Australian woman Erin Patterson convicted of murdering in-laws after separation

Australian woman Erin Patterson convicted of murdering in-laws after separation
Melbourne, Australia | July 7, 2025

Australian woman Erin Patterson has been found guilty of murdering three of her estranged husband's relatives by poisoning them with toxic mushrooms.

A jury at the Supreme Court of Victoria delivered the verdict on Monday after a lengthy nine-week trial and six days of deliberation. Patterson was convicted of three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. She now faces a possible life sentence, although a date for sentencing has yet to be set.

The crime occurred in 2023 at Patterson’s home in Leongatha, Victoria, where she served a lunch of beef Wellington pastries laced with deadly death cap mushrooms. Her father-in-law Don Patterson, mother-in-law Gail Patterson, and relative Heather Wilkinson died as a result. Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson, fell gravely ill but survived.

Was it intentional or accidental?
Patterson claimed that the mushrooms had been mistakenly used after being foraged from the wild. However, the jury rejected this explanation, concluding that the murders were deliberate.

Unclear motive, but evident family tensions
Although prosecutors couldn’t firmly establish a clear motive, evidence pointed to strained relationships between Patterson and her former husband Simon Patterson as well as his parents. It was revealed that Simon had also been invited to the lunch but didn’t attend.

Cooking, serving, and the dehydrator—all under scrutiny
Investigators examined every detail—why the food was served separately, why her children were sent to the movies, why she didn’t fall ill herself, and why she later discarded the food dehydrator. These were all discussed in court. Patterson even admitted to lying about some details during the investigation.

National uproar, live coverage, and a docu-drama in planning
The case sparked national attention across Australia. News outlets and podcasts provided daily live coverage of the trial. Before the verdict, over a hundred journalists and members of the public gathered outside the court.

Friend’s reaction: “Sad, but true”
One of Patterson’s friends, reacting to the verdict, said, “I’m saddened… but what happened is the truth.”