While police have only said Erin Patterson is a person of interest, and haven’t suggested she tried intentionally poisoning her in-laws, experienced psychologist Tim Watson-Munro says there are a number of bizarre elements that need to be investigated.
Speaking to the
Australian, Watson-Munro, who has worked on catching some of Australia’s biggest criminal offenders, stated: “I’m not a big believer in coincidences.”
Red flag number one
The first red flag he highlights was that Patterson’s former husband nearly died twice in 2022 from gastric-related complications.
The
Herald Sun reported a family friend said Simon felt “a bit off” and his illnesses “often coincided [with] when he spent time with her [Erin]”.
In a police statement regarding July’s deaths, Patterson also questioned herself as to whether she poisoned Simon’s parents and aunty.
“Obviously, he was either wilfully poisoned or it was just bad luck,” Watson-Munro told the
Australian.
Red flag number two
Watson-Munro isn’t convinced by Patterson’s statement in which she claimed she purchased the mushrooms at an unnamed Asian supermarket.
In his view, he believes her claim sounds “ludicrous” because death cap mushrooms are not commercial products.
He said: “People just don’t retail them. It’s not that loose.”
Red flag number three
Patterson revealed in a follow-up statement to police that her children were not present at the lunch, despite initial reports they were.
She claimed they were at the movies, but ate leftovers of the meal the following day.
Watson-Munro believes it is “weird” the children were out of the house during what was meant to be a family lunch.
Watson-Munro says police would be looking for points of weakness and the slow, steady approach would be tactical. He said: “It is a fascinating case. Everyone is talking about it.”
A police statement by Patterson was reportedly leaked to the media, revealing she became unwell after eating the meal.
She admitted she then dumped a dehydrator she used to prepare the meal at a nearby tip soon afterwards because she was in a panic.
She told them she dumped it there a “long time ago”, before revealing she did it after her guests fell ill.
She now claims she was at the hospital with her children “discussing the food hydrator” when her estranged husband, Simon Patterson, asked: “Is that what you used to poison them?”
“The Patterson family (including Erin and estranged husband Simon) would pick mushrooms each year when they were in season,” the friend said.
The
Herald Sun quotes sources close to the investigation as saying the ambulance officer felt it necessary to make police aware of what was said, though the details are yet to be released.
“I lost my parents-in-law, my children lost their grandparents. And I’ve been painted as an evil witch,” Patterson told the
Australian.
“And the media is making it impossible for me to live in this town. I can’t have friends over.
“The media is at the house where my children are at. The media are at my sister’s house, so I can’t go there. This is unfair.”
She said she did not leak her police statement. “I didn’t put any statement out,” she told the
Australian.
“I have no idea how it got out. I made a statement to the police.”
A forensic psychologist details concerns about woman's behaviour after mushroom deaths.
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