Erin Patterson, the woman at the centre of a shocking mushroom poisoning case that rocked Australia, has been placed on a strict suicide watch protocol within her high-security prison unit, according to exclusive reports.
The 49-year-old, charged with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder, is being held in the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre, where authorities are taking no chances with her welfare. A source within the system revealed her mental state is considered so fragile that she is under 24/7 observation to prevent any self-harm.
Patterson is reportedly isolated in a specialist management unit, reserved for the most high-profile and vulnerable inmates. Her existence behind bars is described as bleak and intensely monitored, with corrections officers conducting constant checks.
A Case That Captivated a Nation
The allegations against Patterson are as grim as they are extraordinary. She is accused of serving a beef Wellington lunch laced with deadly death cap mushrooms to four guests at her home in Leongatha, Victoria, on July 29th.
The consequences were devastating. Three of her guests—Gail and Don Patterson, her former parents-in-law, and Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson—later died in hospital. Heather’s husband, Baptist pastor Ian Wilkinson, was left fighting for his life in a critical condition for weeks before eventually recovering.
The tragedy sent shockwaves through the small regional community and quickly became a story of international intrigue, fuelled by the bizarre and deadly nature of the alleged crime.
The Long Road Ahead
Patterson’s journey through the justice system is only just beginning. Her case is next scheduled to appear before the Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court in May 2024, where a committal hearing will determine if there is sufficient evidence to proceed to a trial in a higher court.
For now, she remains in the stark confines of her cell, a woman accused of one of Australia's most notorious modern crimes, being watched every minute of every day.
