Australian Woman Who Poisoned In-Laws Also Allegedly Tried To Kill Husband With Tainted Meals

 

An Australian woman convicted of murdering three of her in-laws by serving them toxic mushrooms also allegedly attempted to kill her estranged husband on multiple occasions using poisoned food, newly disclosed evidence has revealed.

Erin Patterson, 50, was found guilty last month of murdering her mother-in-law Gail Patterson, father-in-law Don Patterson, and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson. She had invited them to her home in Leongatha, Victoria — a town southeast of Melbourne — and served them Beef Wellington laced with deadly death cap mushrooms. Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson, was also poisoned at the same 2023 lunch but survived. Patterson was convicted of his attempted murder.

Initially, Patterson faced three counts of murder and five of attempted murder, including four relating to her former husband, Simon Patterson. However, prosecutors dropped the charges involving Simon just before the first trial began. As a result, those allegations were never presented to the jury — until now.

Justice Christopher Beale, who presided over the case, had originally ordered the evidence be suppressed to protect Patterson's rights to a fair appeal. But on Friday, he lifted the restrictions, citing the importance of transparency in the justice system.

“Open justice is a fundamental concern of our criminal justice jurisdiction,” Beale said, dismissing the defense's claim that the material’s release could jeopardize future legal proceedings.

Court documents reveal Simon Patterson told a pre-trial hearing in 2024 that he grew suspicious after repeatedly falling gravely ill following meals prepared by Erin, including a penne bolognese, a chicken curry, and a sandwich wrap. His illnesses reportedly occurred during two camping trips and a walk — incidents he began tracking in a spreadsheet due to their frequency and severity.

Simon testified that the illnesses nearly killed him, at one point causing temporary paralysis and requiring the surgical removal of part of his bowel. Despite extensive medical investigations, doctors were never able to conclusively determine the source of his symptoms.

He shared his suspicions with both his physician and his father, Don Patterson — who, anticipating foul play at the fatal lunch, arrived at the hospital with a container of his own vomit for toxicology testing.

Additional evidence excluded from trial included searches for alternative poisons found on a computer seized from Erin Patterson’s home.

Patterson has maintained her innocence throughout the case, insisting the deaths were a tragic accident. She pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder charges involving Simon Patterson.

Her sentencing is expected to follow a two-day plea hearing beginning August 25, where victim impact statements will be presented. Patterson has 28 days from the sentencing date to appeal but has not indicated whether she will do so. Justice Beale noted that while a successful appeal was unlikely, it could not be ruled out.