Australian Mom Charged With Murdering Her In-Laws With Poison Mushrooms At Luncheon

Erin Patterson has been charged with five counts of murder after her beef Wellington killed three people.

Patterson, 49, cooked lunch for her estranged husband’s parents, Gail and Don, and his aunt and uncle, Heather and Ian, on July 29. Heather, Gail and Don all died days later, and Ian spent almost two months in the hospital before making a full recovery.

The mom-of-two from Australia was taken into custody on Thursday and appeared in court on Friday. Investigators believe that the group ate death cap mushrooms, which are responsible for 90% of mushroom poisoning deaths.

Patterson has insisted that she did not intentionally poison her in-laws and said that she also fell ill after the meal.

“Over the last three months, this investigation has been subjected to incredibly intense levels of public scrutiny and curiosity,” said Detective Dean Thomas in a statement. “I cannot think of another investigation that has generated this level of media and public interest, not only here in Victoria but also nationally and internationally.”

“I think it is particularly important that we keep in mind that at the heart of this, three people have lost their lives,” he continued. “These deaths and incidents also continue to have a significant impact on the immediate families of those involved and I ask that people are particularly mindful of this over the coming days.”