Australian "Mushroom Murders": Erin Patterson Found Guilty of Triple Murder

 

Morwell, Victoria, Australia – July 8, 2025 – In a case that has captivated Australia and garnered international headlines, Erin Patterson has been found guilty of three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. The verdict, delivered by a jury in the Supreme Court of Victoria, concludes a nine-week trial stemming from a fatal family lunch in July 2023.

Patterson, 50, was accused of serving a homemade beef Wellington to her estranged husband's parents, Don and Gail Patterson (both 70), and Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson (66), at her home in Leongatha. The meal was found to be laced with highly toxic death cap mushrooms. All three guests tragically died in the days following the lunch from severe organ damage. Heather Wilkinson's husband, Reverend Ian Wilkinson, also consumed the meal and fell critically ill but miraculously survived after spending weeks in hospital.

Throughout the lengthy trial, Patterson maintained her innocence, claiming the deaths were a "terrible accident" and that she had mistakenly included poisonous wild mushrooms in the dish, unaware of their lethality. However, prosecutors presented a compelling circumstantial case, arguing that Patterson had knowingly poisoned her guests. Evidence presented included her alleged lies to police and medical professionals, her disposal of a food dehydrator found with traces of the deadly fungi, and internet searches on her computer. Witnesses, including the sole survivor Ian Wilkinson, also testified about Patterson eating from a different plate during the meal.

While a definitive motive was not explicitly proven by the prosecution, the trial heard of strained relations between Patterson and her estranged husband, Simon Patterson, and past frustrations she had expressed regarding his parents.

The jury's unanimous guilty verdicts signify their rejection of Patterson's defense, concluding she acted with intent to cause death or serious harm. Patterson showed little emotion as the verdicts were read in the packed courtroom.

The "mushroom murders" case has become a focal point of public discussion, with its bizarre and tragic details, the rural setting, and the sheer audacity of the alleged crime. Erin Patterson now faces a potential life sentence. A sentencing date will be set at a later stage.