Australian police arrest host of lunch that left 3 friends {dead} from suspected mushroom poisoning

CANBERRA, Australia — Australian police on Thursday arrested the host of a luncheon gathering that left three friends {dead} from suspected mushroom poisoning and a fourth preventing for all times.

Victoria state police executed a search warrant at Erin Patterson’s dwelling at Leongatha the place her former husband’s dad and mom, Gail and Don Patterson, each aged 70, Gail Patterson’s sister Heather Wilkinson, 66, and her husband Ian Wilkinson, 68, gathered on July 29 for lunch.

All 4 friends have been hospitalized the subsequent day and solely Ian Wilkinson survived.

Murder detectives would interview Erin Patterson after the search of her dwelling was accomplished, Victoria Police Detective Inspector Dean Thomas mentioned.

“Immediately’s arrest is simply the subsequent step in what has been a fancy and thorough investigation by Murder Squad detectives and one that isn’t but over,” Thomas advised reporters.

Detectives had beforehand interviewed the 49-year-old concerning the deadly lunch however no expenses have been laid.

She has publicly denied any wrongdoing.

Police say the signs the 4 diners had suffered have been in keeping with poisoning by wild Dying Cap Mushrooms.

Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported that Erin Patterson had written in a press release that she had cooked a Beef Wellington steak dish for the lunch utilizing mushrooms purchased from a significant grocery store chain and dried mushrooms from an Asian grocery retailer.

She wrote that she had additionally eaten the meal and later suffered abdomen pains and diarrhea.

Police had beforehand searched her dwelling on Aug. 5, the day the third diner died.

Ian Wilkinson, a Baptist pastor, was launched from hospital in late September and police say he continues to recuperate.