Australian woman guilty of triple murder involving poisonous mushrooms
Australia is known for its surfers, adorable koalas and barbecues with thick steaks. But lately, all attention has been focused on 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 no one would wish for: poisonous mushrooms. The result? Three deaths and a court case that even Netflix would envy.
Poisonous mushrooms in the leading role
According to the court, it was not a stupid mistake: this week, Erin Patterson was found guilty of three murders and one attempted murder. The murder weapon? Not a knife or gun, but a serving of death cap mushrooms, also known as every mycologist’s nightmare.
The victims were her ex-parents-in-law Don and Gail Patterson, as well as Gail’s sister Heather. Only Ian Wilkinson, Heather’s husband, survived the infamous dinner.
Fell ill after twelve hours
The lunch began with a pretext. Patterson had invited her in-laws under the guise 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 become seriously ill. It quickly became clear at the hospital 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 completely fine. 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 things got really dark: she had given her children leftovers from the meal. But, she claimed, she had “removed the mushrooms”.
A plate with a different colour
Victim Heather had previously told someone that Erin had a different-coloured 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 have poisonous specimens growing there.
No remorse, just silence
The woman herself remained strikingly quiet during the verdict. She listened to the judgment in silence and did not shed a tear. It is not yet known whether she will appeal. But with a possible life sentence ahead of her, it would be understandable.
One more thing: just how poisonous are those mushrooms?
Death cap (Amanita phalloides) is 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 is already in serious trouble. Want to be on the safe side? Simply don’t pick them.
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