Woman found guilty of killing in-laws with poisonous mushrooms in beef Wellington
Woman convicted of poisoning three with deadly mushrooms
An Australian woman has been convicted of murdering three family members after serving them a beef Wellington laced with poisonous mushrooms. Erin Patterson was found guilty in a high-profile trial that gripped the nation. Here?s how the deadly lunch unfolded?and why it shocked the world. Supreme Court of Victoria via Storyful
An Australian woman has been found guilty of murdering three of her estranged husband’s relatives by deliberately serving them a beef Wellington lunch laced with poisonous mushrooms.
A jury in the Supreme Court of Victoria returned the verdict Monday after a closely watched nine-week trial. Erin Patterson, 50, now faces life in prison for the 2023 killings that shocked the country and ignited widespread media fascination.
She was also convicted of attempting to murder a fourth guest who survived the meal.
What happened at the fatal mushroom lunch?
The backstory:
In July 2023, Erin Patterson invited four people to her home in Leongatha, Australia, for lunch: her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, and Heather’s husband Ian. She served individual beef Wellington pastries that prosecutors said contained death cap mushrooms—one of the world’s most toxic fungi.
Three of the four guests—Don, Gail, and Heather—died in the hospital days later. Ian Wilkinson, a local pastor, was critically ill but survived. Patterson was unharmed.
Prosecutors alleged that the meal had been deliberately prepared to kill. The jury unanimously found that Patterson intentionally used poisonous mushrooms in the food.
What the trial revealed
While Patterson admitted to making the meal, the trial focused on whether she knew the mushrooms were deadly and if she intended to cause harm. Prosecutors said she prepared individual portions—rather than a family-style dish—so she could poison her guests without affecting herself.
They also noted her decision to send her children to the movies during the lunch and later dispose of a food dehydrator, which they argued was used to dry the mushrooms.
Evidence photos show slices of the beef Wellington dish served by Erin Patterson, which prosecutors said contained deadly death cap mushrooms. The meal led to the deaths of three family members in 2023 and was central to Patterson’s murder trial. (Supreme Court of Victoria via Storyful)
Patterson denied intentionally poisoning anyone and claimed she had mistakenly included foraged mushrooms, unaware they were death caps. She admitted to lying about never owning a dehydrator or collecting wild mushrooms, saying she panicked after realizing her guests were dying.
She also told jurors she became ill after the meal due to an eating disorder, not the mushrooms.
What we know:
The court found that Patterson had intentionally served a fatal meal and lied repeatedly during the investigation. No motive was officially offered, but prosecutors cited tension with her estranged husband and a complicated relationship with his family.
Patterson’s ex-husband, Simon, was invited to the lunch but did not attend.
A sentencing date has not yet been set, but Patterson faces a potential life sentence.
What we don't know:
The exact motive behind the killings remains unclear. Prosecutors did not present a definitive explanation, though they alluded to long-standing family tensions. It’s also unknown whether Patterson will appeal the verdict.
Why this case captured global attention
Big picture view:
The trial gripped Australia and drew international headlines for its strange and tragic details: a home-cooked meal gone fatally wrong, allegations of hidden resentment, and a courtroom drama filled with emotional testimony and forensic analysis.
Multiple podcasts followed the case daily, news outlets published live blogs, and TV networks are already planning dramatizations. Lines of spectators formed outside the rural courthouse in Morwell as the verdict was read.
The case sparked broader conversations in Australia about mushroom foraging, food safety, and how prosecutors handle murder trials with circumstantial evidence and no clear motive.
The Source: This article is based on reporting from the Associated Press, which covered the verdict in the Supreme Court of Victoria and detailed the courtroom proceedings, background of the case, and public reaction. Additional context was drawn from official court statements and coverage of the 2023 incident.