50 years old Australian woman Erin Patterson has been found guilty of the murder of her former-in-laws. She had mixed death cap mushrooms in the food that she served her ex-husband Simon Patterson’s parents Don and Gail Patterson and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson resulting in their death.
Don and Gail were both 70 years old and Heather was 66 years. According to 9 News, Erin had tried the same with Heather’s 68 years old husband, pastor Ian Wilkinson. However, he was hospitalized after the meal and it took him weeks to survive this murder attempt on him.
As reported by PEOPLE, “On Monday, July 7, the Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court in the South-Eastern Victoria town of Morwell heard that Erin Patterson, 50, had been convicted of the murders of her estranged husband Simon Patterson’s parents, Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, as well as Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson.”
Erin had committed the crime back in 2023 when she had served the poison laced Beef Wellington to her guests. Her former husband was also invited but he had chosen not to come. It is important to note here that Erin had previously made attempts on her ex’s life and such attempts went back to 2021.
Victoria Police Homicide Squad Detective Inspector Dean Thomas addressed reports after Erin’s verdict was given on Monday, saying, “I’d just like to acknowledge the decision of the jury today and I’d also like to acknowledge the investigators that have worked on this investigation since July 2023 right through to today” as reported by ABC.
He further added, “I think it’s very important that we remember that … three people have died and we’ve had a person that’s nearly died and was seriously injured as a result. I ask that we acknowledge those people and not forget them.”
Victoria Police also addressed the verdict and said, “Our thoughts are with the respective families at this time and we acknowledge how difficult these past two years have been for them. We will continue to support them in every way possible following this decision.”
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Their statement also mentioned, “We would also like to acknowledge the work of Homicide Squad detectives over the course of this complex investigation, as well as the significant support received from a number of other areas across Victoria Police.”
Erin had previously pleaded not guilty for the murders. However, during a trial last month, she accepted that there must have been death cap mushrooms in the food she had served to her guests, as The Guardian reported.
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During the trial on Monday, BBC reported that the jury was shown images of Erin’s dining room table as evidence along with the pictures of a food dehydrator that Erin had previously denied owning. Since then Erin admitted to having the food dehydrator, which she had dumped at landfill a week after the fatal lunch.
BBC further reported, “The appliance was later recovered by police and Erin’s fingerprints and traces of death cap mushrooms were found on it by a forensic examination team.” According to Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), “Photos of the leftover Beef Wellington were also shown to the court and Dr. David Lovelock — who specializes in plant virology and bacteriology — during the trial. Traces of a toxin present in death cap mushrooms had been discovered in the food.”
Jury finds Australian cook deliberately killed lunch guests with poisoned Beef Wellington in “mushroom murder” trial https://t.co/Ofp8vPxpuZ
— CNN (@CNN) July 7, 2025
The trial had run for weeks before Erin was finally found guilty. While she had previously denied all the allegations, after the death of her third victim, Erin had told the reporter, “I’m devastated. I loved them. I can’t believe that this has happened and I’m so sorry.”
