What started as a simple family lunch in a quiet Victorian town has now spiraled into one of Australia’s most talked-about murder trials.
Erin Patterson, a 50-year-old mother, stands accused of serving a deadly meal that left three people dead and one in critical condition.
As her trial continues at the Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court in Morwell, Victoria, fresh details are painting a far more personal and tangled picture of what really happened.
Messages Reveal Erin’s Frustrations About Her Ex-Husband
A big moment in court came late on Thursday, when Erin’s defence barrister, Colin Mandy SC, presented Facebook messages that Erin had exchanged with friends in a private group chat.
These weren’t just everyday conversations — they revealed Erin’s frustrations with her estranged husband, Simon.
In the chats, one friend vented: “What morons.” Another chimed in, supporting Erin: “You weren’t asking them to adjudicate, you just wanted them to hear your story.”
Erin replied, clearly exhausted: “I said to him about 50 times yesterday that I didn’t want them to adjudicate… Nobody bloody listens to me.”
She added that she felt like the people involved were “a lost cause.”
Other messages in the group encouraged Erin to reach out to Simon or pointed out how “pathetic” it was that he wasn’t stepping up to talk about their marriage or support the children.
They also casually talked about their pets and the death of actress Kirstie Alley.
The Deadly Beef Wellington and the Guests Who Didn’t Survive
Erin is facing charges of murdering her former in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, along with Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson.
The tragic incident happened after a Sunday lunch at Erin’s home in Leongatha, located in Victoria’s Gippsland region.
All three guests allegedly died from eating a beef Wellington dish laced with death cap mushrooms.
Heather’s husband, Pastor Ian Wilkinson, also attended the lunch but survived after a lengthy stay in intensive care.
Erin’s ex-husband Simon was invited too — but he didn’t show up.
Suspicion Grows Over Erin’s Mysterious Plate and Mushroom Story
A key detail that caught the jury’s attention was the difference in dinnerware: Erin reportedly ate her meal off a smaller, different-colored plate, while the rest of the guests had grey ones.
She later told police she had bought the dried mushrooms from an unnamed Asian grocery store in Melbourne’s Monash area.
But when health inspectors followed up, they couldn’t find any evidence that such a purchase ever happened.
Victoria’s health department concluded that the poisoning was isolated to the lunch at Erin’s home.
Emotional Testimonies From Family Members and Medical Staff
As the trial unfolded, several witnesses, including Erin’s estranged husband and other relatives, took the stand.
Emotions ran high as they recalled the horrifying symptoms suffered by their loved ones after the lunch.
Medical professionals confirmed that the guests had shown classic signs of death cap mushroom poisoning.
Don Patterson, one of the victims, even received a liver transplant before he passed away.
Digital Trails and a Suspicious Dehydrator
Forensic evidence has played a major role in the case.
Expert witnesses testified that death cap mushrooms were found in the debris of a dehydrator — one Erin reportedly threw away at the local tip.
Phone records showed that Erin’s mobile was detected near locations in the Gippsland area where wild death caps had been spotted.
A cybercrime officer also testified that data from a computer seized from Erin’s home confirmed the presence of a death cap mushroom.
The Police Interview That Raised More Questions
On Tuesday, the court was shown the police interview Erin gave after her home was searched in August 2023.
Detectives had seized a manual for a Sunbeam food dehydrator, but Erin denied ever owning the appliance.
She told police she had invited her in-laws for lunch because she genuinely loved them and considered them her real family.
The Mystery of the Missing and Wiped Phones
One of the strangest twists in the case involved two Samsung Galaxy phones — referred to as Phone A and Phone B.
Investigators were unable to find Phone A, and Phone B had reportedly been factory reset multiple times, including while police were searching her home.
Even more puzzling, Phone B was later remotely wiped while it was sitting in a secure police locker in Melbourne.
Messages That Paint a Kinder Picture of the Pattersons
Despite the serious allegations, Signal messages shown to the jury revealed a warmer side of Erin’s relationship with her in-laws.
In one Mother’s Day message from May 2022, Erin called Gail “the best mother-in-law anyone could ever ask for.”
Other messages from late 2022 showed Don and Gail expressing concern and support after Erin’s son underwent surgery.
Gail wrote: “We’re all praying he will know God’s peace.”
Don added, “Good news about the surgery.”
Erin responded from the recovery room, saying her son was asleep and she appreciated their love and prayers.
A Close Bond Between Don and Erin’s Son
The court also heard how Don Patterson helped Erin’s son with schoolwork.
Erin messaged that Don had agreed to tutor him via video call, and even discussed the logistics of picking up her daughter’s books from school.
Don replied that he’d help with algebra and asked her to send over the chapter in advance.
Erin later thanked Don and Gail for lending her a blood-oxygen monitor and shared that her son found Don’s tutoring helpful.
Don responded warmly: “A class full of him would be fun.”
Erin replied with gratitude and a heart emoji, saying, “Thank you, Papa.”
The Trial Moves Forward With More Cross-Examination Ahead
Erin Patterson sat quietly in court, wearing a navy top with white spots, as her defence lawyer continued cross-examining Detective Eppingstall.
More Signal messages, possible photos of the missing phone, and questions about unseized laptops and USBs were all brought into the spotlight.
With so many emotional, digital, and forensic threads in play, this trial is far from over.
What started as a tragic Sunday lunch has now become a courtroom drama that’s captured national attention — and there’s still more to come.