Woman who cooked meal that resulted in ‘fatal mushroom poisoning’ breaks silence

A Victorian woman who may have served friends a lunch containing deadly mushrooms, killing three of them, has broken her silence.

A Victorian woman who cooked the meal that resulted in the suspected mushroom poisoning death of three people has tearfully broken her silence.

Erin Patterson, 48, served lunch to four people at Leongatha on July 29, including her former in laws.

Don and Gail Patterson and her sister Heather Wilkinson died from symptoms consistent with death cap mushroom poisoning after the lunch, falling sick later that evening.

Heather’s husband Ian, the pastor at Korumburra Baptist Church, also suffered from suspected poisoning and is in a critical condition at Melbourne’s Austin Hospital.

Homicide detectives have confirmed that Ms Patterson is being investigated although they stressed she could be “very innocent”.

Heather Wilkinson and Korumburra pastor Ian Wilkinson. Ms Wilkinson died after ingesting poisonous mushrooms. Picture: Supplied

Neither she, nor her two children suffered any injuries.

On Monday, Ms Patterson spoke to the media outside the house where the lunch took place.

Visibly emotional, she said: “I didn’t do anything”.

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

She stumbled, confusing Don for Ian. Don was one of the lunch attendees who had died while Ian is still being treated.

“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.

Erin Patterson has spoken about the deaths of three people after she cooked them lunch. Picture: Brooke Grebert-Craig.

She was emotional has she talked about their deaths. Picture: Brooke Grebert-Craig.

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

“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 added.

“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,” she said.

“I’m so sorry that they have lost their lives.”

Ms Patterson was interviewed by police and was later released.

Inspector Thomas said Ms Patterson has separated from her husband though the police believe the relationship is still amicable.

Death cap mushrooms attack the liver.

If consumed, death cap mushrooms attack the liver and can be fatal if treatment isn’t sought out quickly. However, the mushroom can cause extensive damage before the person has any symptoms.

A neighbour told the Herald Sun locals didn’t forage for wild mushrooms because they “know the danger”.

Police have not charged Ms Patterson.

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.”

“We have to keep an open mind,” he said.

Ms Patterson was a target because “she cooked those meals,” but Inspector Thomas emphasised 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.

Don Patterson passed away after its suspected he ingested poisonous mushrooms. Picture: Supplied

His wife Gail also died. Picture: Supplied.

“They had lunch then they left there, but about midnight on that Saturday night some of them started to fall ill.”

During the course of the following day, all four people were admitted to either the Korumburra or Leongatha hospitals.

Inspector Thomas said the group demonstrated food poisoning-type symptoms and were later taken to Austin Hospital.

South Gippsland Shire Mayor Nathan Hersey confirmed the group were involved in the Korumburra Baptist Church.

He told the Today show on Monday morning they were “well-loved” in their tight-knit community.

“We have had a significant loss to the Korumburra community this week,” he said.

“Many people in our community are grieving the loss of three very important, much-loved, and very well-respected people.”

-with Nathan Schmidt and Duncan Evans.

Originally published as Woman who cooked meal that resulted in ‘fatal mushroom poisoning’ breaks silence