The lady at the centre of a suspected mushroom poisoning case that claimed the lives of three people in Australia claims in a statement to the police that she bought the ingredients from two different stores, according to national broadcaster ABC.
ABC said on Monday that Erin Patterson, 48, told police she wanted to “clear up the record” because she had grown “extremely stressed and overwhelmed by the deaths” of her loved ones.
According to Victoria Police, on July 29, Patterson had Don and Gail Patterson, Heather Wilkinson, and Ian Wilkinson as guests at her home in the small town of Leongatha.
According to authorities, three of the four relatives who attended lunch with them passed away after exhibiting signs of “death cap” mushroom poisoning. One patient’s status in the hospital remained critical.
In order to help them figure out the specifics of the case, Victoria Police’s homicide squad advised people to avoid eating wild mushrooms and to only consume those that are sold in grocery stores.
Patterson, however, asserts that she recently purchased button mushrooms from a supermarket chain and recently purchased dried mushrooms from an Asian store in Melbourne.
According to Patterson’s statement, which was cited by ABC, she said that both sets of mushrooms were utilised in the beef wellington she prepared and served for the family supper.
“I’m hoping this statement can be of some assistance. In the report, Patterson was reported as saying, “I think if people understood the context more, they would not be so eager to rush to judgement.
“I am now horrified to consider that these mushrooms could have had a role in my loved ones’ illnesses. I truly want to stress that I had no justification for harming these people, who I loved.
In relation to the fatalities, Patterson has not been detained or charged.
Patterson earlier denied any wrongdoing in an emotional conversation with local media outside her home last week.
It is unknown what exactly Patterson told Victoria Police. The Age newspaper later acquired it and published a piece that corroborated ABC’s reporting.
In response to the statement, Victoria Police declined to comment.
According to authorities, there has been no more development in the investigation, and at this time, we won’t be commenting on certain aspects of it, CNN said on Tuesday.
A long tenderloin is wrapped in dough and filled with pâté or mushrooms to make beef wellington, a baked meal.
Police first claimed last week that Patterson’s two kids attended the family lunch in late July but did not partake in the meal.
However, Patterson’s statement claimed that the kids were gone at the movies, according to ABC’s reporting. The leftovers were served to the kids the following night, but she removed the mushrooms because they don’t like them.
Police claimed to have searched Patterson’s house on Saturday and taken several items for forensic analysis. The inquiry is still ongoing, according to police, who say they are maintaining an open mind about what occurred.