Australian woman guilty of triple murder with 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). This is where 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 be jealous of.
Poisonous mushrooms in the starring 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 portion 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 infamous dinner.
Sick after twelve hours
The lunch began with a ruse. 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 dinner, the guests began to become seriously ill. At the hospital, it quickly 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 had no symptoms at all. She even insisted on simply 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 things get 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 the rest. Coincidence? Perhaps. But in a case where absolutely everything is suspicious, nothing goes unnoticed.
More lies also 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 conspicuously silent during the verdict. She listened to the judgment without saying 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 would be understandable.
So, how poisonous are those mushrooms, exactly?
Death cap (Amanita phalloides) is responsible for 90% of all fatal mushroom poisonings worldwide. Just one cap can be deadly to an adult. Symptoms do not begin until 6–12 hours later, by which time your liver may already be in serious trouble. Want to be safe rather than sorry? Simply don’t pick them.
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