A “healer” linked to a wellness retreat where a woman died after drinking tea suspected of containing magic mushrooms has been charged with trafficking psychedelic drugs.
Ringwood woman Rachael Dixon died, and two others were hospitalised, in April after drinking a tea believed to be laced with toxic mushrooms at the Soul Barn wellness centre in the small town of Clunes near Ballarat.
Deanne Mathews advertises her healing workshops online.
While no charges have been laid over Dixon’s death, police allege their investigation uncovered evidence that a 53-year-old woman involved in the retreat was trafficking drugs.
Deanne Mathews of Mount Macedon, who runs healing workshops in Victoria, has been charged with trafficking a drug of dependence – psilocin, the psychedelic agent in magic mushrooms.
Rachael Dixon died at a wellness centre in Clunes.Credit: Facebook
Police said an autopsy was unable to determine the cause of Dixon’s death but they are continuing to prepare a report for the coroner.
At the time, the owner of Soul Barn Michelle Mullins said she was horrified by the incident, but stressed she and her staff were not involved in the wellness workshop Dixon had attended that weekend, having leased the space out for a private event.
Mathews will appear before Bacchus Marsh Magistrates’ Court on January 29.
With Marta Pascual Juanola and Ashleigh McMillan