Mushroom deaths: Leading psychologist calls out ‘weird’ detail about Erin Patterson’s lunch that killed three in Leongatha

A leading forensic psychologist has said there are potential ‘red flags’ everywhere in the mysterious case of three people who died from suspected mushroom poisoning.

Erin Patterson, 48, had cooked a beef wellington for a lunch at her home in Leongatha, in Victoria’s Gippsland region on July 29, that allegedly contained death cap mushrooms.

Her former in-laws Gail and Don Patterson, Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson and Heather’s husband Ian Wilkinson were all at the lunch.

Gail, 70, Don, 70, and Heather, 66, have all since died from suspected mushroom poisoning, while Ian, 70, remains in a serious condition in need of a liver transplant.

While police have only said Ms Patterson is a person of interest, experienced psychologist Tim Watson-Munro says there are potential ‘red flags’ he believes need to be investigated.

Ms Patterson’s ex-husband Simon Patterson was initially invited to the lunch but pulled out at the last minute.

Forensic psychologist Tim Watson-Munro has raised some potential ‘red flags’ he believes need to be investigated

Mr Patterson himself spent 21 days in intensive care after collapsing from a mystery stomach illness at his home in May, 2022. 

A police statement by Ms Patterson was recently leaked to the media which revealed she became unwell after eating the meal.

She admitted that she then dumped the dehydrator she used to prepare the meal at a nearby tip soon after because she was in a panic.

Ms Patterson admitted lying to police about how long ago she disposed of the food dehydrator. 

Heather and Ian Wilkinson (above) attended Erin Patterson’s fatal beef wellington lunch on July 29 – Heather died from suspected mushroom poisoning while Ian remains in critical condition

She initially told them she dumped it there a ‘long time ago’ but has now revealed she did so after her guests fell ill. 

In her statement, Ms Patterson denied any wrongdoing and did not know how the meal caused three deaths. The investigation is ongoing.

She also claims she bought the mushrooms used in the beef wellington from a supermarket and an Asian grocer shop in Melbourne – but couldn’t recall the name. 

Don and Gail Patterson (above) died after eating lunch at their former daughter-in-law Erin Patterson’s home

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

The psychologist added it was ‘weird’ Ms Patterson’s two children were not at home at the time of the deadly lunch, and were instead at the movies.

Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday reported Ms Patterson was an ‘experienced forager’ who – like many families in the area – picked mushrooms when they were in season.

She has denied any wrongdoing and Daily Mail Australia does not suggest she intentionally poisoned her four relatives. 

She earlier told The Australian she felt like she’d been painted as an ‘evil witch’.

‘I can’t have friends over. The media is at the house where my children are at. The media are at my sister’s house so I can’t go there. This is unfair,’ she said.