Erin Patterson, the host of a weekend family lunch at her Australian country home, faces charges of murdering her ex-husband's parents and aunt with poisonous mushrooms and attempting to murder a fourth guest, according to police reports.
The alleged incident occurred in the Victoria state town of Leongatha, where on July 29, Patterson invited her former husband's parents, Gail and Don Patterson, both aged 70, and Gail Patterson's sister, Heather Wilkinson, 66, along with Heather's husband, Ian Wilkinson, 68, for a family lunch.
Tragically, all four guests fell seriously ill the following day, and only Ian Wilkinson managed to survive. The symptoms exhibited by the victims were consistent with poisoning from wild Amanita phalloides, commonly known as death cap mushrooms.
Patterson, 49, has publicly denied any wrongdoing, expressing her grief and shock. "I'm devastated. I loved them. I can't believe that this has happened, and I'm so sorry," she tearfully told reporters two days after the third death.
In addition to the murder charges, Patterson has been accused of attempting to murder her ex-husband, Simon Patterson, 48. Simon had fallen ill after consuming meals prepared by Erin in 2021 and 2022, though he did not attend the July lunch.
According to a police statement, Erin Patterson was arrested and taken into custody at her home. She had cooked a beef Wellington steak dish for the ill-fated lunch, using mushrooms purchased from a major supermarket chain and dried mushrooms from an Asian grocery store. She herself had consumed the meal and later experienced stomach pains and diarrhea.
Ian Wilkinson, a Baptist pastor, was discharged from the hospital in late September and is reportedly continuing his recovery.
Murder in Victoria carries a maximum potential sentence of 25 years in prison. Erin Patterson was expected to remain in police custody until her scheduled court appearance on Friday, where she could potentially seek bail.
It is important to note that bail requests for defendants charged with murder are typically referred to a higher court for consideration, indicating that Patterson may face a lengthy legal process ahead as the case unfolds. The incident has shocked the community and raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the alleged poisoning, which will undoubtedly be a focus of the ongoing investigation and legal proceedings.
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