Case of a Daughter-in-Law Who Killed Her Ex-Husband’s Parents Using Mushrooms

A verdict has been announced in the "mushroom murder" case in Australia, which drew widespread public attention and international media coverage. The case sparked serious discussion across the country, particularly in the town of Leongatha in Victoria.

49-year-old Erin Patterson invited her ex-husband Simon Patterson’s parents — Don and Gail Patterson — and their relatives Heather and Ian Wilkinson to lunch on July 29, 2023. During the meal, they ate Beef Wellington with mushrooms. A few hours later, the guests began experiencing severe vomiting and diarrhea, and were urgently hospitalized.

According to court investigations, the dish contained the highly poisonous "death cap" mushroom (Amanita phalloides), which contains the toxin amatoxin — deadly to the liver. This substance can cause the liver to completely fail within two days.

Gail and Heather died on August 4, 2023, and Don passed away the following day. Ian Wilkinson was in critical condition and received months of treatment, returning home only in September.

Prosecutors stated that Patterson had deliberately collected and added the mushrooms to the dish. She had visited mushroom-picking areas in April–May 2023, confirmed through geolocation data from public platforms like iNaturalist. It was also found that she bought a special mushroom dehydrator at that time and attempted to destroy it after the incident.

The dehydrator found in Patterson’s home contained traces of toxic mushrooms and her fingerprints. The investigation also revealed that important data had been deleted from her mobile phones.

Patterson denied all charges in court. She called the incident a "tragic accident," claiming she mistakenly used the wrong mushrooms. She said she panicked after the event and gave investigators false information. Her defense lawyer told the court that Patterson had good relations with the deceased and had no financial or personal motive.

However, a 12-member jury unanimously found Erin Patterson guilty of three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. Judge Christopher Beale reminded the jury that the case was being judged not on moral grounds but on legal evidence:

“The question is not whether Patterson is morally guilty. The question is whether there is evidence proving her legal responsibility — that is what matters.”

Erin Patterson is currently in custody. Her final sentence will be announced at the next court session.

This case is expected to go down in Australian legal history as a rare, complex, and deeply impactful crime on public consciousness. Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!