Mushroom murder trial: Erin Patterson guilty after serving relatives toxic death cap mushroom lunch
Australian woman Erin Patterson has been found guilty of murdering three of her estranged husband's relatives by deliberately serving them poisonous death cap mushrooms.
The jury returned a verdict after six days of deliberations, following a nine-week trial that gripped Australia and media worldwide.
She faces life in prison and will be sentenced at a later date, although no hearing has been scheduled yet.
Patterson showed no emotion as the verdicts came back guilty, but blinked rapidly as they were read.
She was also found guilty of attempting to murder Ian Wilkinson, who survived the meal.
The deaths of Don and Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson shocked the quiet Australian town of Leongatha, Victoria, and quickly captured both national and international attention.
At the centre of the tragedy was a seemingly innocuous family lunch on July 29, 2023, hosted by Erin Patterson, who had invited her former in-laws, Don and Gail (the parents of her estranged husband, Simon Patterson), along with Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson and Heather's husband, Ian.
Patterson, who shares two children with Simon, prepared a homemade beef wellington, a meal that would soon become the focus of a months-long murder investigation.
The dish allegedly contained death cap mushrooms, one of the world's deadliest fungi.
All four guests fell critically ill within 24 hours.
Three later died in hospital, while Ian Wilkinson required a liver transplant after spending nearly two months recovering, including time in intensive care.
Patterson initially denied wrongdoing, claiming she accidentally used a mix of mushrooms sourced from an Asian grocery store and dried fungi, which she said were gifted by a friend.
However, police alleged inconsistencies in her account, including the disposal of a food dehydrator and deleted digital records, which became key points of scrutiny during the trial.
Throughout the proceedings, the case stirred debate across Australia.
The lack of clear motive, paired with public fascination and tabloid fervour, made the trial one of the most closely followed in recent Australian criminal history.
What were the key moments in the trial?
The prosecution alleged Patterson deliberately served a poisoned meal to her estranged in-laws and extended family. They argue she prepared a special untainted portion for herself.
The defence argued the poisonings were a tragic accident, claiming Patterson unknowingly used contaminated mushrooms, became ill herself, and panicked afterwards, out of fear she would be wrongly blamed.
Here are the key points of evidence the trial discussed:
Food dehydrator: Patterson purchased a food dehydrator on April 28, 2023, just two hours after a known sighting of death cap mushrooms was posted online near Loch. The prosecution alleges she saw the post and collected mushrooms that day. Patterson testified she purchased the dehydrator to preserve and dry mushrooms, which she regularly stored in containers in her pantry to use later in cooking.
Phone location: Cell tower data places her near Outtrim on May 22, 2023, shortly after death caps were recorded growing there. The prosecution claims this supports the theory she foraged for mushrooms twice during the short toxic season. Patterson admitted to using a mixture of store-bought mushrooms and dried ones from her pantry, but insists she never intentionally included toxic mushrooms and did not forage near Loch or Outtrim. The defence argues that mobile tower data can be imprecise and may show signals from within her home, undermining the claim that she traveled to foraging locations.
Fake cancer: Patterson admitted during the trial that she lied to the lunch guests and lured them to the meal under the pretext that she had cancer and needed their support whilst she underwent surgery. The prosecution argues this lie was invented to cover her true motivations and reduce suspicion, suggesting she never expected them to survive the meal. The defence claims Patterson in reality was making plans to have gastric bypass surgery, in a bid to take control over concerns she had about her weight but was too embarrassed to share this with her guests.
Different plates: Survivor Ian Wilkinson told the court that all guests were served on grey plates, while Patterson used an orange one - implying she knew not to eat the poisoned food. Patterson claimed she prepared only one batch of beef wellington and ate the same meal as her guests, she denied reserving a safe portion for herself. She claimed she does not own grey plates.
Orange cake: After guests left, Patterson claims she ate large amounts of orange cake brought by her former mother-in-law, Gail Patterson, claiming she struggles with an eating disorder. Prosecutors challenged her claim that she made herself vomit afterwards, arguing that self‑induced vomiting would not eliminate the lethal amanitin toxin. Patterson told the court that she started to develop gastro-like symptoms hours after the lunch and took herself to hospital to receive fluids two days later.
Withheld information: When Patterson was hospitalised with symptoms, she initially did not inform doctors that any remnants of foraged mushrooms may have been in the meal, something prosecutors say could have helped save lives. She testified that she did not immediately connect her own gastrointestinal symptoms with mushroom poisoning.
CCTV disposal: On August 2, days after the fatal lunch, Patterson was seen on CCTV dumping the dehydrator. Prosecutors argue this was a deliberate attempt to destroy crucial evidence. Forensic analysis revealed remnants of death cap mushrooms inside the appliance. Patterson says she discarded and lied about the dehydrator not to hide evidence but out of panic after child protection services contacted her, fearing it could be used to justify taking her children away.
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BBC News
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Erin Patterson's toxic mushroom murder trial in pictures
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ITV News
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Hundreds of people have donated towards funeral costs for a four-year-old boy killed in a 'freak accident' when a gravestone fell on him in a cemetery. The youngster, who ITV News is choosing not to name to respect his family's wishes, was at Rawtenstall Cemetery in Lancashire on Saturday, 5 July, when he was injured. Emergency services were called but the boy could not be saved, Lancashire Police said. More than 400 people have donated to a fundraiser on Go Fund Me, set up by relative, Donna Miller, to help pay for the child's funeral. Ms Miller said his parents were "devastated" to have lost their son in a 'freak accident", adding: "All donations no matter how small will help this young family massively and help them deal with this unexpected tragedy.' In a statement, Lancashire Police said: 'As many of you are already aware there was a tragic incident in Rawtenstall yesterday and we just wanted to give you the latest. 'We were called to Rawtenstall Cemetery at 1pm yesterday (July 5) following reports a gravestone had fallen onto a child. 'Tragically, and despite the best efforts of the emergency services, the boy sadly died. Our thoughts are with his loved ones at this devastating time. "His death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be passed onto HM Coroner in due course.' The police also added that the boy's family have requested privacy and that he has not been named publicly to respect this wish. Rossendale Borough Council, responsible for the cemetery in Rawtenstall, said in a statement: 'We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of a young child at Rawtenstall Cemetery today. 'Our thoughts are with the family at this devastating time. Rossendale Borough Council is working with all relevant agencies to understand the circumstances of this incident.'
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Expert reveals chilling theory behind the one question that remains to be answered after Erin Patterson was found guilty of murdering three of her in-laws... 'Why?'
A psychologist has provided a window into the mind of Erin Patterson, who murdered three members of her estranged husband's family with death cap mushrooms. On Monday afternoon, a jury found the mother-of-two killed Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, by serving them poisoned beef Wellingtons during a lunch served at her Leongatha home on July 29, 2023. Only Heather's husband, Pastor Ian Wilkinson, survived Patterson's plot and she will also serve a prison sentence for his attempted murder. The burning questions that remains surrounding the case that has gained global attention, is why would Patterson carry out such an act and, less so, why did she think that she could get away with it. Psychologist Mary Hahn-Thomsen has provided her expert opinion, suggesting that Patterson could see the world very differently to most people. 'Though I have not personally assessed Patterson, insight may be gained by considering her world view from the perspective of the narcissist,' she wrote for The Age. 'Most of us start life believing we are the centre of the universe, then through a series of reality checks, we learn we are merely a bit player. 'It's reasonable to consider that Patterson learnt a different lesson – one in which her survival depended on her remaining at the centre of her world with everything and everyone else revolving around her.' She explained that a narcissist craves attention and acceptance but that their view of themselves is so fragile that any potential rejection can brutally shake their sense of self to the core. Patterson attempts to ingratiate herself to her friends and extended family would have been on the surface pleasant but perhaps also tinged with awkwardness and an air of falseness that would have been 'palpable'. She said Patterson's use of 'confabulation' where facts are distorted to suit their beliefs and objectives and well as even all out lying are typical hallmarks of a narcissistic personality. Patterson was so confident she would be found not guilty of murder that she covered her Leongatha home in black plastic tarps for privacy once the trial ended. The black tarps covering her home were installed on June 30 - just one week before the verdict was delivered. Seated at the back of courtroom four of the Supreme Court of Victoria, sitting at the Latrobe Valley Magistrates' Court, Patterson, dressed in a paisley shirt, appeared stunned as her fate was sealed on Monday afternoon. Asked to deliver a verdict, the jury foreperson - one of only five women to sit on the original 15-person panel - simply stated, 'guilty'. The verdict produced an audible gasp from those within the packed courtroom, which included members of the Patterson clan.. She can expect to spend the next decades of her life caged within the walls of Dame Phyllis Frost Centre in Melbourne's west alongside a rogue's gallery of female killers. On her weekly trips back there, Patterson had come to loathe the Chicken Cacciatore meals provided to her en route because the dish 'had mushrooms in it'. Once caged, she can expect to be kept in an isolation cell for her own protection for the foreseeable future due to her high profile and the frailty of her elderly victims. It can now be revealed Patterson's two children had continued to see their mother behind bars while she awaited trial, unwilling to accept she could murder their grandparents and aunt. Patterson could be heard asking about them during breaks in the trial, asking a woman to ensure her now 16-year-old son was given 'extra hugs'. Patterson, who took the stand for eight days during her trial, claimed she had not intentionally poisoned her lunch guests. She claimed deaths of three members of her estranged husband Simon's family were a terrible accident, and she may have accidentally included foraged mushrooms in the meal. Prosecutors laid out an extensive circumstantial case during the trial in Morwell, regional Victoria, to prove the poisoning event was deliberate. This included evidence from sole lunch survivor Ian Wilkinson, who said Patterson had served individual beef Wellingtons to her guests on different plates to her own. The prosecution accused Patterson of telling a series of lies to police, including that she did not forage for mushrooms in the meal and did not own a dehydrator. She lied about it to public health investigators, who were searching to find the source of poisonous mushrooms after Patterson claimed they may be from an Asian store. Patterson lied to doctors, nurses and toxicologists while they were trying to identify why her lunch guests were sick and save their lives at hospital. She revealed for the first time that she enjoyed foraging for wild mushrooms when she was in the witness box, admitting she started mushrooming in 2020 during the pandemic. 'They tasted good and I didn't get sick,' she told the jury about preparing and eating wild fungi for the first time. After hearing more than two months of evidence, a jury of 14 was whittled down to 12 jurors who retired to deliberate on their verdicts one week ago, on June 30. They returned after deliberating for seven days with a four guilty verdicts, convicting the 50-year-old woman of three murders and one attempted murder. Patterson now faces a sentence of up to life in prison. She will return to the court for a pre-sentence hearing later this year.
