Australia Poisonous Mushrooms - Erin Patterson leaves court
Convicted triple murderer Erin Patterson leaves the Supreme Court of Victoria following her sentencing in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025. (Joel Carrett/AAP Image via AP)
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An Australian judge has sentenced Erin Patterson to life in prison for poisoning four of her estranged husband’s relatives with death cap mushrooms. She must serve at least 33 years. On Monday, the Victoria state Supreme Court heard that Patterson’s crimes involved a significant betrayal of trust. She was convicted in July of murdering Don and Gail Patterson and Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, by serving them beef Wellington pastries laced with the deadly mushrooms. Patterson was also convicted of attempting to murder Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson, who spent weeks in the hospital.
