Leongatha mushroom deaths: Criminologist Xanthe Mallett on the mystery that shocked Australia – and what a ‘food dehydrator’ does as the item of interest is found at a tip

The Victorian mushroom poisonings that killed three people and left one fighting for life has ‘suspicious elements’, claims a top criminologist – as police test a dumped food dehydrator they believe was used to prepare the dish. 

Erin Patterson, 48, invited her former parents-in-law Don and Gail Patterson, along with Gail’s sister Heather and her husband Ian, to a family gathering at her rural property at Leongatha in Victoria’s Gippsland region on Saturday, July 29.

All four guests fell ill after eating the meal – believed to be laced with highly toxic death cap mushrooms – and went to hospital the following day.

Don and Gail, both 70, and Heather, 66, have since died, while Ian, 68, remains in hospital in a critical condition.

Police investigating the mysterious circumstances around the luncheon have also discovered a food dehydrator – which they believe may have been used to prepare the mushroom meal – dumped at a Gippsland tip. 

The case took a shock twist on Tuesday after it emerged that Erin’s ex-husband Simon Patterson fell ill and almost died from a mysterious stomach illness last June. 

University of Newcastle criminologist Dr Xanthe Mallett said police would be looking at ‘all possibilities’ during their investigation. The possibilities include that the deaths may have been due to innocent circumstances.

‘The question mark police will be investigating is whether the poisoning was intentional or it was misadventure,’ she told Daily Mail Australia. 

‘Three people have sadly died and we have an unexplained illness. But we don’t have enough facts yet to conclude what actually happened.’

Erin Patterson, 48, (pictured) invited her former parents-in-law Don and Gail Patterson, along with Gail’s sister Heather and her husband Ian, to a family gathering at her rural property at Leongatha in Victoria’s Gippsland region on July 29

Dr Mallett said the circumstances of the mystery illness would likely be re-examined. 

‘That is something that I would want to do and to ask those questions,’ she said.  

‘To determine whether there is a link.’

She said investigators would be keeping an ‘open mind’. 

‘There appears to be some potential for a pattern of unusual illnesses,’ she said. 

‘It may be totally inconsequential but police will be looking at the history to see if there is a pattern of unexplained illnesses.’

Dr Mallett said the dehydrator would be used as a key piece of evidence, with forensics to test the device for fingerprints and traces of the mushrooms as well as evidence from the bodies of the deceased. 

‘They’ll be trying to find out who had access to the dehydrator, who came into contact with it and what it was used for,’ she said. 

When asked why police hadn’t revealed whether Erin had eaten the mushroom dish, the criminologist said officers would be circumspect about what information they released to the public for ‘investigative reasons’. 

‘They’ll be cautious about what [information] they release and when… they don’t want the public to jump to any conclusions,’ she said. 

University of Newcastle criminologist Dr Xanthe Mallett (pictured) said police would be looking at ‘all possibilities’ during their investigation

It was revealed on Tuesday that Erin’s former husband spent three weeks in ICU and narrowly avoided death after becoming ill with a mystery stomach illness. 

‘I collapsed at home then was in an induced coma for 16 days through which I had three emergency operations mainly on my small intestine, plus an additional planned operation,’ Mr Patterson wrote on social media in June 2022.

‘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.’

Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting Erin Patterson was in anyway guilty or responsible for his illness last year or the three deaths earlier this week. Daily Mail Australia is also not suggesting that the police suspect that Ms Patterson was in anyway guilty or responsible for the illnesses or deaths, only that there is reason to investigate.

Ms Patterson, 48, was married to Simon, the son of Don and Gail Patterson. 

The pair, who share two kids, separated in recent years but, according to police, had an amicable relationship prior to the Pattersons’ deaths.

Erin has been living at the Leongatha home where the luncheon was held while Simon is understood to be residing at another property.

Three people have died and one is fighting for life after they consumed toxic mushrooms over the weekend. Pictured is the Leongatha home where the luncheon was held on Saturday

Flowers have been left at the gate of the property as the community reacts to the tragedy

What is a food dehydrator?

A food dehydrator is a device that removes moisture from food with air and heat to aid in its preservation.

The device preserves the nutrients and flavours of the food inside and prevents the growth of yeast, bacteria and mold. 

People commonly use a food dehydrator to dry fruit, vegetables and meat. 

Many of the devices have a heating element and a fan that circulates warm air around the unit to dry and remove moisture from foods. 

Dehydrating foods can create concentrated flavours and crispy textures.

Daily Mail Australia understands Erin is a stay-at-home mum while Simon is employed in the property industry.

Police searched the Leongatha home on Saturday and seized a number of items used during preparation of the meal.

A police source close to the investigation told The Age on Tuesday that a food dehydrator was also discovered at a nearby rubbish dump and is also believed to have been used during the lunch.

Forensic testing is underway to find any traces of death cap mushroom. 

Detectives were seen visiting Erin at the property on Sunday night. She was heard ‘wailing loudly’, according to 7News, before the officers left.

The following day, police announced she was being treated as a person of interest in the case.

Speaking to reporters outside her home, an emotional Erin Patterson said she was devastated by what had happened and denied any wrongdoing.

‘I didn’t do anything,’ she said on Monday, wiping away tears.

‘I loved them and I’m devastated that they’re gone.’

She then mistakenly confused Don with Ian by expressing her ‘hope’ that ‘Don pulls through’, adding her guests had always treated her with kindness. 

Victoria Police Detective Inspector for the Homicide Squad, Dean Thomas, confirmed on Monday that Erin was being treated as a person of interest. 

Speaking to reporters outside her home, an emotional Erin Patterson (pictured) said she was devastated by what had happened and denied any wrongdoing

Real estate photos show mushrooms growing at the base of a tree at the Leongatha property

‘She [Erin] hasn’t presented with any symptoms but we have to keep an open mind in relation to this, that it could be very innocent but again we just don’t know at this point,’ he told reporters. 

‘We work to try and determine what has gone on, whether there is any nefarious activity that has occurred or if it’s an accidental-type situation.’

Mr Thomas described the case as a ‘very, very complex matter’ and said detectives would be working with toxicologists and medical experts.

Detectives believe the mushrooms the Pattersons and Wilkinsons ate were death caps. 

Authorities have urged the public to be wary of consuming any mushrooms not purchased from a supermarket.

Death caps are known to cause digestion problems – including nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting – and serious liver damage.

In April, the Victorian Department of Health issued a warning to residents about the dangers of death cap mushrooms and yellow-staining mushrooms, which grow across the state in autumn.

TIMELINE OF EVENTS 

Saturday, July 29

Don and Gail Patterson and Heather and Ian Wilkinson go to Erin Patterson’s Leongatha home for lunch.

Sunday, July 30

The four lunch guests present to hospital feeling ill. It is initially thought they have gastro. As their condition deteriorates, they are transferred to hospitals in Melbourne. 

Friday, August 4

Gail and Heather die in hospital.

Saturday, August 5

Don dies in hospital. Police search Erin Patterson’s home in Leongatha and seize a number of items.

Sunday, August 6

Police are seen returning to Erin’s home to question her. She is heard wailing loudly from inside the house before the four officers leave.

Monday, August 7 

Victoria Police Detective Inspector for the Homicide Squad, Dean Thomas, confirms Erin is being treated as a person of interest in the case.

However, he says the investigation is still in its early stages and it is yet to be determined if the deaths are suspicious. 

A short time later, Erin breaks her silence and speaks to reporters outside the home. She says she is devastated and ‘loves’ the four relatives who came to her home. She denies any wrongdoing but does not answer questions where the mushrooms came from, who picked them or what meal she made for her guests.

Tuesday, August 8

In a bizarre twist, Simon Patterson was revealed to have suffered from a mysterious stomach illness in June, 2022. He fell into a coma and was in ICU for 21 days. His case is yet to be explained by doctors.

Forensic testing is underway to find any traces of death cap mushroom on a food dehydrator that was discovered at a rubbish tip. Police believe it was used during preparation of the meal.

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