Erin Patterson, the Gippsland woman who hosted a lunch on 29 July that left 3 dead and another fighting for his life, has vehemently denied any wrongdoing in the suspected mushroom ­poisoning. But reports point to a mystery gut illness that ­almost killed her estranged husband Simon Patterson twice last year. He was due to join the lunch party that killed his parents Don and Gail Patterson and aunt Heather Wilkinson but pulled out at the last minute. Reports also say police are examining a food dehydrator found at a local rubbish tip in connection with the poisonings. Mushrooms are most abundant in autumn and it’s possible to dehydrate them for later use, but Erin Patterson says she bought the mushrooms from a local store. Police haven’t commented on these latest developments.