Mushroom lunch host Erin Patterson: ‘I loved them, I didn’t do anything’
The woman who hosted a lunch that police believe killed three people and critically injured a fourth is a suspect and daughter-in-law of two of the victims.
The woman who hosted a lunch with allegedly poisonous mushrooms that killed three elderly people and critically injured a fourth is a police suspect who served different food to her children.
Victoria Police have stressed that the poisoning may have been accidental, with toxicologists still investigating what killed the three elderly people in country Victoria.
Detective Inspector Dean Thomas, of the Homicide Squad, said the 48-year-old host was the former daughter-in-law of two of the victims.
The July 29 host, Erin Patterson, did not fall ill after the meal was served but on Monday said she was devastated by the deaths.
“I didn’t do anything,’’ she reportedly said. “I loved them and I’m devastated they are gone.
“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.’’
Inspector Thomas said the grandchildren of dead victims Don and Gail Patterson had not been served the mushroom meal but police retained an open mind over how the three died.
The fourth victim, Ian Wilkinson, is in a critical condition in hospital awaiting a liver transplant, police said.
Inspector Thomas said police had seized items at Ms Patterson’s house and she was being treated as a suspect over the deaths. She had not been sick.
“Now, again, she hasn’t presented with any symptoms but we have to keep an open mind in relation to this,’’ Inspector Thomas said.
“That could be very innocent … we just don’t know yet.’’
The Weekend Australian revealed that police were investigating possible foul play over the apparent poisonings.
The two couples fell ill on or about July 30 but news of the deaths did not emerge until the story was published on Saturday.
Inspector Thomas said so-called death cap mushrooms may have been responsible for the toxic shock; all victims were aged in their late 60s or early 70s.
Ms Patterson worked on a newsletter based in Korumburra, 120km southeast of Melbourne.
Inspector Thomas said the investigation was still in a preliminary stage but Ms Patterson had been interviewed and her house searched in nearby Leongatha.
It is widely known in country Australia that some mushrooms are highly toxic and can cause hallucinations and death but misadventure is still common.
Health officials have renewed warnings about the types of dangerous mushrooms, with some toxic varieties.
Inspector Thomas confirmed that Ms Patterson was separated but the couple was amicable.
Inspector Thomas would not say what Ms Patterson had said. “What she said to us is a matter for us and we’ll continue to work through what we were told during that interview and obviously what we’re picking up during the investigation.’’
The children and Ms Patterson had been taken to hospital when it became clear that the illnesses had been so severe among the older victims.
It is expected that the surviving elderly man will receive a liver transplant if he survives the initial stages of the illness.
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