Erin Patterson, 50, has been found guilty of murdering three relatives and attempting to kill a fourth after serving them beef Wellington laced with toxic death cap mushrooms in July 2023 in Leongatha, Victoria. The victims—her ex-in-laws Don (70), Gail (70) Patterson, and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson (66)—died days after the meal, while Heather’s husband Ian Wilkinson (68), a Baptist pastor, became critically ill but later survived following a liver transplant.

During her nine-week trial in the Victorian Supreme Court, the prosecution presented evidence that Patterson deliberately foraged or purchased Amanita phalloides—commonly known as the “death cap”—and dehydrated them, as evidenced by a discarded food dehydrator found at a landfill bearing her fingerprints and traces of mushroom toxins. Forensic experts testified that the toxin was present in the Wellington leftovers and in the dehydrator debris.

Patterson’s defense claimed the poisoning was accidental, attributing the mushrooms to a mix of supermarket and dried store-bought varieties. She also fabricated a cancer diagnosis to justify inviting family to the meal and consumed her portion using a different colored plate—markedly avoiding the deadly portions served to guests.However, her testimony was described by the jury as cold, inconsistent, and lacking remorse—undermining her credibility.

On July 7, 2025, a unanimous jury convicted Patterson on three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. She now faces a life sentence at a forthcoming sentencing hearing. The dramatic case has captured international attention, serving as a grim reminder of the extreme toxicity of death cap mushrooms—where as little as half a cap can be fatal—and the importance of accurate identification when foraging. The verdict concludes a case that began with a family lunch and ended with tragedy, leaving the community seeking closure and prompting renewed public warnings about the dangers of wild mushrooms.