Australian woman charged with murder in connection to alleged killer mushroom poisoning of three ex-in-laws
The Australian woman accused of serving her former in-laws lunch laced with killer mushrooms, fatally poisoning three, was charged with murder Thursday morning in connection to their deaths.
Erin Patterson, 49, was charged with murdering her ex-mother- and father-in-law Gail and Don Patterson, both 70 and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, 69, who all died days after eating a Beef Wellington pie she cooked for them on July 29.
Authorities believe Patterson may have poisoned the meal with highly toxic death cap mushrooms.
She was also charged with five counts of attempted murder, including that of Wilkinson’s 69-year-old husband, Ian, who was hospitalized for months after surviving the meal.
Three of the attempted murder charges were for earlier incidents where her ex-husband, Simon Patterson, 48, became sick after eating her meals in 2021 and 2022, police said.
She faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted of all the charges.
Simon – who was supposed to join his family for the July lunch but skipped at the last minute – later accused his ex-wife of poisoning his relatives.
Patterson was arrested Thursday and questioned for several hours as investigators searched her home along with technology detector dogs — which are trained to sniff out hard drives and other materials, cops said.
“Today’s charges are just the next step in what has been an incredibly complex, methodical, and thorough investigation by homicide squad detectives,” Detective Inspector Dean Thomas said.
“I know that people will no doubt have many unanswered questions about this matter, however, I urge people to be especially mindful of unnecessary speculation and not sharing misinformation.
“Our thoughts today are with the families of those impacted and we will continue to ensure they are provided with all the necessary support they need.”
Patterson has repeatedly denied being involved in the three deaths.
“I loved them and I’m devastated they are gone,” she told reporters in August of her former in-laws. “They were some of the best people I’ve ever met.”
Patterson was the only person who walked away from her lunch and didn’t get sick, along with her kids — who got a different meal.
Police were reportedly looking into whether a food dehydrator found in the trash was used to prepare the deadly meal and then discarded.
With Post wires
