Dr. Chris Webster, who first attended to Erin Patterson after she poisoned her in-laws, expressed his immediate suspicion of her guilt upon their encounter. At around 8am on July 31, 2023, Patterson arrived at Leongatha Hospital, displaying gastrointestinal symptoms. Despite her reluctance to seek treatment and her decision to leave against medical advice, Webster swiftly called emergency services.
In the call, he expressed grave concerns about Patterson’s health and the possibility of fatal mushroom poisoning. He recalled how she had left the hospital merely five minutes after her arrival, just as a nurse was about to start her observations. During a brief interaction, Patterson claimed the mushrooms were purchased from Woolworths, responding in a calm manner that struck Webster as unsettling.
Upon reflecting on her demeanour, he remarked that she showed no signs of distress, and even while surrounded by her sick in-laws, she appeared detached. This, coupled with the information he had, led him to conclude that she was calculated in her actions, transgressing moral boundaries in a sociopathic manner. As he noted, her behaviour indicated a desire to eliminate unwanted family members rather than finding non-lethal alternatives.
Webster’s insights, delivered during the subsequent court proceedings where he testified as a witness, suggested a profound unease about Patterson. He sensed a hostile energy from her, both in the hospital and later in the courtroom, asserting that she demonstrated traits of evil and manipulation. He believed her actions were coldly methodical, although she made critical mistakes in her execution.
Ultimately, Webster’s emergency call initiated a sequence of events that would unravel the tragic circumstances surrounding the deaths of Patterson’s in-laws. He characterised her as displaying a troubling lack of empathy or remorse, complicating the narrative of a tragic accident with implications of premeditated intent.