Erin Patterson (Picture: Channel Nine)
The deleted social media of the so-called ‘mushroom killer’ will be a major part of the Australian prosecution’s case against her.
Erin Patterson, 49, was arrested at her home six months ago in Leongatha, eastern Victoria, charged with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder.
Gail and Don Patterson, the parents of her estranged husband, and Gail Patterson’s sister, Heather all died within days of eating a beef Wellington lunch at Patterson’s home on July 29.
A fourth luncheon guest, brother-in-law Ian Wilkinson, eventually recovered and was released from the hospital in late September.
The symptoms the two elderly couples experienced, the police said at the time, were consistent with poisoning by death cap mushroom – one of Australia’s deadliest mushroom varieties that grows in Victoria.
Patterson has denied all wrongdoing.
Detectives are interested in Patterson’s Facebook use, the Herald Sun reported.
Insiders told the newspaper Patterson had several accounts under different names and ‘was known to delete her accounts and start new ones sporadically’.
Her internet search history will also be under scrutiny, a police source said, adding that specialist investigators can trace her digital footprint.
The source said: ‘It’s not easy but it’s doable on most occasions.’
Police sniffer dogs found five iPads, a mobile phone, a USB and a smartwatch inside the accused’s homes last year.
Patterson will be back at Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court via video link on April 22 for a special mention ahead of a committal mention on May 3.
This is a developing news story, more to follow soon… Check back shortly for further updates.
Got a story? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. Or you can submit your videos and pictures here.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
Follow Metro.co.uk on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news updates. You can now also get Metro.co.uk articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here.