Lethal mushroom chef Erin Patterson’s internet search history and deleted social media accounts will reportedly form a vital part of the prosecutor’s case against the accused killer.
The 49-year-old mother-of-two was arrested at her home in Leongatha, eastern Victoria, and charged with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder on November 2.
Her former in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, and Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, 66, died within days of eating a supposedly poisonous Beef Wellington lunch at Patterson’s Leongatha home on 29 July.
Heather’s husband, Baptist church pastor Ian Wilkinson, 68, narrowly avoided the same fate, while Patterson’s husband Simon backed out at the last minute.
She is accused of trying to murder him three times.
Erin Patterson (pictured), 49, was arrested at her home in Leongatha, eastern Victoria, and charged with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder on November 2.
In February, new details emerged about items found by technology-sniffing dogs in Patterson’s home.
Detectives are particularly interested in Patterson’s use of Facebook, according to the Herald of the sun.
The newspaper was told that Patterson allegedly created several profiles under different names.
WhatsNew2Day Australia previously revealed that Patterson allegedly once boasted on Facebook that she was “very good at detail”, while mocking the writing ability of some people in her local community.
Patterson branded contributors to Korumburra newsletter The Burra Flyer ‘illiterate sons of bitches’ during a rant to an old friend.
She and her then-husband Simon had put together the 48-page pamphlet of regional Victorian community advertorials and promotions for years after taking over from Simon’s parents.
In another message, Erin apparently took aim at Simon himself, attacking the engineer for not doing enough housework.
‘My husband has no idea that a cleaner is coming. I love it,” Erin allegedly posted while the couple was still together.
“Now I don’t mind the fact that he never helps me with anything because I don’t do the important jobs either… now the only thing I have to resent him for is the evening dishes.”
Police are also examining your internet history and specialist teams may uncover deleted searches.
“It’s not easy, but it’s doable in most cases,” a police source told the newspaper.
“She could be involved in conversations or narratives where she has talked about these things in online forums… it could be the smallest thing.”
WhatsNew2Day Australia previously revealed that Patterson allegedly once boasted on Facebook that she was “very good at detail”, while mocking the writing ability of some people in her local community (pictured).
Technology detection dogs discovered several items of interest, including a mobile phone, five iPads, a trail camera, a secure digital card and a smart watch.
In February, new details emerged about items found by technology-sniffing dogs in Patterson’s home.
One of the dogs, Georgia, found a USB, a secure micro digital card and a SIM card, a Senate hearing was told.
“Technology detection dog Alma found a mobile phone, five iPads, a trail camera, a secure digital card and a smart watch,” AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw told AFP.
“These were not found during the initial searches carried out by officers.”
Pastor Ian Wilkinson was the only one to survive the deadly lunch, which claimed the life of his wife Heather Wilkinson, 66. He spent almost two months in the hospital (the two appear together in the photo).
Gail Patterson and her brother-in-law Don Patterson, both in their 70s, also died after the lunch.
Canines are considered the most elite sniffer dogs due to their ability to detect the micron-thin layer that protects computer circuit boards.
Their noses are so sensitive that they can even find small SIM or memory cards buried in walls or hidden among fruits, says AFP.
Patterson is currently behind bars at Victoria’s largest women’s prison, the notorious Dame Phyllis Frost Center in Melbourne’s industrial western suburbs.
His next court appearance will be April 22.