Erin Patterson, 50, is at the center of a gripping and tragic trial unfolding in Morwell, Victoria, accused of the triple murder of her in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, through the administration of death cap mushrooms in a beef Wellington meal. The case, which has captivated the community and drawn crowds to the Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court, entered its sixth week on June 3, 2025, as Patterson continued her testimony.
In a candid and detailed account, Patterson admitted that death cap mushrooms were indeed present in the fatal lunch she prepared on July 29, 2023. When her defense barrister, Colin Mandy SC, asked if she accepted the presence of these poisonous fungi, she responded, "Yes, I do." She explained that the "vast majority" of mushrooms used in the meal were purchased from the local Woolworths supermarket in Leongatha, with some sourced from an Asian grocer in Melbourne. She recalled buying some particularly "pungent" mushrooms from the Asian grocer in April 2023, which she initially intended to use immediately but instead stored in a container at her Leongatha home after deciding against using them due to their strong smell.
Patterson described her growing fascination with mushrooms and foraging, a hobby that took root during the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020. She recounted how she began noticing mushrooms during walks with her children in the Korumburra Botanic Gardens and other local areas such as the rail trail leading to Leongatha and her own three-acre property. Her interest deepened when she observed her dog eating wild mushrooms, prompting her to research their safety. She admitted to scouring Facebook groups dedicated to mushroom enthusiasts to identify various species, including some she was wary of, such as those she believed to be inocybe, a genus known to contain toxic varieties.
Confident in her identification skills, Patterson said she picked wild mushrooms like slippery jack, honey mushrooms, field mushrooms, and horse mushrooms, which she found "very nice" to eat. She described a careful process of testing mushrooms by frying small pieces with butter to ensure they were safe before incorporating them into meals for herself and her children. She acknowledged that she "chopped them up very small, so they couldn’t pick them out," referring to the meals she prepared that contained wild mushrooms.
To extend the availability of mushrooms beyond their short season, Patterson purchased a food dehydrator in April 2023. She detailed how she dehydrated both wild mushrooms she foraged and store-bought varieties, experimenting with different methods to achieve the best results. She shared photos of mushrooms drying on the dehydrator shelf with her Facebook friends, jokingly wondering if Woolworths would mind her bringing the appliance into their vegetable section. Despite her experiments, she admitted that some batches, such as whole mushrooms dehydrated from the Korumburra Botanical Gardens, did not dry properly and remained "mushy" inside.
The jury also heard that Patterson stored dehydrated wild mushrooms alongside dried mushrooms purchased from Woolworths, combining them in containers she "already had going." She recalled placing mushrooms she picked and dried in May 2023 into a container with other dried mushrooms. Her children were present during her foraging activities and "may have picked one or two" mushrooms for her.
Beyond her mushroom hobby, Patterson opened up about her personal life and the complexities of her relationships. She described a turbulent marriage with Simon Patterson, marked by multiple separations and reconciliations. After their daughter’s birth in 2014 and a formal separation in 2015, they maintained a "friendly and cooperative" relationship, focusing on co-parenting despite ongoing communication challenges. She candidly spoke about their inability to discuss conflicts without feeling hurt or misunderstood, saying, "We really liked each other still, it was just the living together that did not work."
Her relationship with her in-laws, Don and Gail, remained affectionate, with Patterson expressing that they "just continued to love me." However, she admitted to feelings of frustration when they did not intervene in issues between her and Simon, which she sometimes vented about in private Facebook chats with friends. She expressed regret and shame for some harsh messages she sent, including one where she wrote, "this family, I swear to f***ing god," explaining she felt "really hurt and really frustrated and a little bit desperate" at the time. She said these online friends became a "safe venting space," providing support and validation.
Patterson also revealed her struggles with health and trust in the medical system. Although she had never been diagnosed with ovarian cancer or undergone a needle biopsy, she admitted to worrying about cancer due to symptoms like fatigue, headaches, rapid weight gain, and fluid retention. Her distrust stemmed from past experiences where medical professionals dismissed her concerns for her daughter’s health, leading her to self-discharge from hospital visits. She described this as having "considerably damaged my faith in the health system." She also recounted difficulties managing her son's knee issues due to medical errors.
Financially, Patterson testified that she was "comfortable," having received inheritances from her grandmother and mother, which she used for travel and property purchases. She also loaned $400,000 to two of Simon’s siblings on a zero-interest basis adjusted for inflation. Her entrepreneurial spirit was evident in her operation of a second-hand bookshop in 2011 and 2012.
Spiritually, Patterson described a significant shift from being a "fundamentalist atheist" to becoming a Christian after meeting Simon. She recounted a profound "spiritual experience" at the Korumburra Baptist Church in 2013, where she felt welcomed and connected through the church community, including Pastor Ian Wilkinson and his wife, Heather.
The trial has also delved into the technical and forensic aspects of the case. Evidence showed death cap mushrooms were detected in debris from a dehydrator Patterson allegedly discarded at a local tip. Telecommunications expert Dr. Matthew Sorell testified that Patterson’s phone was tracked near areas known for death cap mushroom growth. Cybercrime investigations uncovered data related to death cap mushrooms on a computer seized from her home.
Medical testimony highlighted the severe and painful symptoms suffered by the victims, with Don Patterson requiring a liver transplant. Ian Wilkinson, who survived the poisoning, was present in court during testimony recounting his wife’s death.
Patterson’s defense maintains that the deaths were an unfortunate accident, arising from her interest in wild mushrooms and cooking. She denies any intent to harm, emphasizing her love for her in-laws and her family. The trial continues, with Patterson expected to resume her testimony on June 4, 2025.
