Erin Patterson, the 50-year-old Australian woman whose case shocked the nation, has been convicted of three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder after serving a deadly meal of beef Wellington laced with death cap mushrooms. Her conviction follows an intense 11-week trial in the Victorian town of Morwell, culminating in a verdict that could see her spend the rest of her life behind bars.
The victims—Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, and their sister-in-law Heather Wilkinson, 66—died in hospital after consuming the fatal dish during a family lunch in July 2023. Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson, survived the poisoning but spent weeks recovering in hospital.
Patterson, a mother of two, had pleaded not guilty and maintained her innocence throughout the trial, testifying over eight days. However, the jury found her explanations unconvincing. Central to the prosecution’s case was evidence of internet searches linked to death cap mushrooms and inconsistencies in Patterson’s account of her food dehydrator, which prosecutors alleged she used to prepare the poisonous mushrooms.
Brianna Chesser, an associate professor in criminology and justice at RMIT University, said Patterson’s testimony—and the lies revealed in cross-examination—played a significant role in the jury’s decision. “Whenever you have any lies in a trial, it is quite a difficult thing to overcome from a defence perspective,” Chesser explained. “What came out regarding the mushrooms was almost insurmountable.”
The case has gripped public attention worldwide, not only because of its bizarre method—poisoning with a deadly fungus—but also because female perpetrators are rare in homicide cases. The story’s blend of family ties, betrayal, and mysterious circumstances drew intense media scrutiny.
Within hours of the guilty verdict, the Supreme Court released key evidence, including photographs of leftover beef Wellington retrieved from a bin at Patterson’s home. Toxicological analysis confirmed the presence of death cap mushrooms, one of the world’s most lethal fungi.
Other pieces of evidence included a video showing Patterson discharging herself from Leongatha Hospital shortly after her initial admission, and images capturing her holding a pink mobile phone at the hospital. Police say this pink phone, allegedly her primary device in 2023, was never recovered and suspect it may have contained searches related to acquiring or preparing death cap mushrooms.
Patterson’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for later in 2025. She faces a possible life sentence for the murders, although the court may consider factors such as her lack of prior criminal history and reported mental health concerns.
Despite the possibility of appeal, experts suggest that overturning the conviction would require significant new evidence or a substantial error in legal process—a tall order given the weight of evidence presented.
For now, Erin Patterson remains in custody, having spent her first night behind bars as a convicted triple murderer. The case stands as one of Australia’s most chilling and unusual murder trials in recent memory.
