Australian Woman Cooks In-Laws to Death With Toxic Mushrooms

A jury in Victoria has found Erin Patterson, a 50-year-old Australian woman, guilty of triple murder after she served a toxic mushroom lunch to her in-laws and a family aunt.

The verdict followed a high-profile two-month trial that drew global media attention and true crime enthusiasts to the quiet town of Morwell, Australia.

Patterson served the meal on July 29, 2023, during what appeared to be a peaceful family lunch at her home in rural Victoria.

The guests included Don and Gail Patterson, her estranged husband Simon’s parents, and Heather Wilkinson, Simon’s maternal aunt.

Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson, also attended and later survived.

Patterson allegedly prepared beef Wellington using death cap mushrooms, considered the deadliest mushrooms in the world.

The lunch began with family prayers and ended with the hospitalization of all four guests.

Three died within a week from organ failure caused by amatoxin poisoning.

Patterson denied intentionally poisoning her guests and claimed she mistakenly used wild mushrooms she believed were edible.

However, the prosecution presented evidence that contradicted her claims.

Investigators found that Patterson researched death cap mushrooms online a year before the meal.

They also discovered a discarded food dehydrator at a nearby landfill, which tested positive for the deadly fungi.

Prosecutors argued she lured her guests by falsely claiming to have cancer, hoping for sympathy and advice about telling her children.

Medical records confirmed she never had cancer.

Ian Wilkinson, the only survivor, told the court that Patterson served the food on four grey plates for the guests and a separate orange plate for herself.

He could not explain why Patterson might have wanted him dead but confirmed he fell critically ill shortly after the meal.

The jury found Patterson guilty of three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.

Detective Inspector Dean Thomas urged the public to remember the tragedy behind the headlines.

“We’ve lost three innocent people. That’s the heart of this case,” he said after the verdict.

Patterson now faces a possible life sentence. The sentencing phase is expected to follow in the coming weeks.

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook