Twist emerges — as police investigate fatal ‘mushroom’ lunch

A food dehydrator found at a local tip is being tested to see whether it’s linked to the deaths of three people who became fatally ill after a family lunch, according to reports.

Police are investigating whether there are traces of poisonous mushrooms on the dehydrator which was found at the tip in Gippsland, Victoria.

It has also emerged that the ex-husband of the woman who cooked the the meal for her former in-laws had almost died last year from “serious gut problems”.

Simon Patterson was placed in an induced coma in 2022 and had not been expected to live.

In a Facebook post after his recovery, Mr Patterson wrote at the time:

“Some of you will know that I’ve had some serious medical problems since late May. I collapsed at home, then was in an induced coma for 16 days through which I had 3 emergency operations mainly on my small intestine, plus an additional planned operation.

“My family were asked to come and say goodbye to me twice, as I was not expected to live. I was in intensive care for 21 days, after which I was in the general ward for a week, and now I’m at a rehab place since last Saturday.

“I’m pleased to say all the medical work has seemed to have fixed the serious gut problems I had, and I’ve been feeling great for many days.”

Simon wrote that he had a “big scar on my tummy” which was healing and he had suffered ICU-acquired weakness from lying in intensive care “for a long time as I did”.

Homicide squad detectives are continuing to investigate how four guests became ill after attending the lunch at a Leongatha home in Victoria’s southeast on July 29.

Simon’s parents Gail Patterson, 70, and Don Patterson, 70, both died in hospital after eating the meal at their former daughter-in-law’s house.

Gail’s sister, 66-year-old Heather Wilkinson, died in hospital on Friday.

Her husband, 68-year-old Baptist Church pastor Ian Wilkinson, remained in a critical condition at the Austin Hospital.

Police say Erin Patterson, 48, cooked the meal eaten by her in-laws and the Wilkinsons, but she herself did not become ill.

Detectives searched Erin’s home on Saturday and seized several items.

Detective Inspector Thomas said the symptoms of the deceased were consistent with those from eating the poisonous ‘death cap’ mushroom.

Det Insp Thomas said it would take some time to piece together what had happened and police were keeping an open mind.

“It could be very innocent but, again, we just don’t know,” he said.

A sobbing Erin told reporters outside her home on Monday that what had happened was a “tragedy” she could not fathom.

“Gail was like the mother I didn’t have because my mum passed away four years ago, and Gail has never been anything but good and kind to me,” she cried.

“And Ian and Heather were some of the best people I’ve 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.

“I’m devastated, I loved them and I can’t believe that this has happened and I’m so sorry that they have lost their lives, but I just can’t believe it.”