Erin Patterson, the Leongatha woman who allegedly cooked a meal with death cap mushrooms, has written a statement for police about the fatal lunch.
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Detectives have been investigating an alleged mushroom poisoning that killed three people and hospitalised one after a family lunch in Victoria's south east on July 29.
"I am hoping this statement might help in some way. I believe if people understood the background more, they would not be so quick to rush to judgement," Ms Patterson wrote in a statement for the police obtained by the ABC.
"I am now wanting to clear up the record because I have become extremely stressed and overwhelmed by the deaths of my loved ones," she said.
"I am now devastated to think that these mushrooms may have contributed to the illness suffered by my loved ones. I really want to repeat that I had absolutely no reason to hurt these people whom I loved."
What was in the meal?
Ms Patterson said she served beef Wellington for her four guests; made with a mixture of button mushrooms from a major supermarket chain and dried mushrooms from an Asian grocery store in Melbourne.
Police asked for the specific shop in Melbourne where the dried mushrooms were bought but Ms Patterson said she was unable to identify it.
In her statement, Ms Patterson said she portioned the meal onto plates and let her guests pick their own.
She said she took the last remaining plate and ate a serving of beef Wellington.
In the aftermath of the lunch, Ms Patterson said she sent the beef Wellington leftovers to hospital toxicologists for examination.
What did the kids eat?
Ms Patterson said her children were not at the lunch and had gone to the movies. This is contrary to initial police reports that said they were present but not fed the fatal meal.
The Leongatha mother said she fed the children beef Wellington leftovers the following night but, because the kids don't like mushroom, had scraped them off the meal.
Was Erin Patterson poisoned?
Ms Patterson said she was hospitalised after the lunch with bad stomach pains and diarrhoea and was transferred from Leongatha Hospital to the Monash Medical Centre in Melbourne on July 31.
She said she was put on a saline drip and given a "liver protective drug".
The ABC reported the Gippsland Southern Health Service confirmed a fifth person was sent from Leongatha to Melbourne after the suspected mushroom poisoning.
What happened to the food dehydrator?
Ms Patterson said the food dehydrator police found at the local tip belonged to her.
She said in the statement that she had lied to investigators by saying she'd dumped the dehydrator at the tip "a long time ago".
According to the statement, the family were at the hospital and Ms Patterson was "discussing the food hydrator" with her children.
'Is that what you used to poison them?' Ms Patterson's estranged husband Simon Patterson reportedly asked.
Worried she might lose custody of their children, Ms Patterson said she decided to dispose of the kitchen appliance.
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What was Ms Patterson's relationship with her ex?
According to Ms Patterson, her estranged husband planned to join the lunch but told her "prior to the day" that he wouldn't be there.
Ms Patterson said she had previously told her ex that she did not want to reconcile with him.
This conversation happened after she "reluctantly" agreed to nurse Mr Patterson for three weeks when he was discharged from hospital in May 2022 following a severe stomach illness, she said.
"I had been close with Simon's parents for a long period of time. Our relationship had continued in a fairly amicable way after I finished the relationship with their son Simon," she said.
"Our relationship was affected to some degree by seeing them less after my marriage breakdown with Simon however I have never felt differently towards his parents.
"I had a deep love and respect for Simon's parents and had encouraged my children to spend time with their grandparents as I believed they were exceptional role models."
Reverend Ian Wilkinson survives
The Baptist church pastor Ian Wilkinson is waiting on a liver transplant in Melbourne's north east.
The 70-year-old is the last surviving lunch guest after his wife, 66-year-old Heather Wilkinson, sister-in-law Gail Patterson and brother-in-law Don Patterson died in hospital in early August.
Reverend Wilkinson's family released a statement thanking well-wishers.
"We are deeply moved by the outpouring of kindness, prayers, and support from friends, family, and the broader community," the statement read.
"Your thoughts and well-wishes have been a source of strength and comfort to us all.
"As we navigate this difficult journey, we kindly request that our privacy be respected. We need space to grieve, support one another, and care for Ian without public intrusion."
Police are continuing their investigations.
Anna Houlahan
Reach out with news or updates to anna.houlahan@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Reach out with news or updates to anna.houlahan@austcommunitymedia.com.au
