An Australian woman is on trial for allegedly serving beef Wellington laced with deadly death cap mushrooms that killed three family members, with prosecutors claiming she ate from a different plate while fabricating a cancer diagnosis to keep her children away from the fatal meal.
Top Takeaways
- Erin Patterson, 50, faces three murder charges and one attempted murder charge after allegedly poisoning her ex-husband’s family with deadly mushrooms.
- Three victims died after consuming a beef Wellington dish at Patterson’s home on July 29, 2023, while a fourth was hospitalized for seven weeks.
- Prosecution claims Patterson served herself from a different plate and falsely claimed to have cancer to explain her children’s absence from the lunch.
- Defense argues the poisoning was accidental despite Patterson’s initial denial about foraging wild mushrooms.
- The six-week trial is underway in Victoria, Australia, with no clear motive yet presented by prosecutors.
Fatal Family Lunch
The trial of Erin Patterson, which began this week in Victoria, Australia, has drawn international attention as details emerge about a deadly lunch gathering that left three people dead and one seriously ill. Patterson, 50, stands accused of serving a beef Wellington containing lethal death cap mushrooms to her former in-laws and their relatives during a meal at her Leongatha home on July 29, 2023. The guests included Gail and Don Patterson (her former in-laws), Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, and Heather’s husband Ian Wilkinson.
Within days of the meal, Gail and Don Patterson, along with Heather Wilkinson, had died from what authorities determined was death cap mushroom poisoning. Ian Wilkinson survived after spending seven weeks hospitalized in critical condition. Death cap mushrooms are responsible for approximately 90% of mushroom poisoning deaths worldwide and can be easily mistaken for edible varieties.
Alleged mushroom murderer Erin Patterson faked cancer to lure victims, prosecutors say https://t.co/1iAym99VvI pic.twitter.com/nAb8IPNGki
— New York Post (@nypost) April 30, 2025
Suspicious Circumstances
Prosecutor Nanette Rogers presented evidence suggesting Patterson had crafted an elaborate deception around the lunch. “She said the purpose of the lunch was to discuss some medical issues that she had and to get advice about how to break it to the kids. The accused said that it was important that the children were not present for the lunch,” Rogers told the court, referencing Patterson’s statements to investigators.
The prosecution alleges that Patterson falsely claimed to have ovarian cancer to explain why her children weren’t present at the lunch. Following the meal, she reportedly asked her guests for advice about whether to tell her children about her supposed cancer diagnosis. The group reportedly prayed for Patterson’s health and wisdom in handling the situation with her children—all while the deadly toxins were already at work in their systems.
Evidence and Defense
Adding to suspicions, Patterson’s children reportedly ate leftovers from the same meal but without the mushrooms and suffered no ill effects. While Patterson initially claimed to investigators she had purchased the mushrooms from a supermarket and an Asian grocery store, prosecutors allege she later changed her story. The prosecution also claims she disposed of potential evidence, including a food dehydrator that may have been used in preparing the mushrooms.
Patterson’s defense team is arguing the poisoning was a tragic accident rather than an intentional act. Her lawyer maintains that despite initially denying foraging for wild mushrooms, Patterson’s actions were driven by panic rather than guilt. Justice Christopher Beale emphasized to the 15-member jury (which will be reduced to 12 as the trial progresses) that the central question is “whether she intended to kill or cause very serious injury.”
Trial Proceedings
The trial is expected to continue for six weeks. Witnesses will include the surviving victim Ian Wilkinson, medical staff who treated the victims, and police investigators. The case has captivated public interest to such a degree that it has already inspired podcasts and a documentary.
While prosecutors suggested Patterson’s ex-husband Simon had remained “hopeful for some time that he and the accused would someday reunite,” they have not yet presented a clear motive for the alleged murders. Patterson was arrested in November 2023, approximately four months after the fatal lunch, following an extensive investigation by Australian authorities.
