Huge mushroom death breakthrough in Victoria as investigators reach major conclusion over deadly lunch that killed three

By Brett Lackey For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 03:21 BST, 27 September 2023 | Updated: 03:40 BST, 27 September 2023

Detailed forensic tests have determined that the three people who tragically died after eating a beef wellington meal were indeed victims of mushroom poisoning. 

Pastor Ian Wilkinson was the only person to survive the poisonous meal dished up on July 29 by stay-at-home mum Erin Patterson in Victoria’s east. 

His wife Heather, 66, along with her sister Gail and husband Don Patterson were invited over for lunch as part of a ‘mediation’ gathering to discuss Ms Patterson’s relationship with her estranged husband Simon.

Simon Patterson had also been invited to the lunch but pulled out of attending at the last minute. 

Erin Patterson earlier told police the mushrooms used in the lunch were a mixture of button mushrooms bought from a supermarket and dried mushrooms she bought from an Asian supermarket in Melbourne months earlier.

In her statement, leaked to the media by an unknown source, Ms Patterson said she portioned the meal onto plates, let her guests pick their own and ate some of the last plate herself.

Erin Patterson is pictured outside her home days after serving the mushroom meal

Erin Patterson is pictured outside her home days after serving the mushroom meal

Ian Wilkinson (pictured right with wife Heather Wilkinson) has been released from hospital after spending weeks recovering from a poisonous mushroom lunch that claimed the lives of three others including his wife

Ian Wilkinson (pictured right with wife Heather Wilkinson) has been released from hospital after spending weeks recovering from a poisonous mushroom lunch that claimed the lives of three others including his wife

Ian Wilkinson (pictured right with wife Heather Wilkinson) has been released from hospital after spending weeks recovering from a poisonous mushroom lunch that claimed the lives of three others including his wife

Ms Patterson also said she gave the the leftovers to hospital toxicologists for examination and testing after her guests fell ill.

Police later found a food dehydrator at a local tip which Ms Patterson claimed she dumped amid concern her estranged husband would blame her for his parents’ death and gain custody of their two children.

Erin has denied any wrongdoing and Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting she intentionally poisoned her four relatives.

More to come. 

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