An Australian woman has been charged with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder over a suspected mushroom poisoning that left three people dead and a local preacher fighting for his life.
Erin Patterson, 49, was arrested this morning, after police searched her home.
The saga has gripped the nation and thrust the spotlight on the small rural town of Leongatha, 110km southeast of Melbourne.
Ms Patterson denies any wrongdoing.
Her estranged parents-in-law, Don and Gail Patterson, local baptist pastor Ian Wilkinson and his wife Heather were guests at a lunch served at her home on 29 July.
The four were taken to hospital on 30 July reporting violent illness, police said.
Within a week, three of them were dead.
Police believe their symptoms were consistent with those caused by eating highly toxic death cap mushrooms.
The Leongatha woman was remanded in custody to appear at Latrobe Valley Magistrates' Court tomorrow.
The further three attempted murder charges relate to three separate incidents in Victoria between 2021-2022.
It is alleged a 48-year-old man became ill following meals during this time, police said.
"Over the last three months, this investigation has been subjected to incredibly intense levels of public scrutiny and curiosity," Detective Inspector Dean Thomas, Homicide Squad said.
"I cannot think of another investigation that has generated this level of media and public interest, not only here in Victoria but also nationally and internationally.
"I think it is particularly important that we keep in mind that at the heart of this, three people have lost their lives. These are three people who by all accounts were much beloved in their communities and are greatly missed by their loved ones.
"These deaths and incidents also continue to have a significant impact on the immediate families of those involved and I ask that people are particularly mindful of this over the coming days.
"In smaller communities such as Leongatha and Korumburra, a tragedy such as this can reverberate for years to come.
"Today’s charges are just the next step in what has been an incredibly complex, methodical and thorough investigation by Homicide Squad detectives.
"I know that people will no doubt have many unanswered questions about this matter, however I urge people to be especially mindful of unnecessary speculation and not sharing misinformation.
Police said they arrested Ms Patterson in the morning and began a search of her home with the help of "technology detector dogs", which can sniff out electronic devices such as USB keys.
'Devastated'
Of the four, only 69-year-old pastor Wilkinson survived after spending nearly two months gravely ill in hospital. He was discharged on 23 September.
He appeared for the first time in public in early October at a memorial for his wife, with a local newspaper describing him as "frail-looking" and "using a walking frame".
Police had named community newsletter editor Ms Patterson as a suspect soon after the fateful meal.
Ms Patterson always insisted she was innocent, reportedly saying in August that she had unwittingly bought the mushrooms from an Asian grocery store and that the poisonings were accidental.
"I am now devastated to think that these mushrooms may have contributed to the illness suffered by my loved ones," she said in a statement provided to Australian media at the time.
"I really want to repeat that I had absolutely no reason to hurt these people whom I loved."
A memorial service for Don and Gail Patterson was held at the end of August.
Reverend Fran Grimes told the congregation that the community was trying to "shield and protect the family from heartless speculation and gossip".
Death cap mushrooms sprout freely throughout wet, warm parts of Australia and are easily mistaken for edible varieties.
They reportedly taste sweeter than other types of mushrooms but possess potent toxins that slowly poison the liver and kidneys.
