The suspect in Australia’s mushroom poisoning case ‘threw a party’ the night before she was charged with three deaths, neighbours have said.
Mum-of-two Erin Patterson, 49, was arrested and charged with five counts of attempted murder on November 1 after allegedly serving a ‘poisoned beef wellington’ to her lunch party guests in July.
Neighbours have now claimed that Patterson hosted a gathering of ‘trusted friends’ at her home in Leongatha, Australia, on October 31, the Mail Online reported.
They suggested Patterson knew she would ‘be arrested the following day’ so she decided to host a ‘freedom fling’ before going into custody.
Patterson had made beef wellington in July 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.
Police have also accused Patterson of trying to murder her ex-husband, who has spoken out about previously falling ill after sharing meals with her.
Investigators have been searching her home in Leongatha where the fatal family lunch was held on July 29.
The group is thought to have eaten death cap mushrooms – a highly toxic fungus – half of a cap can kill a human.
Patterson has continued to claim her innocence, and said she did not ‘intentionally’ poison her in-laws – and said she also fell ill after the meal.
A spokesman for Victoria Police 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.
‘The further three attempted murder charges relate to three separate incidents in Victoria between 2021-2022.
‘It’s alleged a 48-year-old Korumburra man became ill following meals on these dates.’
Detective inspector Dean Thomas, of the homicide squad, said: ‘Over the last three months, this investigation has been subjected to incredibly intense levels of public scrutiny and curiosity.
‘I cannot think of another investigation that has generated this level of media and public interest, not only here in Victoria but also nationally and internationally.
‘I think it is particularly important that we keep in mind that at the heart of this, three people have lost their lives.’
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
