What started as a seemingly ordinary family lunch in a quiet country town turned into one of the most chilling murder cases Australia has ever seen.
Erin Patterson, a 50-year-old woman from Leongatha, Victoria, is now a convicted triple murderer, found guilty of deliberately serving her in-laws a poisonous meal laced with death cap mushrooms.
On July 29, 2023, she invited family over for lunch.
Now, nearly two years later, she’s facing life behind bars.
Toxic Beef Wellington and a Carefully Planned Meal
The lunch was meant to bring together members of Erin’s estranged husband’s family—Don and Gail Patterson, along with Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson and Heather’s husband, Pastor Ian Wilkinson.
But what they were served wasn’t just a meal. It was a death sentence.
Patterson served her guests beef Wellington—though with a sinister twist.
She later admitted she had used a food dehydrator to prepare mushrooms beforehand.
These mushrooms, according to expert testimony, couldn’t be ruled out as deadly death caps.
The court saw disturbing images of those mushrooms drying on metal trays, along with photos of the very table where the lunch was served.
Three Guests Died, One Survived to Tell the Tale
Tragically, Don, Gail, and Heather didn’t make it.
They died slow and agonizing deaths after consuming the poisoned meal.
Pastor Ian Wilkinson, the only survivor, fell critically ill but lived to share his version of events. His testimony was key.
One detail stood out: Erin had served her own portion of Wellington on a different-colored plate.
Prosecutors said this was no accident—she made sure to protect herself from the very poison she gave to others.
Deceit, Disappearing Evidence, and the Dehydrator Dump
Throughout the 10-week trial, prosecutors laid out a chilling picture of premeditation.
CCTV footage showed Patterson calmly going about her day after the meal—dropping her son off for a flying lesson, grabbing sandwiches and snacks from a petrol station, and appearing unaffected while claiming to have food poisoning.
Another clip revealed her at a local tip, casually tossing the very dehydrator used to dry the mushrooms into an e-waste bin.
That same device was later recovered and presented as crucial evidence.
Her Story Unravels in the Courtroom
Patterson took the stand in her own defense.
She claimed she, too, had eaten the Wellington and fell ill—but the jury didn’t buy it.
They watched footage of her walking around a petrol station while supposedly suffering from “explosive diarrhoea.”
They heard how she discharged herself from hospital against medical advice, only to return home and, suspiciously, lead police to the leftovers of the meal.
The prosecution argued that Patterson’s behavior, both before and after the deaths, painted a clear picture of guilt. And ultimately, the jury agreed.
The Mushroom Murders Verdict
On Monday, July 7, 2025, the jury returned its verdict.
Guilty on all three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. The courtroom audibly gasped.
Among the crowd were members of the Patterson family—many of whom had followed the painful proceedings day after day.
Patterson, now a convicted killer, will remain in custody at Morwell Police Station and is expected to serve her sentence in isolation for her safety.
A Family Torn Apart
Behind the headlines is an unspeakable tragedy.
Erin’s two children—who continued to visit her in jail—are now grappling with the reality that their mother killed their grandparents and great-aunt.
And Erin’s estranged husband Simon, who had refused to attend the lunch due to feeling “uncomfortable,” narrowly avoided becoming another victim.
The motive, in part, appeared to stem from growing tension between Erin and Simon over finances and child support.
But whatever the reasons, nothing could justify the deadly outcome of that July lunch.
The Nation Reacts
The case—nicknamed “The Mushroom Murders”—gripped not just Australia, but global audiences.
The twisted details, the calm demeanor, and the sheer horror of it all turned Erin Patterson into one of the most infamous figures in modern Australian crime.
She will return to court for a sentencing plea hearing, where a life sentence is almost certain.