From Mushroom Meal to Lifetime Imprisonment: Erin Patterson's Lengthy Journey
On the 24th of June, 2023, Erin Patterson hosted her former in-laws for lunch at her home in Leongatha. The gathering passed without incident, as none of the attendees fell ill. However, events would soon unfold that would change the course of Erin's life forever.
Fast forward to the 29th of July, 2023, four of Erin's former in-laws ate beef Wellington laced with death cap mushrooms, cooked by Erin. In the late evening, they all fell sick. The victims were Don Patterson, Gail Patterson, Heather Wilkinson, and Ian Wilkinson, Simon Patterson's nephew.
The subsequent days were a whirlwind of hospitalisations. On the 30th of July, all four were taken to hospitals in Leongatha and Korumburra before being transferred to Dandenong and then the Austin Hospital in Melbourne. Don died in the hospital on the 5th of August, followed by Gail and Heather on the 4th. Erin was taken to Monash Medical Centre on the 1st of August with stomach pains, where she spoke to the Health Department for four-and-a-half hours before being discharged.
Investigations revealed that the victims had been poisoned with Amanita phalloides, also known as death cap mushrooms. On the 7th of July, 2025, the jury returned guilty verdicts for the murders of Don and Gail Patterson, Heather Wilkinson, and the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson.
Today, Erin Patterson was sentenced to life in prison with a non-parole period of 33 years. During the pre-sentence hearing in August, Patterson's barrister Colin Mandy SC urged Justice Beale to impose a non-parole period. Crown prosecutor Jane Warren argued Patterson's crime was so cruel and horrific that she was not deserving of mercy and instead should be sentenced to life without parole.
Erin and Simon Patterson had separated in 2015 but continued a shared custody of their two children. There is no publicly available information indicating that Ian Wilkinson, Simon Patterson's nephew, contributed anything to the Erin Patterson murder case.
In November 2022, Simon changed his tax return to "separated" and Erin asked for child support. Allegations that Erin Patterson tried to kill her ex-husband Simon were revealed in August 2025. On the 8th of August, 2025, Erin Patterson faced a pre-sentence hearing, where statements were read by Ian and other family members.
The mushroom murderer will be eligible for parole after 33 years. The tragic events of that fateful day in July 2023 have left a lasting impact on the lives of many, and the victims' families continue to seek justice and closure.
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