Police allege mushroom cook's ex escaped death four times

A quiet mum-of-two from a small Victorian town is now an alleged triple murderer.

Erin Patterson has been charged with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder.

The 49-year-old is accused of murdering three of her ex-husband Simon's relatives with an alleged poisonous lunch, attempting to kill pastor Ian Wilkinson - who survived - and Simon, who was supposed to be there too.

Police allege that was the fourth time Patterson attempted to murder her ex-husband.

Patterson wasn't bailed today and will return to court in May next year after police asked for 20 weeks to compile their evidence.

But the scandal has left a small town community struggling, as the whole world knows its name.

See how the community is reacting in the video player above.