted to hospital with stomach pains and diarrhoea, Patterson was suspected by police after it was revealed that she cooked the meal, and that she and her two children appeared relatively unharmed. Toxicology reports suggest she prepared the dish using death cap mushrooms, which are one of the most poisonous fungi in the world. They contain deadly amatoxins, which attack the body and can have fatal consequences. They are so potent, even consuming the liquid they’re cooked in can be enough to kill. Police first searched Patterson’s home in August, and eventually took her into custody on 2November. They searched her home and car again, this time with specially trained detection dogs, before charging her.
“Today’s arrest is just the next step in what has been acomplex and thorough investigation by homicide squad detectives, and one that is not yet over,” said Detective Inspector Dean Thomas. “Over the last three months, this investigation has been subjected to incredibly intense levels of public scrutiny and curiosity. Icannot think of another investigation that has generated this level of media and public interest, not only here in Victoria, but also nationally and internationally.
“I think it is particularly important that we keep in mind that, at the heart of this, three people have lost their lives. These are three people who, by all accounts, were much beloved in their communities and are greatly missed by their loved ones.” He also spoke of the impact that the deaths have had on the locals. “In smaller communities, such as Leongatha and Korumburra, atragedy such as this can reverberate for years to come,” he said, adding, “I know people will no doubt have many unanswered questions about this.”
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