Former daughter-in-law hosted lunch in which Don and Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson ate poisonous mushrooms

The former daughter-in-law of a couple who died after eating poisonous mushrooms at her Leongatha home says she is feeling “shithouse” and is “grieving, too”.

The former daughter-in-law of a couple who died after eating poisonous mushrooms says she was feeling “shithouse”.

Erin Patterson, the cook of the tragic lunch, lives at the Leongatha house where the fatal meal was eaten by four elderly locals — her ex-parents-in-law, Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson — who all died — as well as Heather’s husband, Ian, who is fighting for his life.

It’s understood Ms Patterson was married to the couple’s son, Simon, and has lived at the large rural property for about 12 months.

On Tuesday, she returned to the property and told the media: “I’m going shithouse, thanks for asking“.

“What happened is devastating, I’m grieving too.”

Erin Patterson leaves her Leongatha home on Tuesday. Picture: Jason Edwards

Ms Patterson left her home after about 10 minutes, clutching a silver suitcase.

It comes as bouquet of colourful flowers was delivered to the property with a handwritten note addressed to the mother of two.

When asked about police treating her as a suspect in the “rather unique” and “unusual” investigation into the sudden deaths, Ms Patterson maintained her innocence.

“I didn’t do anything,” she said on Monday.

“I loved them and I’m devastated they are gone.

“They were some of the best people I’ve ever met.”

Korumburra Baptist Church opened their doors on Tuesday with community members praying for Ian and mourning the loss of Don, Gail and Heather.

Flowers are left at the front of the Leongatha home. Picture: Jason Edwards

Erin Patterson owns the Leongatha home where the fatal lunch took place. Picture: Brooke Grebert-Craig

An emotional Ms Patterson mistook Don for Ian, claiming Don was still alive.

“I hope that every fibre of my being that Don pulls through,” she said.

“I’m so devastated by what’s happened, by the loss of Don, Don is still in hospital, by the loss of Ian and Heather and Gail.

“They were some of the best people I’ve ever met.”

Ms Patterson said Gail was like a mother to her after the death of her own mum.

“Gail was like the mum I didn’t have because my mum passed away four years ago; Gail had never been anything but good and kind to me,” she said.

“Ian and Heather were some of the best people I’d ever met. They never did anything wrong to me.

“I’m so devastated about what’s happened and the loss to the community and to the families and to my own children. They’ve lost their grandmother.”

Ms Patterson said she was “devastated” and she couldn’t “fathom” what had happened.

“I’m devastated, I loved them and I can’t believe this has happened and I’m so sorry that they have lost their lives,” she said.

“I just can’t believe it, I just can’t believe it.”

An emotional Ms Patterson talks to reporters. Picture: Brooke Grebert-Craig

Approached about the incident earlier on Monday, Ms Patterson told waiting media she didn’t want to comment on the tragedy, saying “you need to leave”.

She had arrived alone in a red MG SUV and quickly walked inside the two-storey home.

A neighbour, who did not want to be named, told the Herald Sun she didn’t know Ms Patterson well.

“We would wave from a distance but that’s about it,” she said.

The neighbour said locals did not forage for mushrooms because they “know the dangers”.

Police are probing how three people died and a fourth was left fighting for life after ingesting mushrooms.

The Herald Sun is not suggesting that Ms Patterson intentionally poisoned her guests, only that police are investigating the matter.

Investigators told media on Monday they had narrowed down the final meals the four individuals had eaten before they became ill.

Korumburra pastor Ian Wilkinson and his wife, Heather Wilkinson. Picture: Supplied

The Homicide Squad’s Detective Inspector Dean Thomas did not specify the meals each person ate at the lunch, but said each meal the adults and children ate before the four became ill had been determined.

He confirmed a separate meal was prepared for the two children who attended the gathering.

The children are no longer living at the property

It is understood the woman has separated from their father, but their relationship remained “amicable”.

Insp Thomas said the children were “incredibly distressed” and “doing the best they can” following the shock deaths.

“Our thoughts are with the people that have passed away,” he said.

Mr Wilkinson remained in a critical condition at the Austin hospital on Monday afternoon, where it is believed he could be waiting for a liver transplant.

Police raided the house on Saturday afternoon and again on Saturday night, seizing several items, including a dehydrator believed to have been used to prepare the mushrooms.

Insp Thomas urged others to be wary of the mushrooms they were consuming, especially if they were not sourced from a supermarket.

Investigators have not yet determined whether the guests or the 48-year-old woman picked what were mostly likely death cap mushrooms at the property and are still probing whether the woman who prepared the meals also ate the deadly mushrooms.

Police do not expect to lay charges in the coming days over the “very complex matter”.

Don Patterson died after ingesting poisonous mushrooms. Picture: Supplied

His wife, Gail Patterson, died a day earlier. Picture: Supplied

Insp Thomas said it remained unclear whether the three deaths were suspicious.

“I can say that at this point in time that the deaths are unexplained,” he said.

“We are working as hard as we can to try and identify why these deaths have happened and the circumstances surrounding them.

“Our thoughts are with the family of those people that have passed away and also the person that remains alive at this point in time.”

Insp Thomas said the several items police seized at the property will be forensically tested in a bid to determine the nature of the deaths.

Police will also investigate whether Ms Patterson was known to forage mushrooms from the nearby area.

“She (48-year-old) hasn’t presented with any symptoms, but we have to keep an open mind in relation to this,” Insp Thomas said.

“That could be very innocent … We just don’t know at this point.

“We’ve still got a lot of work to do.”

Ms Patterson became the editor of the local newsletter the Burra Flyer after taking over the role from Don and Gail five years ago.

In a doting note published in a 2018 edition, Erin said the couple were “extraordinarily generous”.

“Thank you Don and Gail Patterson, the Flyer’s previous editors, for the enormous time and energy that they put into keeping the Burra Flyer going for the past five years,” she said.

“They are extraordinarily generous with their time and I am grateful for the support they have given to John and I to ensure a smooth changeover.

“Thank you to the contributors and advertisers for their patience while we have been learning the ropes.

“I hope we can do the Burra Flyer the justice it deserves.”

Community in mourning

The tight-knit community of Korumburra is mourning the deaths of Don and Gail Patterson and Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson.

It’s understood the victims initially believed they were suffering from gastro before they were transferred to The Alfred hospital and the toxins were discovered.

“At about midnight that night, some of these people started to fall ill, resulting in all four of them – during the course of Sunday – attending the local hospitals,” Mr Thomas told 3AW radio on Monday.

“They were sick, displaying food poisoning-like symptoms … and unfortunately three of them died.

“We work to try and determine what has gone on, whether there is any nefarious activity that has occurred or if it’s an accidental-type situation.”

On Saturday, a search warrant was executed at the home where the lunch party was hosted, with police interviewing the homeowner, a 48-year-old woman, who cooked the meal.

The home in Leongatha where police executed a search warrant.

The investigation is ongoing as police try to determine the presence or absence of foul play, with Mr Thomas describing the case as “a very, very complex matter”.

“We will be working closely with medical experts and toxicologists.

“The message I’d like to get across is be very cautious if you’re picking mushrooms out there, and I hope the remaining patient does get through it.”

Police do not know of any similar cases of poison in the area in recent times.

One theory being probed is whether a dehydrator was used to prepare the mushrooms, according to sources close to the investigation.

Dehydrating mushrooms can often be used as a method to preserve the fungi.

Don, Gail and Heather, all aged in their late 60s and early 70s, were remembered at Sunday mass by shocked town members as “very lovely people”.

Korumburra residents Lee and Chris Clements, who worked alongside Gail and Don Patterson, at Korumburra Secondary College said they were very kind people.

“My husband and I worked with them for 20 years and it’s really devastating news,” Ms Clements told the Herald Sun.

“Gail was in the office and Don was a very dedicated science teacher and loved his astronomy,” she said.

Ms Clements said the couple loved to travel and Don had recently visited China to further his religious studies.

The pair had also hosted a Chinese exchange student a few years ago.

Korumburra Baptist Church members prayed for the group at a service on Sunday. Picture: Supplied

Ms Wilkinson also worked as a teacher’s aid at the secondary college.

“They were very Christian and very lovely people,” Ms Clements said.

“They would always say hello and acknowledge everyone, Sisters Gail and Heather were described as being very close.

“Ian had a business in carpentry, it is very sad news,” Ms Clements said.

South Gippsland Shire mayor Nathan Hersey confirmed the group were involved in the Korumburra Baptist Church and were “well-loved” in their tight-knit community.

“It’s obviously a tragic situation, they were very well-known, well-loved and many in our community are grieving that loss,” he said.

“Our council has been in contact with the families and, at this stage, they say they feel well supported by the local community.”

Neighbours of the Leongatha property raided as part of the investigation said they noticed police in the area on Saturday.

“We saw some cop cars going in and out,” one homeowner, who did not wish to be named, said.

“It’s a pretty quiet area so you tend to take notice when there’s anything going on.”

In April Victoria Health issued a warning about a spike in deadly mushrooms growing in the state due to cool and wet conditions.

The health authority said that Death Cap mushrooms and yellow staining mushrooms appeared similar to edible ones.

“Consuming just one (Death Cap) mushroom can kill an adult,” it said.

“Symptoms of poisoning by Death Cap mushrooms can include violent stomach pains, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.

“Even if initial symptoms subside serious liver damage may have occurred that may result in death.”

While it is still unclear what variety of mushrooms was consumed, death cap mushrooms commonly grow in the South Gippsland region of Victoria.

Police are waiting on a toxicology report to confirm which mushrooms were ingested.

Death cap mushrooms have a strong scent and the caps are typically between 40 and 160mm wide, pale green to yellow in colour and have distinctive white gills and stem.

They grow in wet conditions at the base of large trees.

A Department of Health spokesman said the department was aware of the situation and its investigations were ongoing.