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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
LunaTheCat · 09/08/2023 09:48

Dustyblue · 09/08/2023 09:01

Most people here know not to eat the mushrooms. It's not like in the UK, where you can actually forage for them and cook them (witness Antonio Carluccio foraging with Jamie Oliver for example). Antonio is pretty much a mycologist.

For the Victorians: I did a 1-day course in Daylesford with an actual mycologist (fungus expert) where we all foraged, had our fungus inspected, and he threw most of them out. The rest were cooked and we had them for lunch.

Lesson is Don't Eat Mushrooms in Australia :)

You are a lot braver than me!

I think that this is a case of murder.. dehydrator found, she and children didn’t eat same meal and are fine, husband almost died a year ago…

TroysMammy · 09/08/2023 09:49

I was told during a fungus foray by an expert on identification that even if you put a poisonous or mushroom next to an edible one but only eat the edible ones they would still be tainted by the poisonous ones.

Sensibly after identification we all discarded our findings.

TenderDandelions · 09/08/2023 09:50

I wonder whether the deadly mushrooms were picked previously and de-hydrated, then a bowl of crumbled mushrooms was placed on the table for people to add to their meals.

Host tells everyone how nice the food is with the extra mushrooms on top and to help themselves, but she won't have any as there isn't enough to go around and she'd like them all to try it.

  1. This could be entirely accidental and genuine if she didn't realise the previously picked mushrooms were deadly; or
  2. it could be very deliberate.

Time will (hopefully) tell, but if it is the case that it was deliberate, it might be difficult to prove intent.

P.S. Yes, I clearly watch too many murder mystery programmes!

AutumnCrow · 09/08/2023 09:50

Kylie83 · 09/08/2023 09:45

It was just reported (here in Tassie) that she made a comment that she obtained the mushrooms from a local grocer and not her yard.

I hope she's kept the receipt for that.

Latenightreader · 09/08/2023 09:50

BalloonSlayer · 09/08/2023 09:16

There was a Ruth Rendell story where the mushrooms were only poisonous if you drank alcohol.

I came to say this - it was the first thing I thought of when I read the story. Inky caps I think, which do grow in Australia.

KnickerlessParsons · 09/08/2023 09:53

See also: Britain's Wonkiest Pub)

Yes, that's another very fishy story isn't it? And devestating.

Very fishy indeed. And very sad. I went there once - it was very odd.

Soveryunwell · 09/08/2023 09:53

The best way to punish someone is to hurt people they love and care about.

This would be the reason she did it, if she did in fact do it.

GuinnessBird · 09/08/2023 09:53

MentholLoad · 09/08/2023 09:05

the 4 people that got sick may have eaten the mushrooms together before or after they went to hers for the meal couldn't they. I think that's entirely possible given that they are all related. they might have gone home together and had a snack together later on or something. or even something earlier in the day

That didn't happen.

FamBae · 09/08/2023 09:54

Not a single tear, I was on a jury where the accused "cried" through the whole of his cross examination, he really shouldn't have given evidence as he didn't actually shed a tear, it really didn't help his verdict which was guilty; also if it was me I would be shouting the name of the store where I bought the mushrooms from the roof tops, she also avoids confirming whether or not there was actually mushrooms in the dish ... Dodgy as F. in my opinion.

velvetandsatin · 09/08/2023 10:03

Kay00 · 09/08/2023 07:27

Omg that video... She's guilty.

That's what I thought. She's a terrible actress.

PretzelKnot · 09/08/2023 10:04

AutumnCrow · 09/08/2023 09:50

I hope she's kept the receipt for that.

Show quote history

I hope it is all just a terrible mistake. However, if I was going to bump someone off with mushrooms, I would buy some from a small local grocer and swap them with the bad ones once home. Just to muddy the waters and make some plausible deniability.

TerrorAustralis · 09/08/2023 10:04

In WA, most mushroom foraging is for the magic kind.

TheIsleOfTheLost · 09/08/2023 10:04

There was a neighbours storyline a couple of years ago about death cap mushroom poisoning. That was set in Victoria. I'm surprised no one has mentioned it, guess there is a reason it got cancelled!

I will forage foe things that are completely obvious, like blackberries or chestnuts, but wouldn't in a million years do mushrooms. You can get them in UK for £1-2 in the supermarket, so why on earth take the risk? Even experts can get it wrong.

harriethoyle · 09/08/2023 10:06

Oh good thinking @PretzelKnot you criminal mastermind!! (Makes mental note never to accept lunch invite 😉)

AutumnCrow · 09/08/2023 10:07

PretzelKnot · 09/08/2023 10:04

I hope it is all just a terrible mistake. However, if I was going to bump someone off with mushrooms, I would buy some from a small local grocer and swap them with the bad ones once home. Just to muddy the waters and make some plausible deniability.

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Devious! So the poor grocer could be dragged into all this as well now.

AlanJohnsonsBeamer · 09/08/2023 10:08

Jesus

mangochops · 09/08/2023 10:09

PretzelKnot · 09/08/2023 10:04

I hope it is all just a terrible mistake. However, if I was going to bump someone off with mushrooms, I would buy some from a small local grocer and swap them with the bad ones once home. Just to muddy the waters and make some plausible deniability.

Show quote history

oooooooh thats so crafty!

MentholLoad · 09/08/2023 10:09

GuinnessBird · 09/08/2023 09:53

That didn't happen.

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why not? it is as likely as any of the theories that assume her guilt

I really really hate when women are found guilty by society, judged by their emotions and how they act on camera. it's terrifying

if she is guilty, then her defence would be that she didn't know the mushrooms were poisonous, it was an accident. she would have no reason to dispose of a dehydrator. we don't even know that's it is her dehydrator in the skip

DancingFerret · 09/08/2023 10:09

If she is eventually convicted of murder she should serve her time in an asylum - because no sane person would dream up such a transparent plot.

FFSWhatToDoNow · 09/08/2023 10:09

Whinge · 09/08/2023 09:05

Exactly. One of the perks of being the host is choosing something you want to eat. It's a very strange case and the interview is like something from a badly acted TV drama. I really don't think anyone would be surprised if she's found guilty.

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I haven’t eaten meat for 30+ years but regularly make it for others, including guests. (Tend to stick to low and slow recipes or steak to avoid any risk of poisoning.) I absolutely wouldn’t be eating the same as everyone else, and depending on DD’s food sensitivities, she might not either. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Wrenjeni · 09/08/2023 10:10

I’d be interested to see how old the children are-if younger it’s more likely that she’d serve them a different kids meal.
If over 10 I’d have thought it would be more normal to make a meal that everyone would eat.

The fact that poisonous mushrooms aren’t in season is fairly damning-there’d be no chance of ‘accidentally’ swapping the bought ones in that case.

Motive is intriguing

and why wouldn’t she call it off when ex husband pulled out?

GuinnessBird · 09/08/2023 10:11

MentholLoad · 09/08/2023 10:09

why not? it is as likely as any of the theories that assume her guilt

I really really hate when women are found guilty by society, judged by their emotions and how they act on camera. it's terrifying

if she is guilty, then her defence would be that she didn't know the mushrooms were poisonous, it was an accident. she would have no reason to dispose of a dehydrator. we don't even know that's it is her dehydrator in the skip

Show quote history

Because it's been confirmed hat the mushrooms were eaten during the meal at her house.

MentholLoad · 09/08/2023 10:11

TheIsleOfTheLost · 09/08/2023 10:04

There was a neighbours storyline a couple of years ago about death cap mushroom poisoning. That was set in Victoria. I'm surprised no one has mentioned it, guess there is a reason it got cancelled!

I will forage foe things that are completely obvious, like blackberries or chestnuts, but wouldn't in a million years do mushrooms. You can get them in UK for £1-2 in the supermarket, so why on earth take the risk? Even experts can get it wrong.

there is a fancy grocer near where I live. everytime I have had mushrooms from then, I have had a VERY upset tummy. it has made e wary of mushrooms altogether

MentholLoad · 09/08/2023 10:12

GuinnessBird · 09/08/2023 10:11

Because it's been confirmed hat the mushrooms were eaten during the meal at her house.

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has it? I didn't know that

Wrenjeni · 09/08/2023 10:12

GuinnessBird · 09/08/2023 10:11

Because it's been confirmed hat the mushrooms were eaten during the meal at her house.

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Has it thought? Where?

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