Ex-husband of mushroom chef Erin Patterson ‘almost died’ from sudden gut illness, was invited to doomed lunch
The estranged husband of a woman who hosted a lunch that left three people dead was invited to the meal with his parents, but pulled out at the “last minute”.
The estranged husband of a woman who hosted a lunch that left three people dead of suspected mushroom poisoning pulled out of the event at the “last minute”.
Erin Patterson, 48, cooked the fatal meal that police believe may have included death cap mushrooms on July 29. She has denied any wrongdoing.
The mum-of-two is being investigated by police after the deaths of her former in-laws Gail and Don Patterson, the parents of her ex Simon, and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson.
It has since emerged that Ms Patterson’s ex-husband, who almost died after suffering a mystery gut illness in May last year, was also invited to the doomed lunch.
“Simon was supposed to go to the lunch but couldn’t make it at the last minute,” a friend of Simon told Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday.
Dehydrator seized from nearby tip by police
Meanwhile, mystery continues to surround the discovery of a dehydrator at a tip near Ms Patterson’s rural home.
Police are conducting forensic testing on the device.
Veteran crime writer John Silvester, who has authored a number of best-selling books on crime in Melbourne, said he found one key element of the tragedy “slightly curious”.
“We’ve got the dehydrator from the house that was apparently found in the tip,” he told 3AW radio.
“It’s been reported the dehydrator was disposed of the day after the luncheon, which is slightly curious because the people had just presented to hospital with gastro-like symptoms.”
“I don’t think anybody at that point would be calling it a poisoning. People had got a bit crook.
“That’ll have to be tested to see whether or not it was operational, had it been tampered with, was it replaced or were there any remains within the dehydrator of death cap mushrooms.”
When asked how the dehydrator fits into to the equation or if it removes poison from a death cap mushroom, Silvester responded, “nothing depoisonifies (sic) a death cap mushroom.”
“I would just say that the purpose of a dehydrator is to intensify the product and make it more flavoursome,” the crime writer added.
Mushroom chef’s ex-husband “almost died” of mystery gut illness
It comes amid revelations Ms Patterson’s ex-husband Simon had to be put into an induced coma last year following a sudden gut illness, first reported by the Herald Sun.
In a social media post seen by the publication, Mr Patterson revealed he almost died as a result of the mystery illness.
“I collapsed at home, then was in an induced coma for 16 days through which I had three emergency operations mainly on my small intestine, plus an additional planned operation,” he wrote.
“My family were asked to come and say goodbye to me twice, as I was not expected to live.”
Mr Patterson said the “serious gut problems” had seemed to be fixed but one shoulder remained weak.
In the social media post he thanks Ms Patterson for her support. The pair are now separated but remain “amicable”.
Death cap mushrooms can cause serious, fatal, damage to the liver and kidneys. They can cause abdominal pain, vomiting and nausea but much of the damage can be done before symptoms occur.
Mushroom cook leaves home
On Tuesday, Ms Patterson was seen leaving her home with a large suitcase.
Speaking outside her large home, in Victoria’s Gippsland region, the stay-at-home mum said: “What happened is devastating and I’m grieving too.”
Asked by a reporter how she was feeling, Ms Patterson said: “I’m going s***house. Thanks for asking”.
She then loaded luggage into a car and drove away.
Ms Patterson has maintained her innocence, previously saying that she “loved” her in-laws with Gail being like a mother to her.
Police have also said the case is “complex” and could be “very innocent”.
Ms Patterson was apparently unharmed by the lunch she served, as were her two children.
Homicide Squad Detective Inspector Dean Thomas said police were still undecided whether they were investigating a crime or an accident.
“We’re working to determine what has gone on, to see if there is any nefarious activity that has occurred or if it was accidental,” he said at press conference on Monday.
“We have to keep an open mind.”