The 49-year-old woman who was accused of serving her family members poisonous mushrooms has been charged with murder.
Police charged Erin Patterson after she was arrested and questioned by murder detectives on Thursday morning (2 November).
Investigators also searched Patterson's home for evidence in the deaths of her mother and father-in-law, Gail and Don Patterson, and Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson.
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All three family members, along with Heather's husband Ian Wilkinson, had fallen ill after Patterson cooked a beef wellington for lunch for them in late July.
Ian was critically ill after consuming the food, but was the only one to recover and was released from hospital after two months.
Police were seen seizing and bagging up items at Patterson's home in Leongatha, and the suspect has now been charged with three counts of murder and five of attempted murder.
Police explained the murder charges and two of the attempted murder charges relate to the lunch, while the other three attempted murder charges related to separate incidents in Victoria between 2021 and 2022.
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In those incidents, police alleged a 48-year-old Korumburra man became ill following other meals.
The charges come after Patterson previously denied any wrongdoing and told reporters she was 'devastated' by the loss of her relatives.
"I am now devastated to think that these mushrooms may have contributed to the illness suffered by my loved ones," she said.
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"I really want to repeat that I had absolutely no reason to hurt these people whom I loved."
Patterson was initially questioned in August, but was released without charge by detectives.
Patterson has been now remanded in custody and will appear at the Morwell Magistrates' Court tomorrow morning.
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In a statement, police said: "A 49-year-old Leongatha woman was arrested at her home address shortly after 8am on November 2.
"A search warrant has been executed at the Gibson Street address, with assistance from the AFP's technology detector dogs.
"The woman will now be interviewed by police and the investigation remains ongoing."
Inspector Dean Thomas, of the homicide squad, encouraged those across the globe who are interested in the case to remember that three people have lost their lives.
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"These are three people who, by all accounts, were much beloved in their communities and are greatly missed by their loved ones," he said.
"In smaller communities such as Leongatha and Korumburra, a tragedy such as this can reverberate for years to come."
Topics: World News, Crime
Emily Brown