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Original poster

The mushroom poisoning in Vic.... I am gripped

989 replies

Dustyblue · 09/08/2023 04:58

This has been all over the news. I live one town over from Leongatha and believe me, it's the talk of the towns.

We have loads of mushrooms around our place but wouldn't dream of eating them. About 90% of foraged mushrooms in Australia are poisonous.

Then again, you do get groups of people who think they know what they're doing, and perhaps they do.

Meanwhile this is suss-as.

Three people died from suspected mushroom poisoning after sharing a meal. Here's what we know - ABC News

Three dead and another fighting for life: What we know so far about suspected mushroom poisonings in Victoria

Police continue to investigate three suspected mushroom poisoning deaths after a family lunch last month in Leongatha in Victoria's east. Detectives have not laid any charges, but say the woman who served the meal remains a suspect. Here's what we know...

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-09/poisonous-mushroom-deaths-victoria-leongatha-explainer/102703430

OP posts:
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42
oakleaffy · 13/08/2023 20:06

LAHallucinations · 13/08/2023 19:43

This case and the Christopher Jefferies/Joanna Yeates case aren't really comparable in any way. All the police seemed to have when they arrested Jefferies was the fact that he was slightly eccentric, chatted to the press quite a lot and had access to the flat as the landlord. He had no apparent motive and no apparent means (someone of his size and age would hardly be able to overpower a young fit woman and then throw her dead body over a wall).

Whereas in this case, if all of the allegations and media reports are true, you've got a whole stack of circumstantial evidence. The alleged bad feeling between the person of interest and her 'poisoned' guests. Her impending divorce from their son/nephew. She cooks and serves the 'poisoned' meal, but doesn't eat any herself or give any to her children. She dehydrates the mushrooms and then allegedly takes the dehydrator to the tip soon after the 'poisoning'. The estranged husband was recently in a coma due to a mysterious stomach-related illness. She initially claims to have bought the mushrooms from a grocery store. She then gives a no comment interview to police (which, as people have said, is entirely her right. But you'd think that, like Christopher Jefferies, she would answer all of the police's questions if she had such an innocent explanation).

She could be entirely innocent. She hasn't been arrested, I don't think its even been confirmed that the victims were poisoned by mushrooms? But she's not Christopher Jefferies, people aren't pointing the finger at her purely because of the way she looks or presents on camera, but because the facts reported by the media make her look dodgy as fuck.

Very true.

One of the people who knew him well said 'Chris wasn't physically strong''
His computer data was also unimpeachable. He really went through hell, though and I'm ashamed to say I thought he was guilty, initially, because of all the screaming headlines and local talk {We lived close to where it happened at that time}.

I wonder if police have looked at the computer search history of the main suspect in the Vic poisoning case.

''Where to find toxic fungi..how much is a lethal dose''...stuff like that would be pretty damning.

She does does seem very shifty- her ''dry'' crying, her not eating the poisoned meal and her ex husband being ill preciously with a gut complaint- And the motive -Initially I wasn't aware of a motive.

Why dump a dehydrator miles from home {If it is hers}..

velvetandsatin · 14/08/2023 00:53

In Australia, these days, police build a very thorough case before they arrest someone. Forensics in death cap mushroom poisonings take a while, also.

There is an advantage, also, in letting a suspect sweat. If it turns out she poisoned them accidentally and then panicked and lied, she may yet break, under the pressure of speculation and press hounding her. Either way, they are gathering evidence meanwhile.

EleanorLucyG · 14/08/2023 01:33

Brenda from Nuneaton is allowed to unofficially judge and have an opinion based on circumstantial evidence, if she wishes. The police are not, they have to base their professional judgement, opinion and actions on facts. On a personal level they might agree with Brenda, who can't arrest someone or charge them with a crime, but as a police officer they need more than their own personal opinions to act.

EleanorLucyG · 14/08/2023 01:39

"Where to find toxic fungi..how much is a lethal dose''...stuff like that would be pretty damning.

Gosh I hope nobody I know dies in suspicious circumstances 😅 I Google all kinds of nonsense!

velvetandsatin · 14/08/2023 01:43

Interestingly, most cases are tried on circumstantial evidence. It is the preponderance of the evidence that ultimately decides whether they have a case or not, so carefully gathering it is very important. The first deaths were 10 days ago. It is not a long time at all to be gathering evidence.

oakleaffy · 14/08/2023 01:45

EleanorLucyG · 14/08/2023 01:39

"Where to find toxic fungi..how much is a lethal dose''...stuff like that would be pretty damning.

Gosh I hope nobody I know dies in suspicious circumstances 😅 I Google all kinds of nonsense!

🤣Well I do too- but ''Circumstantial evidence'' probably has a bearing.

oakleaffy · 14/08/2023 01:50

velvetandsatin · 14/08/2023 01:43

Interestingly, most cases are tried on circumstantial evidence. It is the preponderance of the evidence that ultimately decides whether they have a case or not, so carefully gathering it is very important. The first deaths were 10 days ago. It is not a long time at all to be gathering evidence.

That's true. Early days yet...I just hope the fourth victim somehow survives.

oakleaffy · 14/08/2023 02:08

NoraButty · 12/08/2023 09:45

If she did poison them purposely, and the death caps are out of season, this means she’s had the dehydrated mushrooms on hand ‘just in case’ for quite some time. This adds a whole layer of oddness!

I too wondered this- Assuming Winter for Australia, rather than Autumn - I thought Death caps were an Autumn thing... In which case, the toadstools could have been collected and dehydrated for future nefarious purposes.

Morestrangerthings1 · 14/08/2023 03:01

Stravaig · 13/08/2023 06:58

If wild speculation is the order of the day, let's at least be thorough.
Maybe one of the kids did it, and their devoted Mum is desperately trying to cover it up?

That was one of the erroneous speculations made in regard Lindy Chamberlain - that she was covering up for one of her children. We now know that speculation was extremely hurtful for those kids. Just stop this please.

Original poster
Dustyblue · 14/08/2023 03:46

The tips around here are just turn up and pay, but yes in Oz it varies wildly by local council.

Also had to say OF COURSE everyone is welcome on the Aussie/NZ section and to ask whatever they like! Loads of UK Mumsnetters have answered questions for me, why wouldn't I do the same??

One time a Mumsnetter in Scotland offered to help me source a kilt for my son. She was truly going to buy it and send it to me, a total stranger, so I'd have it in time for a family thing. I ended up finding one here but wow, there are some awesome people on MN.

OP posts:
Morestrangerthings1 · 14/08/2023 04:03

Also had to say OF COURSE everyone is welcome on the Aussie/NZ section and to ask whatever they like! Loads of UK Mumsnetters have answered questions for me, why wouldn't I do the same??

I absolutely agree with this.

OP posts:
Sagealicious · 14/08/2023 06:30

Hard to keep up. The story keeps changing!

Original poster
Dustyblue · 14/08/2023 06:34

Just, wow. She's been lawyered-up to the hilt, clearly.

I said to DP this morning "Every morning I wake up and wonder, has the mushroom lady in Leo been arrested yet?" He replied "Yeah, so does she".

Handing this over to the MN sleuths. Tis doing my head in.

OP posts:
Janieforever · 14/08/2023 06:40

Blimey well she tried to make a silk purse out a sows ear there and failed miserably.

I mean, seriously she bought the dried mushrooms in a Asian food shop in Melbourne but doesn’t know where it was or it’s name, and no one else has fallen Ill, so this mystery shop only sold her alone these poison mushrooms , and she panicked and dumped the dehydrator at a further away tip and lied about it, when asked if she’d used that to poison them by her ex.

because yeah that’s what you do when you use pre dried mushrooms you bought at an Asian shop that have never been near your dehydrator. You rush to a further away tip, bin it and lie.

Stravaig · 14/08/2023 06:57

Morestrangerthings1 · 14/08/2023 03:01

That was one of the erroneous speculations made in regard Lindy Chamberlain - that she was covering up for one of her children. We now know that speculation was extremely hurtful for those kids. Just stop this please.

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Which is, of course, precisely my point. Expressed with deep sarcasm, here on Mumsnet, where everyone is a perfect parent, and no-one's child ever does anything wrong.

Morestrangerthings1 · 14/08/2023 07:36

Stravaig · 14/08/2023 06:57

Which is, of course, precisely my point. Expressed with deep sarcasm, here on Mumsnet, where everyone is a perfect parent, and no-one's child ever does anything wrong.

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Sorry Stravaig.

I misread your post.

Whinge · 14/08/2023 08:01

There's more holes in that story than swiss cheese. Like I said back at the start of this, I really don't think anyone would be surprised if she's found guilty.

velvetandsatin · 14/08/2023 08:25

"Is that what you used to poison them?"

Go Simon. Her story stinks.

ChurlishGreen · 14/08/2023 08:27

EleanorLucyG · 14/08/2023 01:33

Brenda from Nuneaton is allowed to unofficially judge and have an opinion based on circumstantial evidence, if she wishes. The police are not, they have to base their professional judgement, opinion and actions on facts. On a personal level they might agree with Brenda, who can't arrest someone or charge them with a crime, but as a police officer they need more than their own personal opinions to act.

Indeed.

Original poster
Dustyblue · 14/08/2023 08:34

Janieforever · 14/08/2023 06:40

Blimey well she tried to make a silk purse out a sows ear there and failed miserably.

I mean, seriously she bought the dried mushrooms in a Asian food shop in Melbourne but doesn’t know where it was or it’s name, and no one else has fallen Ill, so this mystery shop only sold her alone these poison mushrooms , and she panicked and dumped the dehydrator at a further away tip and lied about it, when asked if she’d used that to poison them by her ex.

because yeah that’s what you do when you use pre dried mushrooms you bought at an Asian shop that have never been near your dehydrator. You rush to a further away tip, bin it and lie.

Indeed. Gee, there are only THOUSANDS of Asian Grocery shops in Melbourne, nice deflection there.

OP posts:
Janieforever · 14/08/2023 08:52

Dustyblue · 14/08/2023 08:34

Indeed. Gee, there are only THOUSANDS of Asian Grocery shops in Melbourne, nice deflection there.

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i don’t really understand your post, I’m sorry, do you mean I’m deflecting or she is?

I don’t think anyone can reasonably believe she bought dehyrated death cap mushrooms from an Asian shop and only this family were poisoned. Not one other person bought them or were impacted. So I guess you mean she’s deflecting?

FerretFarago · 14/08/2023 08:55

Apparently a large proportion of mushroom fatalities are due to Asian people picking what looks to be a safe mushroom in Asia that is in fact poisonous in Australia. Hypothetically, a lawyer could argue the death caps were mistakenly picked by an Asian forager to sell, hence they were bought at an Asian store, so many in Melbourne that she couldn’t remember which as all Asian shopkeepers look the similar she had to pay cash etc. etc.

So blame Asian immigrants for killing Aussie folk!

I can see her cooking a separate meal for the children but why cook a fancy gravy for the beef wellington which is already a very rich tasting dish, why not just use some gravy browning powder to make the gravy, especially if it’s something she doesn’t eat. In fact why cook beef wellington for a Saturday lunch, it’s more a dinner party than a lunch party dish.

Janieforever · 14/08/2023 08:58

FerretFarago · 14/08/2023 08:55

Apparently a large proportion of mushroom fatalities are due to Asian people picking what looks to be a safe mushroom in Asia that is in fact poisonous in Australia. Hypothetically, a lawyer could argue the death caps were mistakenly picked by an Asian forager to sell, hence they were bought at an Asian store, so many in Melbourne that she couldn’t remember which as all Asian shopkeepers look the similar she had to pay cash etc. etc.

So blame Asian immigrants for killing Aussie folk!

I can see her cooking a separate meal for the children but why cook a fancy gravy for the beef wellington which is already a very rich tasting dish, why not just use some gravy browning powder to make the gravy, especially if it’s something she doesn’t eat. In fact why cook beef wellington for a Saturday lunch, it’s more a dinner party than a lunch party dish.

Hypothetically any barrister who tried to argue that would look like a fool and loose, as if that was the case, the odds of her being the only person who wandering and purchased them from this shop in Melbourne and no other person, is miniscule to non existent.

stealtheatingtunnocks · 14/08/2023 08:59

alwaysonadiet1 · 13/08/2023 10:11

Interesting article thanks.

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“My friends faxed in alternative treatments. The doctors said they never received it”…while he was lying on a transplant ward?

I’m glad he’s ok and dancing again, but that made me chuckle.