Mum admits lying to cops after in-laws died in suspected mushroom poisoning
A mother who is suspected of killing her former in-laws has admitted to lying to the police following the suspected mushroom poisoning inside her home in Australia.
Erin Patterson, 48, served the deadly meal which consisted of two different mushrooms - one purchased from a supermarket and another from an Asian grocery store, which she had also eaten herself. Now, she has spoken out for the first time and told the police that she wasn't truthful about how long ago she had dumped a food dehydrator at a nearby tip. It comes after her ex Simon reportedly accused her of using it to poison his parents.
She invited her ex-husband's parents Gail and Don Patterson alongside Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson and her husband Ian for the meal, as part of a planned reconciliation with her ex Simon Patterson, who ended up dropping out. Days later, three of the guests had passed away from suspected mushroom poisoning from the beef Wellington she made on July 29.
Erin said Simon asked her about the dehydrator and said: "Is that what you used to poison them?" The mum said it caused her to panic so she threw it away. She has since told the police that she disposed of it a "long time ago."
Gail and Don Patterson passed away after the meal (Nine)She told the police: "I am now wanting to clear up the record because I have become extremely stressed and overwhelmed by the deaths of my loved ones. I am hoping this statement might help in some way. I believe if people understood the background more, they would not be so quick to rush to judgement. 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."
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In the statement, she also said that she prepared the meal before she let the guests pick their own plates. She then took the last one and ate the Beef Wellington. Erin explained she was put on a saline drip and offered a "liver protective drug" after she complained of stomach pains and diarrhoea.
Heather was named as the third victim in the suspected poisoning (Nine)
Ian was also invited to the meal at the home in Australia (Nine)Her children, who were confirmed to be at the cinema during the incident, were given leftovers for lunch the following day but without the mushrooms, which Erin said they don't like. Toxicologists have been given the remains of the meal to examine it. Police are currently investigating the rubbish tip to determine when the dehydrator was dumped.
Erin continued: "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. 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. I had a deep love and respect for Simon's parents and had encouraged my children to spend time with their grandparents as I believed they were exceptional role models."
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