Renn Dunn DX

Please introduce yourself to the court

My name is Renn Dunne. I have a bachelor’s in biology and a PhD in microbiology with a specialization in mycology. I focus on fungal ecology, and for the past 25 years I have been teaching plant biology and mycology in UC Berkeley. 

Have you contributed anything in the field of mycology?

I published multiple articles in fungi-related journals and I participated in the documentary fild Hidden World of Mycelium.

To transition, how knowledgeable are you of foraging?

I am a frequent speaker at the UC Botanical Garden at Berkey and Forage Santa Cruz, an organization that offers foraging classes to the general public. So I would say I’m quite familiar.

Are you knowledgeable about foraging mushooms, specifically in the Oakview Area?

Yes, I’ve lived there and explored its natural places for the last 40 years

What can you tell us from your experience?

I’ve learned that it is challenging to identify wild mushrooms. It takes many years to develop your eye.

Moving on, are you familiar with the Heartstopper mushroom?

Yes, it’s a toxic mushroom species known to be lethal.

And are you familiar with the butter mushroom?

Yes, it is considered a lookalike for the heartstopper. 

If questioned would you be able to tell them apart

Yes

Dr. Dunne, what did I just hand you?

This is a comparison of the heartstopper mushroom and butter mushroom.

Is this a fair and accurate depiction of both mushrooms?

Yes it is.

Dr. Dunne do you think its is plausible for a heartstopper mushroom to be confused with the butter mushroom?

Yes, the toxic heartstopper mushroom can easily be mistaken for its lookalike

What details must be taken into account when distinguising the mushrooms?

It is important to look at their environment, color, texture, shape, other mushrooms in the area, and spore print.

Can you describe the environmental conditions in which both mushrooms are found?

Both mushrooms are mostly found side by side in spring and summer, generally after rain. 

Have there been instances of confusion between the two mushrooms?

On iForage, a website for the mushoom community, I’ve seen citizen scientists mistake a butter mushroom for a heartstopper. 

Moving on, how does this information about mushrooms relate to Haley Fromholz’s case? 

I was informed by Detective Sacks that Haley Fromholz had heartstopper spores found on her jacket sleeve. 

What are your thoughts on this finding?

It is important to know that you don’t have to be gathering or touching mushrooms for a spore to attach to clothing. Spores can travel long distances by a light breeze

How does this connect to Fromholz and Mitchell that day?

There was a light breeze on the day that Fromholz and Mitchell went foraging. It is possible that the wind may have scattered the heartstopper spores onto Haley’s jacket since she was in the area.