Australian woman guilty of triple murder involving poisonous mushrooms
Australia is known for its surfers, cute koalas and barbecues with thick steaks. But lately, all attention has turned to a very unpleasant lunch in Leongatha (Victoria). There, fifty-year-old Erin Patterson served her in-laws a classic beef Wellington, but with a surprise nobody would wish on anyone: poisonous mushrooms. The result? Three deaths and a trial that even Netflix would envy.
Poisonous mushrooms in the starring role
According to the court, it was not a foolish mistake: Erin Patterson was found guilty this week of three murders and one attempted murder. The murder weapon? Not a knife or a gun, but a serving of death cap mushrooms, also known as every mycologist’s nightmare.
The victims were her ex-in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, plus Gail’s sister Heather. Only Ian Wilkinson, Heather’s husband, survived the notorious dinner.
Falling ill after twelve hours
The lunch began with an excuse. Patterson had invited her in-laws under the pretext of an important family meeting about medical news. She was supposedly suffering from ovarian cancer. Spoiler alert: that turned out to be a lie too.
Twelve hours after the meal, the guests began to fall seriously ill. At the hospital, it soon became clear that they had suffered mushroom poisoning. Don, Gail and Heather died several days later.
But she wasn’t sick?
What makes it even more suspicious: Erin herself was not suffering from anything. She even insisted on simply going home after a medical check-up. While her guests lay seriously ill in intensive care, she maintained that it had all been an unfortunate coincidence.
And then it became even darker: she had given leftovers from the meal to her children. But, she claimed, she had “removed the mushrooms”.
A plate with a different color
Victim Heather had previously told someone that Erin had a different-colored plate from everyone else. Coincidence? Maybe. But in a case where everything is suspicious, nothing goes unnoticed.
More lies came to light during the trial. Patterson initially said that she had bought the mushrooms at an Asian supermarket. Later, she admitted that she had picked them herself, in a place known to be home to poisonous varieties.
No remorse, just silence
The woman herself remained strikingly quiet during the verdict. She listened silently to the judgment and did not shed a tear. It is still unknown whether she will appeal. But with a possible life sentence looming, it would be understandable.
One thing: just how poisonous are those mushrooms?
Death caps (Amanita phalloides) are responsible for 90% of all fatal mushroom poisonings worldwide. Just one cap can be fatal to an adult. Symptoms only begin after 6–12 hours, by which time your liver may already be in serious trouble. Want to be safe rather than sorry? Just don’t pick them.
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