In a shocking case from Victoria, Australia, Erin Patterson has been found guilty of serving a deadly beef Wellington lunch to three relatives on July 29, 2023, using highly toxic death cap mushrooms.
The victims—her estranged husband’s parents, Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson—died from the poisoning, while Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson, survived after intensive medical treatment.
The Supreme Court in Victoria heard that Patterson planned the lunch, inviting her in-laws under a false claim that she had cancer to ensure their attendance.
During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence of her disposing of a food dehydrator, later recovered with traces of the toxic fungus and her fingerprints.
A jury last month concluded that Patterson intentionally poisoned the meal, rejecting her assertion that the toxic mushrooms were included by mistake.
She was convicted on three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.
Newly released court records reveal additional disturbing allegations: that Patterson may have attempted to kill her estranged husband, Simon Patterson, through meals including pasta, chicken curry, and sandwich wraps between 2021 and 2022.
Though she was initially charged with multiple attempted murders in those cases, those charges were dropped before the trial.
The husband’s claims of mysterious illnesses and hospitalizations prompted suspicions but were not presented to the jury.
A plea hearing, which will allow both sides to speak before sentencing and include victim impact statements, is scheduled for August 25–26.
In the meantime, Patterson remains jailed and is barred from selling her home pending possible restitution orders.