Woman accused of killing relatives with poisonous lunch claims she was trying to fix a ‘bland’ lunch

Erin Patterson, an Australian woman from Leongatha, is facing serious charges after being accused of killing her ex-husband’s parents and aunt by serving them a poisonous lunch in July 2023.

The meal reportedly included beef wellington laced with deadly death cap mushrooms. Her estranged husband’s parents, Don and Gail Patterson, and his aunt, Heather Wilkinson, all died after eating the meal. Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson, also became seriously ill but managed to survive.

Patterson has pleaded not guilty to all charges, which include three counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder. Her court case has drawn national attention and has been ongoing for nearly six weeks. On June 4, Patterson spoke in court as part of her defense, saying she never meant to harm anyone. She explained that she had been trying to improve what she described as a “bland” meal and wanted to make something special for her guests.

According to her statement, she bought dried mushrooms from an Asian supermarket to use in the dish. However, she admitted there’s a chance some foraged mushrooms might have been mixed in without her realizing it. Death cap mushrooms are known to be extremely toxic and can be deadly even in small amounts.

Patterson also admitted that she had lied to her in-laws by telling them she had cancer. She explained in court that she was ashamed of her eating habits and body issues and didn’t want to talk about them, so she made up the illness. She now regrets not being honest.

During earlier testimony, Dr. Christopher Webster, a doctor who treated Patterson at the hospital, told the court that he warned her she might have been exposed to deadly mushroom toxins. He urged her to stay in the hospital and begin treatment immediately. However, Patterson refused and chose to leave the hospital despite the danger. When asked where she got the mushrooms, she simply told the doctor, “Woolworths,” a popular grocery store chain in Australia.

The court heard that the lunch was originally meant to be a family discussion about Patterson’s health. But what started as a simple meal turned into a deadly tragedy, with only one guest surviving.

If Patterson is found guilty, she could face life in prison. The trial is still ongoing, and the country is closely watching to see how it ends.