• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Mushroom cook Erin Patterson has been arrested after her meal killed three people

Home> News> World News

Updated 09:07 2 Nov 2023 GMTPublished 08:56 2 Nov 2023 GMT

Mushroom cook Erin Patterson has been arrested after her meal killed three people

Erin Patterson was arrested on Thursday, 2 November

Niamh Shackleton

Niamh Shackleton

Erin Patterson has been arrested following a fatal lunch that left people three dead.

Erin, 49, cooked a mushroom-based meal in July, with her in-laws Heather Wilkinson, 66, Gail Patterson and Don Patterson, both 70, going on to pass away shortly after.

Meanwhile, Gail's husband Ian, 68, ended up in a 'critical condition' and was hospitalized at the time.

He spent two months in hospital and is the sole survivor of the ordeal.

The Pattersons were the parents of Erin's estranged husband Simon, whom she shares two kids with.

Advert

It's reported that Simon had also been invited to the lunch, but wasn't able to make it.

The Wilkinsons and Pattersons attended Erin's Leongatha, Victoria, home for lunch on 29 July, and were later suspected to have ingested death cap mushrooms.

Forensic tests went on to confirm that the mushrooms were their cause of death.

Erin then went on to be accused by her estranged husband Simon of poisoning his family, but she's always maintained her innocence.

Advert

Erin Patterson has always denied purposely using the mushrooms.
9 News

Now, over three months on from the incident, Erin has been arrested by police today (2 November) in the wake of their ongoing investigation.

The charges she's facing are yet to be revealed.

Detective Inspector Dean Thomas said in a statement: "Today's arrest is just the next step in what has been a complex and thorough investigation by homicide squad detectives, and one that is not yet over.

Advert

"Once the search of the premises is completed, the female will be interviewed by homicide squad investigators. We will provide updates through the day."

Noting the worldwide public interest the case has had, the detective went on to say: "Keep in mind that at the heart of this, three people have lost their lives.

"These are three people who by all accounts were much beloved in their communities, and they are greatly missed by their loved ones."

The arrest comes after police painstakingly executed a warrant at Erin's address using technology detector dogs.

Advert

The dogs are are trained to smell the chemical triphenylphosphine oxide (TPPO).

Detective Inspector Dean Thomas said that police will continue to give updates.
ABC

In previous interviews following the fatal lunch, Erin spoke of her love for her in-laws.

"I am now devastated to think that these mushrooms may have contributed to the illness suffered by my loved ones," she said at the time.

Advert

"I really want to repeat that I had absolutely no reason to hurt these people whom I loved."

The 49-year-old is now being questioned at Wonthaggi Police Station.

Featured Image Credit: 9 News

Topics: News, World News, Australia, Crime, Police, Food and Drink

Niamh Shackleton
Niamh Shackleton

Niamh Shackleton is an experienced journalist for UNILAD, specialising in topics including mental health and showbiz, as well as anything Henry Cavill and cat related. She has previously worked for OK! Magazine, Caters and Kennedy.

X

@niamhshackleton

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

4 hours ago
8 hours ago
9 hours ago
  • Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
    4 hours ago

    98% Prime Video series is ‘most intense thing’ viewers have watched in ages

    'Utterly unforgettable'

    Film & TV
  • Getty Stock Images
    8 hours ago

    Disturbing reason why one can of diet soda can be worse for your health than regular soda

    An expert has also revealed what carbonated drink fans should guzzle instead

    News
  • Ethan Miller/Getty Images / Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for The Art of Elysium
    9 hours ago

    Robin William's daughter begs people to stop sending her 'gross' AI videos of her dad

    Zelda Williams has blasted 'disturbing' videos of her late dad - who passed away back in 2013 - that she frequently sees posted online

    Celebrity
  • CBS Chicago
    9 hours ago

    Man purchases Tesla not knowing it's been banned from all Supercharger stations

    He also issued a warning to any other potential used electric car owners

    Technology
  • Teenage boy jailed abroad over sex with girl dies in crash just three months after being released
  • Surprising meal that has been on US Senate menu for over 120 years for bizarre reason
  • Chilling details emerge following death of three women after eating ‘poisonous’ Christmas cake
  • This meal can give you cancer if you take just one bite