Collected Poisonous Mushrooms and Attempted to Destroy Evidence
Jury Delivers Guilty Verdict: "No Room for Doubt"
A woman in her 40s accused of killing her estranged husband's family by serving them food containing poisonous mushrooms after inviting them to her home in Australia has been found guilty in court. On July 7 (local time), international media outlets such as CNN and BBC reported that a jury of 12 members at the Supreme Court of Victoria, Australia, unanimously found Erin Patterson, 50, guilty on three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.
Erin Patterson, accused of killing her husband's family with poisonous mushroom food. Photo by EPA and Yonhap News
Patterson, who lives in Leongatha, about 135 kilometers southeast of Melbourne, was indicted on charges of murder and attempted murder on November 2, 2023. Previously, on July 29 of the same year, Patterson lied about having cancer to invite her husband's parents, aunt, and uncle to her home and served them a meal. Her estranged husband, Simon Patterson, was also invited but did not attend. Patterson served her in-laws Beef Wellington with mashed potatoes and green beans for lunch. After the meal, all those who returned home suffered from severe abdominal pain. They were taken to the hospital for treatment, but three of them?her parents-in-law and her aunt-in-law?ultimately died. Her uncle-in-law was able to be discharged after two months of intensive treatment.
Murals related to Patterson are also painted throughout alleys in Australia, with many people taking photos in front of these murals and posting them on social media, becoming a hot topic. Photo by AFP and Yonhap News
An investigation revealed that the food Patterson prepared contained the highly toxic "death cap mushroom." Consumption of this mushroom can cause fatal damage to the liver and kidneys, and death can occur within 48 hours. At the time, police determined that Patterson had intentionally prepared food containing poisonous mushrooms and caused the deaths, leading to her arrest. On this day, prosecutors told the jury that Patterson had deliberately picked, dried, and ground the mushrooms into powder, then concealed it in the Beef Wellington served to her guests.
Patterson denied all charges, claiming it was an accident. According to Australia's public broadcaster ABC, Patterson, who was seated between two prison officers in the defendant's box, showed no visible emotion except for blinking rapidly as the verdict was read. The court is expected to issue a sentence based on the jury's decision, and according to reports, Erin could face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Meanwhile, the mushroom steak dish "Beef Wellington" that Patterson cooked has become widely known due to this incident, with many people searching for the recipe and its popularity increasing. Furthermore, murals related to Patterson have been painted throughout alleys in Australia, with many people taking photos in front of these murals and posting them on social media, making it a trending topic.
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