A Victorian Supreme Court jury has found Erin Patterson guilty of murdering three relatives and attempting to murder a fourth, following a deadly beef wellington lunch laced with death cap mushrooms. The verdict, delivered after an 11-week trial, marks the conclusion of one of Australia's most intriguing and high-profile homicide cases.

The incident unfolded on July 29, 2023, when Patterson hosted a lunch at her home in Leongatha, Victoria. Her guests included her estranged husband Simon Patterson’s parents, Don and Gail Patterson, and his aunt and uncle, Heather and Ian Wilkinson. Simon, who was also invited, cancelled his attendance the day before. All four guests subsequently suffered from Amanita phalloides, or death cap mushroom, poisoning. Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson died on August 4, 2023, followed by Don Patterson on August 5. Ian Wilkinson, the pastor of the Korumburra Baptist church, was the sole survivor after weeks in hospital and undergoing a liver transplant, being discharged in September 2023.

Police charged Patterson in November 2023. The trial, which commenced on April 29, 2025, garnered extensive media and public attention. The prosecution alleged that Patterson had invited her elderly guests under the false pretense of needing advice regarding a non-existent cancer diagnosis. Her defence barrister, Colin Mandy SC, contended that the deaths were a "tragedy and terrible accident," asserting that his client never intended to harm her guests. He claimed Patterson panicked and lied to police about foraging for mushrooms or owning a food dehydrator because she was overwhelmed by the aftermath of the lunch. The 12-person jury, composed of seven men and five women, reached unanimous verdicts on all four charges. Justice Christopher Beale, who presided over the case, commended the jurors for their dedication throughout the unexpectedly lengthy trial.

Crucial evidence presented during the trial dismantled Patterson's defence. Despite her denials, a food dehydrator manual was found at her home, and the device itself was later recovered from a local tip, where she had used her own EFTPOS card for payment. Her claims of also suffering from the poisoning were contradicted by medical experts, who testified that her liver function tests were normal and she appeared "clinically well" compared to her severely ill guests. Even her own children's testimony suggested she was "playing down" any illness. Digital forensics proved particularly damning: Patterson's phone had been “pinged” in areas identified as having death cap mushrooms, and her home computer showed a visit to a website titled “Deathcap from Melbourne VIC.” Messages sent by Patterson also revealed a clear animosity towards her in-laws, describing them as a "lost cause" and using derogatory language, stemming from a dispute over Simon's tax status and her child support claims. She further attempted to conceal evidence by swapping out SIM cards and factory resetting her new phone, even remotely while it was in police possession.

Medical experts, including a world authority on death cap mushrooms, highlighted the extreme lethality of amatoxin, the poison found in Amanita phalloides. Amatoxin is described as a "very clever poison" that primarily targets the liver, leading rapidly to fatal liver failure. Victims endure severe gastrointestinal symptoms, profound dehydration, kidney failure, and potential acute hepatic encephalopathy. Experts noted that Australian medical literature and preparedness for such rare yet devastating cases are often outdated. While treatments like silibinin (derived from milk thistle) can be effective, they critically depend on maintained renal function and aggressive intravenous hydration to facilitate the toxin's elimination through the kidneys. Any interruption to fluid replacement, even to manage complications like brain swelling, drastically diminishes the chances of survival as amatoxin recirculates. Forensic analysis confirmed the presence of amatoxin in the male victims, with experts noting the poison disappears from the bloodstream within 24-48 hours but can be found in the gallbladder and kidneys.

The tragic sequence of events unfolded rapidly: the fatal lunch on July 29, 2023, was followed by the guests' hospitalization on July 30. Deaths occurred on August 4 (Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson) and August 5 (Don Patterson). Ian Wilkinson was discharged on September 23, 2023, after his harrowing recovery. Erin Patterson's arrest and charging took place on November 2, 2023, with the trial commencing nearly two years after the initial poisoning. The jury's guilty verdict came after painstaking deliberations, confirming the deliberate nature of her actions.

The conviction means Erin Patterson now faces a significant prison sentence, likely to be served at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre, possibly in isolation due to her high profile and the vulnerability of her victims. Her initial public displays of victimhood and her attempts to evade justice were ultimately unsuccessful. The families of the deceased, who had requested privacy throughout the ordeal, now have a definitive conclusion to the devastating loss inflicted by this calculated act.