A family lunch at a home nestled among the rolling hills of South Gippsland has shone a spotlight on the sleepy dairy town of Leongatha and propelled it into global news headlines.
Erin Patterson, the 49-year-old host of a beef wellington lunch that police allege resulted in the poisoning all four guests — killing three people — has been arrested and charged with murder and attempted murder.
Here's how the past few months have unfolded.
Saturday, July 29
A group of people, including Erin Patterson and two married couples from Korumburra, gather at her home for lunch.
The guests include Gail and Don Patterson, who are the parents of Erin Patterson's estranged husband, Simon Patterson.
The other couple includes Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson and her husband Ian.
Erin Patterson prepares and serves beef Wellington, including mushrooms, at the lunch.
The two couples become ill over the course of that evening and the following morning.
They attend local hospitals in Leongatha and Korumburra before being taken to Austin Hospital in Melbourne's north-east.
Sunday and Monday, July 30-31
Gippsland Southern Health Service confirms a fifth person presented at Leongatha Hospital with suspected food poisoning.
They were later taken by ambulance to Monash Medical Centre in Melbourne on July 31.
Friday, August 4
Heather Wilkinson and Gail Patterson die.
Ian Wilkinson remains in hospital in a critical condition.
Saturday, August 5
Don Patterson dies in hospital.
Homicide detectives interview Erin Patterson and search her home.
She is released but police say she remains a suspect.
Monday, August 7
The Victorian Health Department confirms mushrooms were involved in the fatalities.
Erin Patterson speaks to media, insisting she is innocent and saying she is "devastated" by the tragedy.
Friday, August 11
Erin Patterson gives a statement to police, detailing her account of what transpired before and after the lunch.
She recounts purchasing a mixture of button mushrooms at a major supermarket chain and dried mushrooms at an Asian grocery store in Melbourne.
Erin Patterson says her children were present at the lunch during July but did not eat the meal, and they had gone to the movies prior to lunch.
She describes being contacted by the Health Department after her guests fell critically ill and giving a sample of the lunch to hospital toxicologists for examination.
Monday and Tuesday, August 21-22
A private memorial service is held for Don and Gail Patterson, attended by close family members.
Thursday, August 31
A public memorial is held for Don and Gail Patterson at Korumburra Recreation Centre.
Reverend Fran Grimes opens the memorial service and criticises the media attention the town had been receiving since the deaths during July.
"Many of the stories described Korumburra as a tight-knit community, but what they actually found was a community which, above all, was shielding and protecting the family from heartless speculation and gossip," she said.
Saturday, September 23
Korumburra pastor Ian Wilkinson is released from hospital following weeks in intensive care after being admitted in a critical condition.
Wednesday, October 4
More than 300 people attend a public memorial at the Korumburra Recreation Centre to remember Heather Wilkinson.
Her husband and survivor of the July lunch, Ian Wilkinson, attended the memorial but did not speak.
Heather's son David Wilkinson cried as he recalled his mother's warmth and generosity.
Thursday, November 2
Detectives arrest Erin Patterson at her Leongatha home shortly after 8am.
Police search the house, garage, and Erin Patterson's car over several hours.
Australian Federal Police technology detector dogs are used to search the home for items such as USBs and SIM cards.
After the search, Erin Patterson is taken to the Wonthaggi Police Station for an interview.
Erin Patterson is charged with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder, and remanded in custody to appear in court the following morning.
Friday, November 3
Erin Patterson faces the Latrobe Valley Magistrates' Court at Morwell in a filing hearing where her lawyer did not apply for bail.
The case is adjourned until May 3, 2024, to allow time for prosecutors to analyse computer equipment seized at Erin Patterson's home the previous day.
The three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder relate to the lunch on July 29, while the other three attempted murder charges relate to separate meals in 2021 and 2022 that allegedly made a 48-year-old Korumburra man ill.
The Korumburra man is Erin Patterson's estranged husband, Simon Patterson.
ABC Gippsland — local news in your inbox
https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiZmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIzLTExLTA0L2VyaW4tcGF0dGVyc29uLW11c2hyb29tLWx1bmNoLW11cmRlci1jaGFyZ2VzLXRpbWVsaW5lLzEwMzA1ODE4MtIBKGh0dHBzOi8vYW1wLmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvYXJ0aWNsZS8xMDMwNTgxODI?oc=5
2023-11-03 20:50:01Z
2586778486
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "From an allegedly fatal mushroom lunch to Erin Patterson's arrest, how the events unfolded - ABC News"
Post a Comment