The individual at the center of this grim saga is Erin Patterson. Initially, she vehemently asserted her innocence, insisting that she had no inkling about the poisonous nature of the mushrooms she incorporated into her culinary creation. However, it appears the reality is starkly different, as Patterson now finds herself facing a murder charge.
From Metro UK:
The mum-of-two, 49, was arrested at her home on Thursday morning and questioned at Wonthaggi police station in Victoria, Australia.
She has now also been charged with five counts of attempted murder.
Patterson has been remanded in custody and is appearing at Morwell Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
Investigators have been searching her home in Leongatha where the fatal family lunch was held on July 29.
Ms Patterson made beef wellington for her estranged husband Simon’s parents Gail and Don, both 70, as well as Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, 66, and brother-in-law Ian Wilkinson, 68.
Heather, Gail and Don all died days later having fallen seriously unwell, while Ian spent nearly two months in hospital before eventually recovering.
Investigators believe the group ate death cap mushrooms.
Patterson has always insisted she did not intentionally poison her in-laws and says she was also ill after the meal.
Victoria Police said the murder charges and two attempted murder charges ‘relate to an incident on July 29 where four people were taken to hospital after they fell ill following a meal at a private residence in Leongatha’.
A spokesman for the force said: ‘A 70-year-old man, a 70-year-old woman and a 66-year-old woman, all from Korumburra, subsequently passed away.
‘A 69-year-old Korumburra man was released from hospital on 23 September.
Well, it seems like Patterson's naive act has run it's course, and she's about to have her day in court to answer for this crime.
Let's be real here, what on earth did she anticipate? You can't just dish out toxic mushrooms and expect to not get caught.
