Aussie suspect accused of murdering spouse via laced pasta dishes, curries, and sandwiches in Australia
Erin Patterson, an Australian woman, was found guilty on July 7, 2025, of murdering her in-laws and attempting to murder her estranged husband. The verdict came after a trial that had been shrouded in secrecy due to a gag order, which was lifted last Friday.
Patterson was found guilty of the murder of her mother-in-law Gail Patterson, father-in-law Don Patterson, and her mother-in-law's sister Heather Wilkinson. The murder took place in Patterson's home, where she fed them a meal containing death cap mushrooms. Her estranged husband, Simon Patterson, survived the meal, but not without suffering.
Simon Patterson had suspicions he had fallen ill after eating food made by his estranged wife between November 2021 and September 2022. He kept a spreadsheet of his illnesses, which all occurred after eating his wife's cooking. The most severe illness occurred in 2023 when he became so ill he was temporarily paralysed and had part of his bowel removed. His father-in-law, Don Patterson, also fell ill after a family camping trip and died shortly after.
Patterson was also found guilty of the attempted murder of her estranged husband, Ian Wilkinson. The attempted murder occurred in Leongatha, a town southeast of Melbourne. Ian Wilkinson survived the meal in July 2023.
Initially, Patterson was charged with three counts of attempting to murder Mr. Patterson, but all charges relating to the husband were dropped before the trial began in April. The defence argued that the release of information combined with intense media interest would jeopardise any potential of an appeal, but this was rejected.
Justice Christopher Beale ruled in favor of open justice, allowing the previously suppressed pre-trial evidence and details about the attempted poisonings to be publicly reported. Patterson faces a potential life sentence for each of the murders and up to 25 years for the attempted murder charge.
A sentencing hearing is due to begin on August 25. After sentencing, Patterson will have 28 days to lodge an appeal, which her lawyers have indicated will happen. The final sentencing decision will follow the hearing, with victim impact statements to be presented.
- The trial of Erin Patterson, involving the murder of her in-laws and the attempt on her estranged husband's life, was a high-profile case in the realm of crime-and-justice, with a verdict declared on July 7, 2025.
- The science behind the deadly poisoning of Erin Patterson's in-laws, who were killed by consuming death cap mushrooms, became a significant topic under the health-and-wellness umbrella, as it raised awareness about dangerous substances and their potential effects on human life.
- The incident has also raised questions about mental health, as Erin Patterson's motives and possible mental state at the time of the conflict remain unclear, sparking a discussion within the general-news and mental-health communities.
