Australia - 3 dead after eating wild mushrooms, Leongatha, Victoria, Aug 2023 #9 *Arrest*

[drsleuth]

5m ago

Mushroom expert asked if accidental poisonings occur​

By Judd Boaz​

Dr Rogers asks if there had fatal cases of people mistaking one mushroom for another.

"Have there been cases or possibly fatalities where people, sometimes visitors to Australia, have mistaken the death cap mushroom from an edible mushroom?" Dr Rogers asks.

"That does appear to be the case," Dr May says.

They cover the type of soil and climate conditions required for death cap mushrooms.

"The death cap is different from other kinds of mushrooms in that it will appear in summer," he says.

A slide is shown, detailing the most frequent months in which deathcap mushrooms appear in Victoria — April and May.


3m ago

Information on death caps available on the internet and field guides​

By Melissa Brown​

Dr May says in addition to information on the internet, a number of field guides to Australian fungi have quite detailed information and descriptions about the features of the death cap and its toxicity.

Dr May tellls the court he and a colleague published "Wild Mushrooming" to allow people to safely forage for mushrooms and included several pages to help people identify the death cap.

Mushroom expert quizzed on death cap identification in Erin Patterson trial — as it happened

An internationally recognised fungi expert has given evidence in the trial of Erin Patterson, who is accused of murdering three relatives with a poisoned beef Wellington meal. Look back at how the day unfolded in our live blog.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Jess D]

Police confirmed on 14 August that Patterson provided them with a detailed statement, in which she said she had bought dried mushrooms from an Asian supermarket in Mount Waverley (around 118 kilometres (73 mi) away from Leongatha) three months before the lunch.


April 28

The prosecution says Erin's mobile phone data suggests she travels to Loch before returning to Korumburra.

Two and a half hours later, Erin allegedly purchases a Sunbeam food lab electronic dehydrator from a Leongatha store.

The timeline prosecutors allege in the mushroom murder trial

The six-week murder trial of Erin Patterson is underway in the regional Victorian town of Morwell. Here's what we know so far about the case, based on material put to the jury.

www.abc.net.au

Thanks for that. Loch is about 10 minutes south of Korumburra apparently.

 

[drsleuth]

Death cap mushrooms do not grow in China, court told​

The court has been shown a distribution map of death cap mushrooms across the world.

Under questioning from the prosecution, mycologist Thomas May confirmed death cap mushrooms have not been reported to grow in China.

Death cap look-a-likes found around Melbourne, expert says​

Mycologist Thomas May says there are mushrooms that grow around Melbourne that look like death cap mushrooms, such as the stubble rosegill and the marbled death cap, however, neither of those species grow under oak trees.

He said some mushrooms within the amanita genus are safe to eat and are consumed in some countries and regions, including Asia and China.

Death caps most common in autumn, expert says​

Mycologist Thomas May has told the court death caps have an underground growing body (the mycelium) in the soil, that grows year round.

However, the sporing bodies (mushrooms) appear for a short period, after suitable rain, most usually in autumn, but sometimes in winter or summer.

He said, across all years, most observations of death caps in Victoria have been in May, but it has also been observed in all months from January to July and rarely in December.

Pictures of death caps allegedly used in Patterson’s lunch shown to court

Erin Patterson is accused of killing three people with poisonous death cap mushrooms.

7news.com.au

 

[MsMarple]

Mushroom expert asked if accidental poisonings occur​

By Judd Boaz​

Dr Rogers asks if there had fatal cases of people mistaking one mushroom for another.

"Have there been cases or possibly fatalities where people, sometimes visitors to Australia, have mistaken the death cap mushroom from an edible mushroom?" Dr Rogers asks.

"That does appear to be the case," Dr May says.

They cover the type of soil and climate conditions required for death cap mushrooms.

"The death cap is different from other kinds of mushrooms in that it will appear in summer," he says.

A slide is shown, detailing the most frequent months in which deathcap mushrooms appear in Victoria — April and May.

Information on death caps available on the internet and field guides​

By Melissa Brown​

Dr May says in addition to information on the internet, a number of field guides to Australian fungi have quite detailed information and descriptions about the features of the death cap and its toxicity.

Dr May tellls the court he and a colleague published "Wild Mushrooming" to allow people to safely forage for mushrooms and included several pages to help people identify the death cap.

 

[Detechtive]

Death caps reported growing nearby months before lunch​

Dr May said death cap mushrooms grow across metropolitan Melbourne, particularly to the east.
He said they were found in a variety of suburbs from South Yarra to Emerald.
The court heard there have been three reports of death cap mushrooms outside of Melbourne in Victoria’s east, namely in Loch, Outtrim and Morwell.

The observations in Loch and Outtrim were logged in April and May 2023, he said, while the observation in Morwell was historical from “sometime in the last 20 years”.

He said the greater number of records in Melbourne could be explained by the fact more people lived in the city than regional centres.
“Across all years, most observations of death cap in Victoria have been made in May, but it has also been observed in all months from January to July and rarely in December,” a slide reads.
“The sporing bodies (mushrooms) appear for a short period, after suitable rain, most usually in autumn, but sometimes in winter or in summer.”

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-victoria/trial-for-accused-mushroom-cook-killer-erin-patterson-resumes/live-coverage/6fd8204a5e2d7dbf4934b94634421ed7#/entry/31576482

 

[MsMarple]

Toxicity behind deadly mushrooms explained​

By Judd Boaz​

Dr May tells the court about the toxins found inside the death cap mushroom, known as amatoxins.

He says these toxins are a family composed of substances known as amanitins.

Dr May says most native species have not been tested for toxin composition.

He also tells the court death cap mushrooms are not the only mushrooms to contain these toxins, and some can be found in Australia.

"There are other mushrooms apart from amanita that contain amanitins," he says.

He cites mushroom species such as conocybe filaris and lepiota brunneoincarnata which have been found in the country, but says they have not been specifically tested for toxicity in Australia.

 

[Detechtive]

Death caps reported growing nearby months before lunch​

Dr May said death cap mushrooms grow across metropolitan Melbourne, particularly to the east.
He said they were found in a variety of suburbs from South Yarra to Emerald.
The court heard there have been three reports of death cap mushrooms outside of Melbourne in Victoria’s east, namely in Loch, Outtrim and Morwell.

The observations in Loch and Outtrim were logged in April and May 2023, he said, while the observation in Morwell was historical from “sometime in the last 20 years”.

He said the greater number of records in Melbourne could be explained by the fact more people lived in the city than regional centres.
“Across all years, most observations of death cap in Victoria have been made in May, but it has also been observed in all months from January to July and rarely in December,” a slide reads.
“The sporing bodies (mushrooms) appear for a short period, after suitable rain, most usually in autumn, but sometimes in winter or in summer.”

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-victoria/trial-for-accused-mushroom-cook-killer-erin-patterson-resumes/live-coverage/6fd8204a5e2d7dbf4934b94634421ed7#/entry/31576482

So, there were two reports near her home in the year of 2023, and she just happened to be gps pinged in those two precise locations after visiting the inaturalist website.

 

[drsleuth]

now12.57 AEST
‘Death cap’ mushrooms usually appear in summer, expert tells court

Dr Thomas May – a fungi expert – says there are other mushrooms that contain the toxins found in death cap mushrooms.

The death cap is different from other kinds of mushrooms in that it will appear in summer.

He says there appear to be cases in Australia where people have confused the death cap mushroom for another.

“Have there been cases or possibly fatalities where people, sometimes visitors to Australia, have mistaken the death cap mushroom from an edible mushroom?” prosecutor Nanette Rogers asks


That does appear to be the case.

Erin Patterson murder trial live: fungi expert says death cap mushrooms have been mistaken for edible ones in past

Patterson, 50, faces three charges of murder and one charge of attempted murder relating to a beef wellington lunch she served at her house in Leongatha. Follow live updates

www.theguardian.com

 

[drsleuth]

1m ago

Other poisoning cases, and a break​

By Judd Boaz​

Dr May is asked about previous mushroom poisoning cases that have been reported to the Royal Botanic Garden mycologists.

He says in May 2023 a Chinese tourist experienced organ failure after eating a mushroom near an oak tree.

Dr May also recounts two dozen reports of people experiencing poisoning symptoms after eating mushrooms, but says they were not amanita phalloides poisoning cases.

Dr Rogers signals she will be switching topics now, and Justice Beale signals it's time for a break.

The hearing is due to resume at 2:15pm.

Mushroom expert quizzed on death cap identification in Erin Patterson trial — as it happened

An internationally recognised fungi expert has given evidence in the trial of Erin Patterson, who is accused of murdering three relatives with a poisoned beef Wellington meal. Look back at how the day unfolded in our live blog.

www.abc.net.au

 

[MsMarple]

Other poisoning cases, and a break​

By Judd Boaz​

Dr May is asked about previous mushroom poisoning cases that have been reported to the Royal Botanic Garden mycologists.

He says in May 2023 a Chinese tourist experienced organ failure after eating a mushroom near an oak tree.

Dr May also recounts two dozen reports of people experiencing poisoning symptoms after eating mushrooms, but says they were not amanita phalloides poisoning cases.

Dr Rogers signals she will be switching topics now, and Justice Beale signals it's time for a break.

The hearing is due to resume at 2:15pm.

 

[Megnut]

I hope the jury is making the connection. Erin foraged for Death Caps, then dried and stored them.... no reason to do that.... unless....

 

[Detechtive]

I hope the jury is making the connection. Erin foraged for Death Caps, then dried and stored them.... no reason to do that.... unless....

Yeah, so she wasn't just out randomly foraging in the hillside and happened across Death Caps accidentally, she specifically and purposefully went there in the two locations after seeing them gps tagged on I-naturalist.

I had imagined there would have been hundreds of sightings near her house, but no, just the two where she went. That really does make this all the more purposeful looking, IMO

But then, she dried them, and bought a dehydrator specifically and purposefully on the day she visited the first site.

And then, she stored them.

And then, she used them, and everyone got sick except her and her kids and her dog.

And then she disposed of the dehydrator.

And then everyone who ate them died or was in ICU as a result, except her and her children and her dog.

All allegedly*

 

[Jess D]

Death caps reported growing nearby months before lunch​

Dr May said death cap mushrooms grow across metropolitan Melbourne, particularly to the east.
He said they were found in a variety of suburbs from South Yarra to Emerald.
The court heard there have been three reports of death cap mushrooms outside of Melbourne in Victoria’s east, namely in Loch, Outtrim and Morwell.

The observations in Loch and Outtrim were logged in April and May 2023, he said, while the observation in Morwell was historical from “sometime in the last 20 years”.

He said the greater number of records in Melbourne could be explained by the fact more people lived in the city than regional centres.
“Across all years, most observations of death cap in Victoria have been made in May, but it has also been observed in all months from January to July and rarely in December,” a slide reads.
“The sporing bodies (mushrooms) appear for a short period, after suitable rain, most usually in autumn, but sometimes in winter or in summer.”

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-victoria/trial-for-accused-mushroom-cook-killer-erin-patterson-resumes/live-coverage/6fd8204a5e2d7dbf4934b94634421ed7#/entry/31576482

I remember reading that someone in the FB group that she was in posted about a location where there were death cap mushrooms.

 

[Jess D]

Yeah, so she wasn't just out randomly foraging in the hillside and happened across Death Caps accidentally, she specifically and purposefully went there in the two locations after seeing them gps tagged on I-naturalist.

I had imagined there would have been hundreds of sightings near her house, but no, just the two where she went. That really does make this all the more purposeful looking, IMO

But then, she dried them, and bought a dehydrator specifically and purposefully on the day she visited the first site.

And then, she stored them.

And then, she used them, and everyone got sick except her and her kids and her dog.

And then she disposed of the dehydrator.

And then everyone who ate them died or was in ICU as a result, except her and her children and her dog.

All allegedly*

Sorry, I just saw your post after I commented. She probably didn't want to risk being spotted foraging for them close to home.

 

[Detechtive]

Sorry, I just saw your post after I commented. She probably didn't want to risk being spotted foraging for them close to home.

There probably wasn't sightings posted closer to home. They appear less prolific than I imagined. Only two sightings in 2023 in the vicinity of her home in Loch and that other O place.

That is damning, IMO.

 

[tmar]

6 minutes ago
Highlight

Lunch leftovers sent by 'urgent taxi' to mushroom expert​

Dr Muldoon said Erin “reported feeling better” on August 1, with both normal blood tests and vital signs. Under cross-examination by defence barrister Colin Mandy SC, she clarified Erin’s symptoms and told the court she had reported frequent “explosive diarrhoea” when she was admitted.
The court also heard the leftovers of the beef wellington, which were collected by a police officer from a bin at Erin’s home, had been transported to Monash Medical Centre.
A photo of the leftovers, taken by Dr Veronica Foote at Leongatha Hospital before they were transported, was shown to the jury.
Dr Muldoon said she then arranged the transfer of the leftovers by “urgent taxi” to a mycologist – a mushroom expert


https://www.heraldsun.com.au/truecr...2d7dbf4934b94634421ed7?amp#scroll-to-31573695 – at the Royal Botanic Gardens.

Due to all the large costs, numerous hospital staff involved, Police etc surely this must be mentioned.

EP willingly added her foraged mushrooms, and LIED about it.
Hiding evidence by disposing the dehydrator.
Missing phone etc.

It is pleasing that her actions are now closely examined.
I hope, EP experiences nightmares continually.

 

[sunspun]

Seems like there was an important question they should have asked her in the hospital, that I never heard anyone ask her. It would seem they would need her to tell them whether the 2 types of mushrooms she claims to have used were all mixed together in her recipe, or if one kind might have gone into some of the individual beef wellingtons, while the other might have ended up in others. Like say, she might have used the ones she said were from Woolworths in some, and the ones supposedly from the Asian store might have ended up in other ones. To help pinpoint where exactly the poisonous ones were from. Which would also make it seem more plausible to them why she didn't get sick like the others. Maybe she just happened to end up with only the good ones in her meal. Lucky her.

I don't see why they didn't ask her anything like this. Pretty simple thing, but crucial, imo. Just ask whether she combined both types that she had in her recipe, or not. Maybe that's just assumed though, idk.

 

[drsleuth]

When you look at the timeline , she really started to freak out after being interviewed by Dr Rhonda Stuart on Tuesday the 1st from the department of health. Erin the next day on Wed the 2nd does a factory reset on Phone B ( which seems to be her usual phone ?) before discarding the dehydrator the same day. Police start investigating the next day ( Thurs the 3rd ) when Erin than moves SIM card with the number 04XX 835 into Phone B . Police start investigation this day.

Thur 4th Heather & Gail die, Don dies on Friday the 5th. Police find the dehydrator this day.

Police get a search warrant on the 5th & seize Phone B with SIM card number 04XX 835 & take Erin in for questioning.

Erin allegedly remotely conducts a factory reset of Phone B, which is still held by police.

Erin allegedly continues to use Phone A with number 04XX 783. Police say they never recover this phone.

All allegedly

I really think she thought no one would suspect her & that the quests would get sick but not die?


In summary:

Sat 29th July 2023

• the lunch

Sunday 30th July

• Don & Gail get sick - go to Dandenong Hospital
• Simon takes Heather & Ian to Korumburra Hospital than to Leongatha Hospital
• Erin tells kids she feels unwell, but does errands & serves the kids leftovers

Monday 31st July

• Doctors at Leongatha and Dandenong Hospital confer about the poisonings
• Erin takes the kids to school than goes to Leongatha Hospital around 8am & leaves within 5 mins
• Erin returns to the hospital around 9:48am. She is transferred to Monash Medical Centre, and meets Simon and her children there.
• Don and Gail arrive at Austin Hospital.

Tuesday 1st August

• Heather and Ian arrive at Austin Hospital.
• Despite escalating medical treatment, Donald, Gail and Heather continue to deteriorate.
• Erin is assessed by a Dr at Monash ( Dr Laura Muldoon) . She is discharged from hospital about 1pm. She is well.
• The Department of Health interviews Erin about the lunch ( Dr Rhonda Stuart )

Wednesday 2nd August

• Erin allegedly conducts a factory reset on Phone B, which she had been using before February 12.
• She allegedly drives to Koonwarra Transfer Station and Landfill, and deposits items into an e-waste bin.
• Monash Council begins visiting Asian-style grocery stores in Melbourne's south-east to find products matching Erin's description.

Thursday 3rd August

• A Victoria Police investigation is launched into the July 29 lunch.
• Erin allegedly moves her SIM card with the number 04XX 835 into Phone B.

Friday 4th August

• Heather dies at 2:50am.
• Gail dies at 5:55pm.
• Police travel to Koonwarra Transfer Station and find a black Sunbeam dehydrator in an e-waste bin.

Saturday 5th August

• Donald dies at 11:30pm.
• Police get search warrant, where police seize Phone B with SIM card number 04-- ---835.
• Erin is taken to Wonthaggi Police Station and interviewed.

Sunday 6th August -

• Erin allegedly remotely conducts a factory reset of Phone B, which is still held by police.
• Erin allegedly continues to use Phone A with number 04----- 783. Police say they never recover this phone.

Friday August 11th

• The Department of Health concludes its investigation and is unable to find any store selling mushrooms matching Erin's description

Monday 11th September

• Ian Wilkinson is moved into a rehabilitation ward.

The timeline prosecutors allege in the mushroom murder trial

The six-week murder trial of Erin Patterson is underway in the regional Victorian town of Morwell. Here's what we know so far about the case, based on material put to the jury.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Scooby-Doo]

I will be amazed if she gets off, even though there is still more to go

The jury must decide whether a beef Wellington cooked in her kitchen represents a terrible accident or the ultimate act of betrayal.

She has told so many lies

Including why, in the days after the fatal lunch, she allegedly completed a factory reset on one of her phones in the middle of a police investigation.

Phone data later obtained by police alleged Patterson's phone was later 'pinged' in areas identified on that site as having death cap mushrooms there.

In one message shown to the court, before the deadly lunch, Ms Patterson wrote: "I've been hiding powdered mushrooms in everything. Mixed it into chocolate brownies yesterday, the kids had no idea."

Just my thoughts, maybe this was a trial run to see if her kids would notice them, she didn't use the poisonous ones on them, or was 'just lucky'. Just as lucky with the leftovers, her children and she ate
If you weren't guilty, you wouldn't need to lie. You would want to help police in any way you could, and you would be in absolute shock, probably taking medications that can be used to alleviate anxiety and stress. You wouldn't be running down to the tip to get rid of your dehydrator. You would have it there to show the police what has happened.

Prosecutors alleged Patterson lied to police about purchasing the dehydrator and using it to prepare mushrooms for the beef Wellington.

Six days after the meal, the dehydrator was found by police at a local tip.

 

[LinasK]

When you look at the timeline , she really started to freak out after being interviewed by Dr Rhonda Stuart on Tuesday the 1st from the department of health. Erin the next day on Wed the 2nd does a factory reset on Phone B ( which seems to be her usual phone ?) before discarding the dehydrator the same day. Police start investigating the next day ( Thurs the 3rd ) when Erin than moves SIM card with the number 04XX 835 into Phone B . Police start investigation this day.

Thur 4th Heather & Gail die, Don dies on Friday the 5th. Police find the dehydrator this day.

Police get a search warrant on the 5th & seize Phone B with SIM card number 04XX 835 & take Erin in for questioning.

Erin allegedly remotely conducts a factory reset of Phone B, which is still held by police.

Erin allegedly continues to use Phone A with number 04XX 783. Police say they never recover this phone.

All allegedly

I really think she thought no one would suspect her & that the quests would get sick but not die?


In summary:

Sat 29th July 2023

• the lunch

Sunday 30th July

• Don & Gail get sick - go to Dandenong Hospital
• Simon takes Heather & Ian to Korumburra Hospital than to Leongatha Hospital
• Erin tells kids she feels unwell, but does errands & serves the kids leftovers

Monday 31st July

• Doctors at Leongatha and Dandenong Hospital confer about the poisonings
• Erin takes the kids to school than goes to Leongatha Hospital around 8am & leaves within 5 mins
• Erin returns to the hospital around 9:48am. She is transferred to Monash Medical Centre, and meets Simon and her children there.
• Don and Gail arrive at Austin Hospital.

Tuesday 1st August

• Heather and Ian arrive at Austin Hospital.
• Despite escalating medical treatment, Donald, Gail and Heather continue to deteriorate.
• Erin is assessed by a Dr at Monash ( Dr Laura Muldoon) . She is discharged from hospital about 1pm. She is well.
• The Department of Health interviews Erin about the lunch ( Dr Rhonda Stuart )

Wednesday 2nd August

• Erin allegedly conducts a factory reset on Phone B, which she had been using before February 12.
• She allegedly drives to Koonwarra Transfer Station and Landfill, and deposits items into an e-waste bin.
• Monash Council begins visiting Asian-style grocery stores in Melbourne's south-east to find products matching Erin's description.

Thursday 3rd August

• A Victoria Police investigation is launched into the July 29 lunch.
• Erin allegedly moves her SIM card with the number 04XX 835 into Phone B.

Friday 4th August

• Heather dies at 2:50am.
• Gail dies at 5:55pm.
• Police travel to Koonwarra Transfer Station and find a black Sunbeam dehydrator in an e-waste bin.

Saturday 5th August

• Donald dies at 11:30pm.
• Police get search warrant, where police seize Phone B with SIM card number 04-- ---835.
• Erin is taken to Wonthaggi Police Station and interviewed.

Sunday 6th August -

• Erin allegedly remotely conducts a factory reset of Phone B, which is still held by police.
• Erin allegedly continues to use Phone A with number 04----- 783. Police say they never recover this phone.

Friday August 11th

• The Department of Health concludes its investigation and is unable to find any store selling mushrooms matching Erin's description

Monday 11th September

• Ian Wilkinson is moved into a rehabilitation ward.

The timeline prosecutors allege in the mushroom murder trial

The six-week murder trial of Erin Patterson is underway in the regional Victorian town of Morwell. Here's what we know so far about the case, based on material put to the jury.

www.abc.net.au

Thank you for the timeline as I haven't been following this case closely enough.