Australian woman guilty of triple murder with poisonous mushrooms
Australia is known for its surfers, cute koalas and barbecues with thick steaks. But recently, all attention turned to a very unpleasant lunch in Leongatha (Victoria). This is where fifty-year-old Erin Patterson served her in-laws a classic beef Wellington, but with a surprise no one would wish on anyone: poisonous mushrooms. The result? Three deaths and a court case Netflix itself would be jealous of.
Poisonous mushrooms in the lead 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 gun, but a portion of death cap mushrooms, also known as every mycologist’s nightmare.
The victims were her former parents-in-law Don and Gail Patterson, as well as Gail’s sister Heather. Only Ian Wilkinson, Heather’s husband, survived the infamous dinner.
Sick 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 supposedly had 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 soon 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 unaffected. She even insisted on going home after a medical check-up. While her guests lay seriously ill in intensive care, she maintained that everything was an unfortunate coincidence.
And then it gets even darker: she gave leftovers from the meal to her children. 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 the rest. Coincidence? Maybe. But in a case where absolutely everything is suspicious, nothing goes unnoticed.
During the trial, even more lies came to light. 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 silent during the verdict. She listened to the judgment without a word and did not shed a tear. It is not yet known whether she will appeal. But with a possible life sentence looming, it is to be expected.
One more thing: how poisonous are those mushrooms, actually?
Death cap (Amanita phalloides) is responsible for 90% of all fatal mushroom poisonings worldwide. Just one cap can be fatal to an adult. Symptoms do not begin until after 6–12 hours, by which point your liver is already in serious trouble. Want to be safe rather than sorry? Simply don’t pick them.
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