Erin Patterson Mushroom Poisoning Trial: Jury Finds Cook Guilty of Murder

In a landmark verdict, Erin Patterson has been found guilty of three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder after poisoning her in-laws with death cap mushrooms during a family lunch in 2023. The trial, which lasted nine weeks in the Victorian town of Morwell, concluded with a unanimous jury decision after seven days of deliberation.

Erin Patterson, 39, was found guilty of deliberately serving death cap mushrooms to her estranged husband’s parents, Don and Gail Patterson, and his aunt, Heather Wilkinson. All three died from multiple organ failure caused by the toxic fungi, while the fourth guest, Ian Wilkinson, survived after a month-long hospital stay. Patterson was also found guilty of attempting to murder her estranged husband, Simon Patterson, by inviting him to the lunch and then having him withdraw at the last minute.

The trial centered around a July 2023 lunch at Patterson’s home in Leongatha, a suburb about 45 minutes southwest of Morwell. Patterson had prepared individual beef wellington parcels, which she modified from a popular online recipe. The prosecution argued that she intentionally included death cap mushrooms in the meal, while the defense claimed it was an accidental poisoning.

Prosecution’s Case

Crown prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC presented a compelling case, highlighting what she described as five “calculated deceptions” by Patterson. These included:

• Creating a fake cancer diagnosis as a pretext for the lunch.
• Secretly including a lethal dose of death caps in the meal.
• Faking the same illness as her guests to avoid suspicion.
• Engaging in a sustained cover-up, including the disposal of a dehydrator containing death cap remnants.
• Providing false evidence in the witness box, including lying about foraging for mushrooms and owning a dehydrator.

Rogers emphasized that Patterson had used the iNaturalist app to track death cap sightings in the months leading up to the lunch, suggesting she was aware of their presence in the area. She also pointed to a Samsung tablet image showing mushrooms on a dehydrator tray, which an expert identified as consistent with death caps.

One of the most striking pieces of evidence was the testimony of survivor Ian Wilkinson, who noted that Patterson ate from a different plate than her guests. This, according to the prosecution, allowed her complete control over the ingredients in each parcel, which she used to devastating effect.

Defense’s Argument

Patterson’s defense, led by barrister Colin Mandy SC, argued that the prosecution had cherry-picked evidence to support a preconceived narrative. Mandy described the case as “illogical” and “absurd,” pointing out that there was no clear motive for Patterson to commit the murders. He argued that Patterson had a positive relationship with her in-laws and that her account of the events was more plausible than the prosecution’s theory of a premeditated murder plot.

Mandy highlighted Patterson’s testimony that she had always loved mushrooms and had developed an interest in foraging during the early days of the pandemic. She claimed she had used fresh button mushrooms from Woolworths and a packet of dried mushrooms purchased from an Asian grocer in Melbourne. However, she admitted to possibly mixing in dehydrated wild mushrooms into the same container, which she now believes may have been death caps.

Mandy also argued that Patterson’s decision to lie to police and hide the dehydrator was not indicative of guilt but rather of a woman who feared being wrongly blamed. He pointed to expert testimony suggesting that two people eating the same meal containing death caps could experience different levels of illness due to individual factors.

The Verdict

After seven days of deliberation, the jury returned a unanimous verdict, finding Patterson guilty on all charges. The court heard that Patterson had pleaded not guilty and took the case to trial, where she was ultimately found responsible for the deaths of three people and the attempted murder of a fourth.

Patterson will return to court at a later date to face sentencing. The case has sparked widespread public interest and debate, with many questioning how someone could commit such a calculated act of violence under the guise of a family meal.

As the legal proceedings continue, the case serves as a chilling reminder of the dangers of toxic fungi and the importance of proper identification when foraging for wild mushrooms.