Mushroom cook Erin Patterson admits lying to the police after beef wellington left three dead
She now says she gave a no comment interview because it was initial questioning was a “terrifying and anxiety-provoking” experience
Nine
The Australian woman who cooked a beef wellington using mushrooms that left three dead has admitted lying to the police.
Erin Patterson, has now told police it was an accident, after earlier refusing to answer questions the officers asked her.
In her statement to police, Patterson said she had used some mushrooms in her meal but was not aware that they were poisonous.
She also admitted to lying about how long ago she disposed of the food dehydrator, which is typically used for drying out mushrooms before using them in a dish.
Patterson invited her former parents-in-law Gail and Don Patterson, along with Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson and her husband Ian, for lunch at her home
Police found a dehydrator in a local tip last week, which Patterson has since admitted to dumping.
Initially, she told Victoria police that she had gotten rid of the dehydrator a “long time ago” but she now revealed that she chucked it after the guests fell ill.
She said she did so in a panic as she was worried that she might lose custody of her children.
"I am now devastated to think that these mushrooms may have contributed to the illness suffered by my loved ones," said the 48-year old.
"I really want to repeat that I had absolutely no reason to hurt these people whom I loved."
The statement is Patterson’s first detailed account of the incident which she gave to Victoria police, after previously answering no comment to police during an interview.
“I now very much regret not answering some questions ... given the nightmare that this process has become,” she said.
She now says she was so unresponsive because it was a “terrifying and anxiety-provoking” experience.
Patterson also revealed that she too became ill after eating the meal. Local health services have confirmed that a fifth individual came to Leongatha Hospital on July 30 with possible food poisoning symptoms.
Her two children, who were not present for the lunch but later ate the food, escaped any illness, as their mum scrapped the mushrooms off their plate because the two do not like the fungi.
Patterson’s ex-husband has accused her of poisoning his parents who both died after consuming the mushrooms.
The case that has gripped Australia and become an online sensation, started on July 29, when Patterson hosted a dinner at her home in Gippsland, Victoria.
Patterson invited her former parents-in-law Gail and Don Patterson, along with Gail’s sister Health Wilkinson and her husband Ian, for lunch at her home on July 29.
Her estranged husband dropped out of the dinner last minute.
Police believe that the victims may have eaten death cap mushrooms – which are some of the most poisonous in the world.
Wikimedia Commons
Hours after the meal, all four of the guests fell ill with what they initially believed to be food poisoning.
However, this was not the case. Days later, three out of four of the guests were dead.
Police believe that the victims may have eaten death cap mushrooms – which are some of the most poisonous in the world.
Patterson said the mushrooms in the meal were a mixture of button mushrooms, which were bought at a supermarket, and dried mushrooms, which were purchased at an Asian grocery store in Melbourne.
Only one guest, Ian Wilkinson, remains alive although he is in a critical condition.
He is fighting for his life in a Melbourne hospital, where he is currently waiting for a liver transplant.
Patterson claims she had a good relationship with her ex-in laws after her separation with their son.
“I had been close with Simon's parents for a long period of time. Our relationship had continued in a fairly amicable way after I finished the relationship with their son Simon,” she said.
“Our relationship was affected to some degree by seeing them less after my marriage breakdown with Simon however I have never felt differently towards his parents.”