Erin Patterson Found Guilty in Mushroom Murder Case
Erin Patterson, 50, has been found guilty of murdering her former in-laws and an aunt by serving them a beef Wellington laced with deadly death cap mushrooms. A jury in Morwell, Victoria, convicted her of three counts of murder and one of attempted murder following a high-profile 10-week trial. The victims, Don and Gail Patterson and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, died days after a July 2023 lunch at Patterson’s home. Heather’s husband, Reverend Ian Wilkinson, survived after weeks in intensive care.
Prosecutors argued Patterson deliberately picked the toxic mushrooms after finding their location online, then lied repeatedly about her health, the meal, and even a food dehydrator found in a landfill with traces of poison. They claimed she staged the lunch under the false pretense of needing advice on how to tell her children about a fake cancer diagnosis. While her defense insisted it was a tragic accident, the jury found her actions were intentional and deceptive.
The case gained massive attention in Australia and beyond, inspiring podcasts, documentaries, and a media frenzy. Patterson, who showed no emotion as the verdict was read, now faces a possible life sentence. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
