In a heartbreaking tale of tragedy and betrayal, Dr. Chris Webster found himself at the center of a shocking mushroom poisoning case in rural Victoria. Within moments of Erin Patterson arriving at Leongatha Hospital, he suspected her of being the culprit behind the deaths of her in-laws and the serious illness of others. Feeling an eerie certainty, he reflected, "I thought, 'Okay, yep, you did it, you heinous individual. You've poisoned them all.'"
In July 2023, Patterson had served a meal laced with toxic mushrooms to four guests, leading to the deaths of her in-laws, 70-year-old Don and Gail Patterson, and her aunt, 66-year-old Heather Wilkinson. Her husband, Pastor Ian Wilkinson, also became gravely ill but survived after extensive treatment.
Initially thinking it was simple food poisoning, Webster treated Heather and Ian for gastroenteritis-like symptoms, as Heather had described the meal as "lovely." However, when he received a call from a colleague who confirmed it was mushroom poisoning, his perspective shifted dramatically. After confirming that the condition of his patients was deteriorating, he began urgent treatment to save their failing livers.
As fate would have it, Patterson, unaware of the unfolding tragedy, arrived at the hospital shortly after. When he asked her about the mushrooms, her casual reply that they were from a major grocery chain raised suspicion. "It all just suddenly coalesced in my brain," he explained. The doctor noted her lack of concern about the ailing relatives she claimed to love, leading him to consider her a suspect.
The critical moment came when Patterson, despite being advised of the potential poisoning, discharged herself from the hospital, prompting Webster to urgently call the police to report his concerns about her safety and that of her children. After her brief departure, she voluntarily returned to the hospital, where further tests indicated there was no sign of mushroom poisoning in her or her children.
Two years later, as the trial concluded with a guilty verdict for Patterson, Webster felt a mix of relief and unsettlement, particularly recalling the day he sent Heather away in an ambulance. The emotional toll of the case was palpable as he described seeing the only survivor, Ian Wilkinson, standing on his own again. For Dr. Webster, the resolution of the case brought a sense of justice, though the memories of that fateful day lingered heavily in his mind.
