Australian Woman Found Guilty of Mushroom Poisoning Triple Murder

An Australian jury has found Erin Patterson guilty of murdering three of her in-laws by deliberately serving them a beef Wellington dish laced with death cap mushrooms during a family lunch in July 2023. The 50-year-old, a home cook from the rural town of Morwell in Victoria, was also convicted of attempting to murder a fourth guest who survived after prolonged hospitalization. Prosecutors argued that Patterson intentionally poisoned the meal to target her estranged husband’s family amid a deteriorating relationship and disputes over child support. While Patterson maintained the poisoning was accidental, citing mistaken use of mushrooms, the court was presented with forensic evidence including a discarded food dehydrator found to contain traces of the toxic fungus, and internet searches indicating premeditation. The case drew global attention due to its chilling details and unusual method, becoming known internationally as the “mushroom murders.” The surviving guest, a local pastor, testified that the victims were served on separate plates from Patterson’s. Despite her defense claiming it was a tragic mishap, the jury reached a guilty verdict after a week of deliberations. Patterson is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date.