An Australian woman has been convicted of murdering three members of her estranged husband’s family by serving them a meal laced with lethal mushrooms. The high-profile case captured national and international attention over the course of a ten-week trial.
Erin Patterson, 50, was found guilty on Monday of killing her former in-laws—Gail Patterson, Donald Patterson, and Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson. She was also convicted of the attempted murder of Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson, who survived after weeks in the hospital.
The fatal meal was served at Patterson’s home in Leongatha, a rural town southeast of Melbourne, where she hosted the four relatives for lunch. On the menu: beef Wellington, mashed potatoes, and green beans—later discovered to contain deadly death cap mushrooms.
A jury in the town of Morwell deliberated over the evidence and ultimately found Patterson guilty on all counts. Prosecutors argued that she had deliberately harvested the mushrooms after locating them on a public foraging site and used them with intent to kill.
The poisoning led to the rapid deaths of Don and Gail Patterson, as well as Heather Wilkinson. Ian Wilkinson, a local pastor, fell seriously ill but recovered after an extended stay in intensive care.
Patterson’s defense claimed the tragedy was an accident, saying she mistakenly used foraged mushrooms in an effort to enhance the flavor of the dish. Her lawyers admitted she lied to police initially, out of fear and panic.
Throughout the trial, Patterson remained quiet in the courtroom as witnesses laid out what prosecutors called a “carefully planned act of murder.” Jurors were tasked with determining whether the evidence met the threshold of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt—a standard they unanimously agreed was satisfied.
Due to Australian legal restrictions, jurors’ identities and deliberations remain confidential, and the specific reasons behind their decision will never be publicly disclosed.
Sentencing is expected in the coming weeks.
