Erin Patterson, the woman at the centre of an investigation into the deaths of three people following a lunch in Victoria earlier this year, has this evening been charged with murder.
She was interviewed by police following her arrest this morning.
The 49-year-old "has subsequently been charged with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder", Victoria Police said in a statement this evening.
The further three attempted murder charges relate to three separate incidents in Victoria, after a 48-year-old Korumburra man allegedly became ill following meals between 2021 and 2022, police said.
Three people died after eating a meal made with mushrooms at her home in late July.
A fourth person was left fighting for their life. He survived, but spent nearly two months in hospital.
The meal was reportedly a Beef Wellington, with most recipes for the dish including mushrooms.
"A search warrant has been executed at the Gibson Street address, with assistance from the AFP's [Australian Federal Police] technology detector dogs," police said.
"The woman will now be interviewed by police and the investigation remains ongoing."
Patterson had come under intense scrutiny since the deaths. She cooked the meal but did not fall ill, and is a "very good" and experienced fungi forager according to a family friend.
The Age reports her home is being searched today. Patterson has strongly denied any wrongdoing, insisting she has "become extremely stressed and overwhelmed by the deaths of [her] loved ones".
"I am now devastated to think that these mushrooms may have contributed to the illness suffered by my loved ones. I really want to repeat that I had absolutely no reason to hurt these people whom I loved."
Patterson said the mushrooms were store-bought, not foraged.
She was remanded in custody to appear at Morwell Magistrates’ Court tomorrow morning.
The case
The fatal lunch took place in Leongatha in southeast Victoria on July 29. Korumburra woman Heather Wilkinson, 66, her sister Gail Patterson, 70, and Gail's husband Don Patterson, 70, all died.
Wilkinson's husband Ian Patterson was left in critical condition, but he survived.
Erin Patterson was the daughter-in-law of Gail and Don Patterson. Her estranged husband Simon Patterson did not come to lunch, pulling out the day before despite an invitation.
He fell ill and was "not expected to live" following a mysterious gut illness last year.
"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," he wrote on Facebook.
Erin and Simon's children were reportedly at the party but they didn't eat the meal. She's claimed they weren't there at all.
A food dehydrator was recovered from a rubbish dump near the home and became central to the case, with police forensically testing it.
Detective Inspector Dean Thomas has said the symptoms were consistent with consuming death cap mushrooms.
Patterson has claimed she ate a serving and later suffered bad stomach pains and diarrhoea, contrary to the suggestion of detectives that she did not fall ill.
'Unnecessary speculation' and 'misinformation'
Victoria Police Detective Inspector Dean Thomas has warned against "unnecessary speculation and the sharing of misinformation" as the investigation continues.
He also acknowledged the "incredibly intense levels of public scrutiny and curiosity" around the case, telling reporters today, "I cannot think of another investigation that has generated this level of media and public interest not only here in Victoria, but also nationally and internationally".
"I think it's particularly important that we 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 are greatly missed by their loved ones.
"In smaller communities such as Leongatha and Korumburra, a tragedy such as this can reverberate for years to come."
He said Erin Patterson's arrest today "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".
"I encourage people to be particularly mindful of unnecessary speculation and the sharing of misinformation.
"At the heart of these matters are the recent deaths of three people, and families and loved ones who are trying to come to terms with this."
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