Leongatha poisoning deaths: Chef who prepared deadly mushroom dish went to hospital despite having no poison symptoms

The woman at the centre of a poisonous mushroom lunch that left three people dead and one in need of a liver transplant took herself to hospital despite not being extremely sick like her dinner guests.

Erin Patterson, 48, has been named a person of interest by police after cooking a deadly beef wellington on July 29 which killed her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, 66.

Heather’s pastor husband Ian Wilkinson, 68, also attended the lunch and is still fighting for life at Melbourne’s Austin Hospital.

All four guests went to Leongatha Hospital after experiencing ‘gastro-like symptoms’ the day after the lunch before they were transferred to hospitals in Melbourne after their conditions drastically worsened.

In the days following, Gail, Heather and Don would all die in hospital. 

Neither Erin nor the two children she shares with her ex-husband Simon became ill, however a ‘fifth adult’ reportedly went to Leongatha Hospital. 

It’s unclear whether Erin ate the beef wellington, however she evidently was not as unwell as her in-laws, if at all, despite the food reportedly containing lethal death cap mushrooms. The children did not eat the food.

Erin Patterson, 48, has been named a person of interest after cooking lunch for her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, 66 on July 29

All four guests presented to Leongatha Hospital (pictured) after experiencing ‘gastro-like symptoms’ the day after the lunch before they were transferred to hospitals in Melbourne

The above family tree shows the connections between the Pattersons and Wilkinsons embroiled in the unusual poisoning tragedy in Leongatha

A press release from the hospital: ‘A fifth person was discharged, after a short presentation at the Leongatha Hospital.’ 

Leongatha Hospital declined to comment when contacted by Daily Mail Australia. 

Erin has maintained her innocence, telling a media pack outside her home earlier this week that she ‘loved’ her in-laws who had only ever showed her kindness. 

On Friday, Erin was been pictured withdrawing cash from an ATM on William Street in the heart of Melbourne.

She was spotted inside a National Australia Bank branch just after 2pm wearing the same red shirt and white pants she was pictured in on Tuesday.

The sighting comes as a close friend of Erin’s ex-husband Simon – who was invited to the lunch but pulled out at the last minute – told Daily Mail Australia that he had been left questioning a mystery stomach illness last year that almost claimed his life.

Daily Mail Australia doesn’t suggest Erin tried to poison Simon, only that he has made the allegation. 

Simon’s mystery illness led to him spending 21 days in an intensive care unit and he was forced to undergo months of rehabilitation.

Several of his friends told Daily Mail Australia he had not suspected the mystery illness to be linked to foul play at the time.

One friend, who wished to remain anonymous, told Daily Mail Australia if Simon knew what had caused the illness he hadn’t told any friends or family.

‘He worked really hard to be rehabilitated. He went and stayed with is parents and at the time there was no talk of anything untoward,’ the friend said.

The couple had already been separated when Simon became sick.

Simon Patterson was supposed to join his parents for the lunch that killed them 

Gail and Don Patterson died after eating the mushrooms prepared by their former daughter in law on July 29.  Erin was previously married to their son, Simon

Throughout Mr Patterson’s time in hospital, his ex-wife continued to keep his worried friends updated about his condition on social media.

‘As far as we all knew, they were quite friendly. He’s never said a bad word about her. He wouldn’t. They’ve got kids together and he’s that type of person,’ a friend said. 

Daily Mail Australia revealed on Thursday the poisonous lunch held by Erin had been arranged to try and negotiate a reconciliation with her former husband.

The revelation that Erin wanted to get back together with her estranged husband, who pulled out of the lunch at the last minute, came amid reports the deadly dish she served up was a beef wellington.

A source close to Simon Patterson told Daily Mail Australia his mate had no interest in getting back together with the mother of his two children.

‘They went to her house for a mediation to talk to the family. Simon was supposed to go there for lunch but he pulled out in the last minute otherwise he would be in that death bed too,’ the friend said on Thursday.

‘The people who died, Gail, Don and the Wilkinsons, were talking to them because they’re heavily ingrained with the church and they wanted to make sure she was right to resume a relationship with Simon… she was basically petitioning to get back with him and the family didn’t think that was a good move.’

The friend claimed Erin was desperate to get back together with her estranged husband.

‘She wanted to get back with Simon and the family didn’t want Simon to get back with her,’ he said.

‘They basically didn’t think she was good enough for him in their eyes.

‘This wasn’t just a lunch, it was an intervention with the pastor as mediator. That’s why this lunch happened.’

Erin has denied any wrongdoing and no charges are expected to be laid at this stage of the investigation.

Daily Mail Australia does not suggest Erin was responsible for Simon’s illness or the three deaths.

MUSHROOM POISONING: A TIMELINE OF EVENTS 

Saturday, July 29

Don and Gail Patterson and Heather and Ian Wilkinson (a pastor) gather at Erin Patterson’s home in Leongatha, north-east of Melbourne, for lunch.

Sunday, July 30

All four lunch guests present to hospital feeling ill. It is initially thought they have gastro. Erin Patterson also goes to hospital but is discharged.

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’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.

Wednesday, August 9

Daily Mail Australia reveals that Simon Patterson was expected to attend the lunch, but pulled out at the last minute. 

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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk