In a case that has shocked Australia and stunned audiences worldwide, 49-year-old Erin Patterson has been found guilty of murdering three of her own relatives by serving them a home-cooked Beef Wellington laced with deadly mushrooms.
The high-profile trial, which lasted 10 weeks and captivated true crime fans globally—including many in Bangladesh—ended with a jury convicting Patterson on three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.
Her victims included her former parents-in-law and an aunt-in-law. A fourth guest, a local pastor, narrowly survived after weeks in hospital.
What makes this case even more disturbing is the method: death cap mushrooms, a toxic fungus responsible for the majority of mushroom-related deaths worldwide.
These mushrooms can look like common edible varieties and are known to grow wild in some parts of Australia.
The fatal meal was served in July 2023 in Leongatha, a quiet rural town. According to prosecutors, Patterson had deliberately picked the mushrooms after finding their location on a nature app, and used them in the dish served to her estranged husband’s family.
Her husband, who was also invited, skipped the lunch at the last moment—and likely avoided death.
All four guests fell violently ill within hours. Three later died from liver failure, and only one survived.
Patterson initially claimed it was an accident, saying she “might have” mistakenly used wild mushrooms, but her lies to police and suspicious behavior led prosecutors to paint a picture of premeditated murder.
This case has not only rocked Australia but sparked international curiosity due to its rare and shocking nature. In countries, like Bangladesh, where family ties and food are both deeply valued, the idea of a murder happening through a home-cooked meal is both unimaginable and chilling.
Patterson now faces a possible life sentence. Sentencing will take place in the coming weeks.
