An Australian woman is on trial after allegedly serving a poisoned beef Wellington that killed three members of her estranged husband’s family and nearly claimed a fourth.
Erin Trudi Patterson, 50, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder after a family lunch at her home in Leongatha, southeast Melbourne, turned deadly in July 2023.
According to prosecutors, Patterson invited her in-laws over under the pretense of sharing news about a cancer diagnosis.
The group prayed together and later told others the food was “delicious.” But hours later, all four guests fell violently ill.
Three — Gail and Don Patterson and Heather Wilkinson — later died. Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson, survived after undergoing a liver transplant.
The court heard that Patterson served herself lunch on a different colored plate than the rest of the group, raising suspicions. Heather reportedly asked her son, “Is Erin short of crockery?” after noticing the difference.
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Prosecutors allege Patterson used a food dehydrator to prepare mushrooms known as “death caps” — among the most toxic mushrooms in the world — which she later tried to dispose of at a local dump. A dehydrator recovered by police tested positive for traces of the lethal fungi.
Patterson initially denied owning a dehydrator but later admitted she might have had one.
She also reportedly told police she used some dried mushrooms from an Asian grocery store, but investigators claim she visited known mushroom-picking sites before the incident.
Adding to the suspicion, Patterson had sent her children away for the day and insisted the lunch was a “special meal” only for adults.
Although the prosecution has not offered a clear motive, they detailed tensions between Patterson and her estranged husband, including financial disagreements and a breakdown in communication after their separation.
The trial is ongoing, and jurors have been told they may still be wondering “why” by the end of it.
