Erin Patterson seen leaving home after ‘mushroom’ deaths

Erin Patterson was seen packing her bags and leaving her sprawling home in Victoria after three people she cooked lunch for died.

The mum who cooked a lunch for three people who later died was seen packing her bags and leaving her sprawling home on Tuesday.

Erin Patterson, 48, is being investigated by police after the deaths of her in-laws Gail and Don Patterson and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson.

Heather’s husband Ian is gravely ill in Melbourne’s Austin Hospital and needs a liver transplant.

All four displayed symptoms consistent with death cap mushroom poisoning after the lunch, which took place on July 29.

Erin Patterson was seen leaving her Leongatha home with a suitcase. Picture: Jason Edwards

Ms Patterson has been named as a suspect by police. Picture: Jason Edwards

Ms Patterson was unharmed after the fatal lunch Picture: Jason Edwards

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”.

On Tuesday Ms Patterson, who is separated from her husband, declined to tell reporters what was in the fatal lunch.

Speaking outside her home in Leongatha, 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 ***house. Thanks for asking.”

Gail Patterson passed away after ingesting poisonous mushrooms. Picture: Supplied

Her husband Don also passed away. Picture: Supplied

She then loaded luggage into a car and drove away.

Ms Patterson was apparently unharmed by the lunch she served, as were her two children that police say have been taken into care “as a precaution”.

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.

Korumburra pastor Ian Wilkinson and wife Heather Wilkinson. Pic: Supplied (Facebook)

“We have to keep an open mind.”

Inspector Thomas emphasised that it was a “complex case” and “it could be very innocent”.

He said the police were still unsure where the mushrooms had been sourced from.

“We are presuming at this point it is mushrooms,” he said.

“It’s a really interesting case, and at this stage I can say the deaths are really unexplained.

“What we do know is the four people – three who have passed away – attended a lunch in Leongatha on July 29.”