Erin Patterson, the Australian woman accused of poisoning her lunch guests with deadly mushrooms in a home-cooked Beef Wellington, has been found guilty of three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.
A jury of 12 members reached the verdict after six days of deliberation, concluding a 10-week trial held in the town of Morwell, Victoria—about an hour from the home in Leongatha where the fatal meal was served in July 2023.

The case, which drew international attention and inspired several podcasts, centered on Patterson’s alleged use of Amanita phalloides, commonly known as death cap mushrooms, among the most toxic fungi in the world.

Deadly Lunch

On July 29, 2023, Patterson hosted a lunch for five guests, including her estranged husband, Simon Patterson, who withdrew at the last minute. Her former parents-in-law, Don and Gail Patterson, along with Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson and Heather’s husband Ian, attended the meal.

All four guests fell severely ill within hours, experiencing vomiting and diarrhea. They were hospitalized and placed in induced comas. Gail and Heather died on August 4, followed by Don on August 5. Ian Wilkinson survived after nearly two months in intensive care.

Autopsies revealed the presence of death cap mushroom toxins, which cause liver failure by halting protein production in cells. The mushrooms are native to Europe but grow in various parts of Australia and were reportedly sighted near Patterson’s home around the time of the lunch.

The Prosecution’s Case

Prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC argued that Patterson had deliberately picked and cooked the toxic mushrooms, pointing to cellphone data that placed her near known growth sites in April and May 2023. She also noted Patterson’s purchase of a food dehydrator on April 28—the same day she was near the mushroom sites. The device, later found in a recycling center, contained traces of death cap mushrooms and her fingerprints.

Rogers laid out what she called “four calculated deceptions”:

1. A false claim about having cancer to justify inviting her guests to lunch.

2. Secretly including poisonous mushrooms in the meal.

3. Pretending to be sick herself after the meal.

4. Disposing of evidence and lying to police to cover her tracks.

Patterson was also accused of resetting her devices and discarding the dehydrator shortly after her guests were hospitalized.

The Defense

Patterson’s lawyer, Colin Mandy SC, described the tragedy as a terrible accident, arguing his client never intended to harm anyone. He claimed she panicked and lied out of fear after realizing she may have mistakenly used foraged mushrooms.

Mandy criticized the prosecution for presenting what he called “ridiculous, convoluted propositions,” noting that Patterson had no financial motive, a stable home life, and close ties between her children and the deceased grandparents.

Though motive was not required for a conviction, the jury heard evidence of private Facebook messages in which Patterson expressed frustration with her in-laws. In one message, she wrote:

“I’m sick of this shit. I want nothing to do with them.”

Verdict and Sentencing

Throughout the trial, Patterson maintained her innocence, but the jury ultimately found that she had intended to kill all four guests and later lied under oath.

Justice Christopher Beale instructed jurors to focus solely on whether the prosecution proved guilt beyond reasonable doubt—not on Patterson’s moral conduct.

Patterson is due to be sentenced at a later date.

Source: CNN