Australian woman kills in-laws with poison mushrooms…

[Michie]

An Australian woman is suspected of poisoning her in-laws by serving them beef wellington prepared with toxic death cap mushrooms. An Australian woman is under investigation after serving her former in-laws a lunch laced with poisonous mushrooms, killing three and putting another in critical condition.

Is there more to the story? I’m curious if those in Australia have a clearer picture on this event. How in the heck did those mushrooms get in the food. And why were her or her children not harmed? Any thoughts or info?

 

[Petros2015]

And why were her or her children not harmed? Any thoughts or info?

Well, I guess you could pull something like that off if you had an antidote for yourself and in your kids' drinks.
Doesn't look there is one for death caps though.

 

[Occams Barber]

An Australian woman is suspected of poisoning her in-laws by serving them beef wellington prepared with toxic death cap mushrooms. An Australian woman is under investigation after serving her former in-laws a lunch laced with poisonous mushrooms, killing three and putting another in critical condition.

Is there more to the story? I’m curious if those in Australia have a clearer picture on this event. How in the heck did those mushrooms get in the food. And why were her or her children not harmed? Any thoughts or info?

The investigation is still ongoing. No-one has been accused or arrested yet. The woman, who cooked the meal, claims that she bought some of the mushrooms at the local supermarket while others were a dried variety bought at an Asian food retailer. The supermarket has pointed to the extremely high standards of commercial mushroom farming along with the fact there have been no other instances of mushroom poisoning. I understand that police found a food dehydrator owned by the woman dumped at the local tip.

I haven't seen any mention of children so I assume they weren't present at the meal. The group of diners were also mainstays of the local church in Leongatha - a tiny Victorian town (around 6000 pop) not far from where I was brought up.

A little update. Apparently, the kids were at the movies. She claims to also have been sick after the meal. Her ex-husband also claims to have come down with an unknown digestive problem, requiring hospitalisation, at some point in the recent past.

OB

 

[Tranquil Bondservant]

Well, I guess you could pull something like that off if you had an antidote for yourself and in your kids' drinks.
Doesn't look there is one for death caps though.

Not on mate. People really died.

 

[Michie]

The investigation is still ongoing. No-one has been accused or arrested yet. The woman, who cooked the meal, claims that she bought some of the mushrooms at the local supermarket while others were a dried variety bought at an Asian food retailer. The supermarket has pointed to the extremely high standards of commercial mushroom farming along with the fact there have been no other instances of mushroom poisoning. I understand that police found a food dehydrator owned by the woman dumped at the local tip.

I haven't seen any mention of children so I assume they weren't present at the meal. The group of diners were also mainstays of the local church in Leongatha - a tiny Victorian town (around 6000 pop) not far from where I was brought up.

A little update. Apparently, the kids were at the movies. She claims to also have been sick after the meal. Her ex-husband also claims to have come down with an unknown digestive problem, requiring hospitalisation, at some point in the recent past.

OB

Yes I heard the ex husband was in ICU? Pretty serious if that’s the case.

 

[Occams Barber]

Yes I heard the ex husband was in ICU? Pretty serious if that’s the case.

I found another article which mentions a tradesman asked to overpaint some strange, death themed, graffiti on an inside wall of a house occupied by the woman. I've also seen the woman described as an 'experienced forager' making accidental use of the death caps unlikely.

My overall impression is that the woman may be mentally disturbed and probably put death caps in the Beef Wellington. The motive may be connected with a suggestion that the dining group had concerns about the cook/woman getting back with her ex.

OB

 

[Michie]

I found another article which mentions a tradesman asked to overpaint some strange, death themed, graffiti on an inside wall of a house occupied by the woman. I've also seen the woman described as an 'experienced forager' making accidental use of the death caps unlikely.

My overall impression is that the woman may be mentally disturbed and probably put death caps in the Beef Wellington. The motive may be connected with a suggestion that the dining group had concerns about the cook/woman getting back with her ex.

OB

Please keep me updated. I figured living where you do you’d get more accurate reports. These things tend to take on a life of their own here in the US. I’m not sure how fast things move there as far as the legal system is concerned but I’m very interested to see what becomes of this case. I’m sure her ex-husband is convinced of her guilt. I do not know how he couldn’t be.

 

[Occams Barber]

Please keep me updated. I figured living where you do you’d get more accurate reports. These things tend to take on a life of their own here in the US. I’m not sure how fast things move there as far as the legal system is concerned but I’m very interested to see what becomes of this case. I’m sure her ex-husband is convinced of her guilt. I do not know how he couldn’t be.

I'll let you know when we get some sort of outcome.

I think the police are going slowly and carefully on this one. They aren't talking a lot.

OB

 

[Michie]

I'll let you know when we get some sort of outcome.

I think the police are going slowly and carefully on this one. They aren't talking a lot.

OB

Thank you OB. I appreciate it.

 

[Occams Barber]

Thank you OB. I appreciate it.

It looks like Ms Patterson (the cook) really was ill after the lunch and actually went to the local hospital and was later sent to a Melbourne medical centre (about a 2 hour drive). This appears to be confirmed by the local hospital (see below). Unless she was planning a murder/suicide it's hard to imagine her knowingly eating the food. All the reported info seems to be coming from non-police sources like the woman or her ex.

At the bottom of this post I've pasted a link to an ABC (Australia) article which seems to summarise all we know so far. ABC reporting is probably the most reliable.

​

Ms Patterson said it had not been previously reported that she was also hospitalised after the lunch with bad stomach pains and diarrhoea, and was put on a saline drip and given a "liver protective drug".​

​

She said she was transported by ambulance from the Leongatha Hospital to the Monash Medical Centre in Melbourne on July 31.​

​

The Gippsland Southern Health Service confirmed a fifth person who presented at Leongatha Hospital on July 30 with suspected food poisoning later returned and was sent to Monash.​

​

Woman who cooked suspected poisoned meal details where she bought mushrooms

The woman who cooked a meal that is believed to have contained poisonous mushrooms and led to the deaths of three people gives a lengthy written statement to police detailing her account of what happened, and revealing she was hospitalised after the incident.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Michie]

It looks like Ms Patterson (the cook) really was ill after the lunch and actually went to the local hospital and was later sent to a Melbourne medical centre (about a 2 hour drive). This appears to be confirmed by the local hospital (see below). Unless she was planning a murder/suicide it's hard to imagine her knowingly eating the food. All the reported info seems to be coming from non-police sources like the woman or her ex.

At the bottom of this post I've pasted a link to an ABC (Australia) article which seems to summarise all we know so far. ABC reporting is probably the most reliable.

​

Ms Patterson said it had not been previously reported that she was also hospitalised after the lunch with bad stomach pains and diarrhoea, and was put on a saline drip and given a "liver protective drug".​

​

She said she was transported by ambulance from the Leongatha Hospital to the Monash Medical Centre in Melbourne on July 31.​

​

The Gippsland Southern Health Service confirmed a fifth person who presented at Leongatha Hospital on July 30 with suspected food poisoning later returned and was sent to Monash.​

​

Woman who cooked suspected poisoned meal details where she bought mushrooms

The woman who cooked a meal that is believed to have contained poisonous mushrooms and led to the deaths of three people gives a lengthy written statement to police detailing her account of what happened, and revealing she was hospitalised after the incident.

www.abc.net.au

Interesting. I read that it is super important to get early treatment should you eat those mushrooms, which she did if she knowingly ate them… and how much and when? The problem is her guest unknowingly ate them. Did she go to the hospital on the 31st while the others went on the 30th?

 

[Occams Barber]

Interesting. I read that it is super important to get early treatment should you eat those mushrooms, which she did if she knowingly ate them… and how much and when? The problem is her guest unknowingly ate them. Did she go to the hospital on the 31st while the others went on the 30th?

It looks like she took herself to the local hospital on July 30 - the same day as the others.

The Gippsland Southern Health Service confirmed a fifth person who presented at Leongatha Hospital on July 30 with suspected food poisoning later returned and was sent to Monash.​

​

Where did the death caps come from?​

How did they get into the Beef Wellington?​

Did the cook really have food poisoning or was she faking it?​

(Where's Inspector Poirot when you need him?)​

​

OB​

 

[Michie]

The latest I read:

A mushroom cook and her killer family lunch: The mysterious case gripping Australia

A bizarre case has enthralled people all across the globe – involving mushroom poisoning, a series of deaths, a tearful interview and now reports of a past mystery illness. Tara Cobham and Bevan Hurley report

www.independent.co.uk

The only thing new I learned is the reason for the lunch was to discuss child visitation. Previously I read it was concern over mental health, etc.

 

[Occams Barber]

The latest I read:

A mushroom cook and her killer family lunch: The mysterious case gripping Australia

A bizarre case has enthralled people all across the globe – involving mushroom poisoning, a series of deaths, a tearful interview and now reports of a past mystery illness. Tara Cobham and Bevan Hurley report

www.independent.co.uk

The only thing new I learned is the reason for the lunch was to discuss child visitation. Previously I read it was concern over mental health, etc.

Thanks for the article.

I had a poke around the internet this morning (it's midday on Friday my time) but came up with nothing new.

The police aren't talking (understandably) apart from repeating that the investigation will take time.

I'll keep an eye on this and let you know if/when anything new turns up - we may be in for a long wait.

OB

 

[Michie]

Thanks for the article.

I had a poke around the internet this morning (it's midday on Friday my time) but came up with nothing new.

The police aren't talking (understandably) apart from repeating that the investigation will take time.

I'll keep an eye on this and let you know if/when anything new turns up - we may be in for a long wait.

OB

Thank you OB. I appreciate it.

 

[Occams Barber]

Thank you OB. I appreciate it.

Saturday, 19 Aug , around 6.30pm

Reporting has mainly focused on vigil services for the deceased and for the gentleman who appears to be recovering.

I did come across a small piece of information which may (or may not) be relevant.

A reporter for a major newspaper was interviewed by local radio. The reporter had spoken briefly with Ms Patterson and a few people in the area.
In the interview transcript he described Ms Patterson as shy but a "very smart lady". It appears that she dabbles in real estate and is fairly wealthy by local standards. I recall mention of her staying in her own house in Melbourne at one point as well as owning a house in Leongatha. Median house prices in Melbourne are a little shy of a million bucks.

Interesting? Yes.
Significant? Who knows.

The police are waiting on forensic info on cause of death before they go too much further.

OB

 

[RileyG]

This is terrifying

 

[Occams Barber]

This is terrifying.

I don't find it terrifying, but it is fascinating - like a real-life Agatha Christie novel.

OB

 

[RileyG]

I don't find it terrifying, but it is fascinating - like a real-life Agatha Christie novel.

OB

IT makes you wonder who you can trust. No one apparently? Yikes.

 

[Bob Crowley]

This article claims there are "red flags" but I'll leave it to the police and the justice system to sort it out.

Forensic psychologist shares major update on deadly 'poison' mushroom lunch

‘I’m not a big believer in coincidences’

metro.co.uk

I don't mind mushrooms but I wouldn't pick my own in a blue fit. When I was growing up we lived near a creek which used to flood from time to time and it would overflow nearby parks. After the flood mushrooms would sometimes come up. My father used to pick them and he knew which ones were toadstools and which were mushrooms.

I haven't got the confidence and as I said I'd leave them strictly alone. As a minor note there's a mushroom farm about 8 miles away.

My caution about picking mushrooms reminded me of Alan Coren's humorous article "The Unnatural History of Selborne" in which he sends himself up as an incompetent urban naturalist who has read the Natural History of Selborne and sets out to emulate it. This is supposed to be taking place in a minor English wood by the way.

"... It would not surprise me if this part of the New Forest were capable of supporting anancondas and scorpions. Indeed, last night as I brushed my teeth, I clearly heard what could well have been a tapir rooting around the flymo, or vice versa.

Tomorrow, I am determined to purchase the Observer's Book of Fungi. I have noticed, in my happy peregrinations, many delicious-looking examples of this nourishing genus; and I do firmly believe, Sir, that with a modicum of good fortune, my little family might well become self sufficient.

I am, etc."

Sooner him than me!