Woman Accused of Deadly Mushroom-Laced Beef Wellington Plot

In a shocking case, a woman stands accused of deliberately poisoning her lunch guests with death cap mushrooms disguised in beef Wellingtons. The trial has revealed a web of deceit, as the prosecution lays out its case against Erin Patterson.

Alleged Deception Unveiled

The Crown prosecutor, Nanette Rogers, presented the court with claims that Patterson executed several calculated deceptions. The first deception supposedly involved fabricating a cancer diagnosis to entice the guests to lunch.

Rogers alleged that Patterson “planted the seed” of this fabrication by informing her former mother-in-law, Gail Patterson, about undergoing tests for a lump on her elbow. Despite the claim, the prosecutor stated no medical records supported the allegation.

“She never thought she would have to account for this lie. She did not think her lunch guests would live to reveal it. Her lie would die with them.”

—Nanette Rogers, Crown Prosecutor

The Fatal Lunch

The prosecution highlighted that the fatal lunch itself was another deception. Patterson is accused of sourcing the deadly death cap mushrooms, grinding them into a powder, and concealing them in individual beef Wellingtons.

Prosecutors presented evidence, including iNaturalist posts, showing death cap mushroom sites in the Gippsland region, and phone data placing Patterson in those locations. The prosecution suggests she collected the mushrooms in April and May 2023, then dehydrated and powdered them.

Rogers contended that Patterson chose to serve the beef Wellingtons in individual portions to avoid eating the poisoned mushrooms. A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that mushroom-related poisonings are on the rise, with over 8,000 cases reported in 2022 (CDC 2022).

Post-Lunch Behavior

The prosecutor described Patterson’s alleged feigning of illness after the meal. She claimed to have suffered continuous “explosive diarrhoea.” However, Rogers noted Patterson’s ability to drive her son’s friend home and make a lengthy round trip without needing a bathroom.

Patterson presented to the Leongatha Hospital emergency department two days after the lunch, complaining of pain and diarrhea. She left the hospital quickly against medical advice, which Rogers asserted was because she knew she had not consumed the death cap mushrooms. The trial continues.