Item at centre of mushroom deaths as forensic testing reveals major breakthrough

A top criminologist says one key item could be crucial as police continue their investigation into the deaths of three people after a lunch in Victoria.

A dumped food dehydrator believed to be used to prepare the mushroom dish that caused the death of three people could hold the key to police’s investigation, a top criminologist says.

Forensic testing has reportedly come back and confirmed mushroom poisoning to be the official cause of death of Heather Wilkinson and Don and Gail Patterson, although Victoria Police have declined to comment.

The trio died after joining host Erin Patterson for a beef wellington lunch at her home in Leongatha, in Victoria’s South Gippsland Shire, on July 29.

Don, Gail and Heather all died within days of the fatal lunch. Erin’s ex-husband Simon – the son of Don and Gail Patterson – was invited but did not attend.

Pastor Ian Wilkinson, the husband of Heather, was the sole survivor of the lunch, and was only last week released from hospital.

Police initially said Ms Patterson was a suspect because she cooked the meal but she has strenuously denied intentionally poisoning her lunch guests and has not been charged by police.

“I am devastated to think that these mushrooms may have contributed to the illness suffered by my loved ones,” she said in a statement days after the tragedy.

“I really want to repeat that I had absolutely no reason to hurt these people whom I loved.”

Don and Gail Patterson passed away following the lunch. Picture: Supplied

University of Newcastle criminologist Dr Xanthe Mallett told Sunrise that the forensic testing breakthrough was “another piece of the puzzle”.

“Police were working towards the hypothesis that mushrooms were the cause of death now that has been confirmed by the forensic test they have another piece of the puzzle,” she said.

But Dr Mallett said the food dehydrator could also hold another piece of the puzzle.

A food dehydrator was discovered at a tip near Ms Patterson’s house in the early part of the police investigation which belonged to her.

Criminologist Xanthe Mallett. Picture: Toby Zerna

An early theory from detectives is the kitchen appliance was used to preserve what is believed to be death cap mushrooms.

The dehydrator is currently undergoing forensic testing abroad.

“The question is are there death cap mushrooms spores in that dehydrator?,” asked Dr Mallett.

“That is certainly an extremely important information police are waiting for because that will confirm or refute whether death cap mushrooms have ever been in that dehydrator.”

Dr Mallett described it as a “very complicated case” that could take a number of months to be resolved.

Heather Wilkinson died of suspected mushroom poisoning. Picture: Supplied

Pastor attends church after miracle recovery

Sole survivor and pastor Ian Wilkinson was released from hospital on Saturday and was seen at his local Korumburra Baptist Church, southeast of Melbourne, on Sunday.

After the service, attendee Trevor Shaw said the community was still waiting patiently for the “truth to come out” about the fatal lunch.

“It took great joy to us as a fellowship and those who loved him that he is back home,” Mr Shaw said, according to the Herald Sun.

“Everyone in this community and even the outskirts have felt and been praying seriously on their knees for his recovery. And those prayers have been answered, he’s home.”

Mr Shaw said Mr Wilkinson’s loved ones had been praying earnestly for both his recovery and “that the truth will come out”.

“That’s the main thing. That the truth will come out, and then we’ll all be able to, in a sense, relax because then there’ll be some closure,” he said.

Their heartache would continue until there was “closure”, he added.

The deadly dish was until this week heavily speculated to have caused the deaths, but the detail has now been confirmed by police, according to The Age.

In a statement, Ms Patterson said she too became ill after eating the dish.

She was approached by 7 News for comment after Mr Wilkinson’s miracle recovery this weekend.

“No. Go away,” she shouted.

Sole survivor released from hospital after almost two months

Mr Wilkinson was admitted to Melbourne’s Austin Hospital and spent close to two months in a critical but stable condition.

On Saturday, a statement declared he had been released.

His release represents an opportunity for detectives investigating the case,the Herald Sun reports.

“This milestone marks a moment of immense relief and gratitude for Ian and the entire Wilkinson family,” they said in a statement.

“The Wilkinson family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the Leongatha, Dandenong and Austin Hospitals for their unwavering dedication and exceptional care that played a pivotal role in Ian’s recovery. The medical team’s expertise and compassion have been a source of comfort and hope throughout this journey.”

Ms Patterson said she purchased the mushrooms from an Asian grocery store in Melbourne. She told police she could not recall the exact location.

Last month Ms Patterson said she was frustrated with the media’s impact on her life and felt unfairly portrayed as a villain after the fatal incident.

“I lost my parents-in-law, my children lost their grandparents and I’ve been painted as an evil witch,” she said.

Erin Patterson hosted the lunch. Picture: Brooke Grebert-Craig

“The media is making it impossible for me to live in this town. I can’t have friends over. The media is at the house where my children are at. The media are at my sister’s house so I can’t go there. This is unfair.”

A toxicologist not involved in the case last month said that those who were poisoned would have suffered in agony before, in a cruel twist, they would have felt much better moments before they died.

Forensic toxicologist Dr Michael Robertson told Channel 9’s Under Investigation that victims of death cap mushroom poisoning typically can suffer from an unbearable illness before starting to feel better.

But the feeling of relief doesn’t last long, as the person’s body shuts down completely a short time later.

Robertson said they will usually begin to feel unwell several hours after consuming the lethal mushrooms – with “violent” vomiting and diarrhoea generally the first signs of poisoning.

He said: “It’s one of those toxins that gets into your system.

“It gets absorbed into the bloodstream, it then gets transported to the liver and absorbed. The body doesn‘t break this toxin down.

“We’ve got to get rid of it usually in the urine but also in the bile, and the bile duct drops bile back into the intestines.

– With Rohan Smith