Australian woman found guilty of mushroom murders

Erin Patterson murdered three of her ex-husband's relatives by serving them toxic death cap mushrooms

Erin Patterson pictured in a prison vehicle in at Latrobe Valley Magistrate's Court in Morwell, Australia, in May
Erin Patterson in a prison vehicle in at Latrobe Valley Magistrates' Court in Morwell, Australia, in May
(Image credit: Martin Keep / AFP via Getty Images)

What happened

A jury in Australia Monday found Erin Patterson guilty of murdering three of her estranged husband's relatives by serving them Beef Wellingtons laced with toxic death cap mushrooms. Her husband's parents, Don and Gail Patterson, and aunt, Heather Wilkinson, died in the days following the family lunch in July 2023. Wilkinson's husband was also severely ill after eating the meal but survived.

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Jessica Hullinger

Jessica Hullinger is a writer and former deputy editor of The Week Digital. Originally from the American Midwest, she completed a degree in journalism at Indiana University Bloomington before relocating to New York City, where she pursued a career in media. After joining The Week as an intern in 2010, she served as the title’s audience development manager, senior editor and deputy editor, as well as a regular guest on “The Week Unwrapped” podcast. Her writing has featured in other publications including Popular Science, Fast Company, Fortune, and Self magazine, and she loves covering science and climate-related issues.