Leongatha mushroom murders
| Leongatha mushroom murders | |
|---|---|
Death cap mushrooms (Amanita phalloides), the species used to poison the victims | |
| Location | Leongatha, Victoria, Australia |
| Date | 29 July 2023 (AEST) |
| Target | Estranged husband, in-laws |
Attack type | Mushroom poisoning |
| Deaths | 3 |
| Injured | 1 |
| Victims |
|
| Perpetrator | Erin Trudi Patterson |
| Verdict | Guilty (all counts) |
| Convictions |
|
| Judge | Christopher Beale |
| Sentence |
|
| Criminal information | |
| Imprisoned at | Dame Phyllis Frost Centre |
On 29 July 2023, Erin Patterson murdered three of her relatives and seriously injured a fourth by serving beef Wellingtons containing highly toxic death cap mushrooms, during a lunch at her home in Leongatha, Victoria, Australia.
Within 24 hours, all four victims were admitted to hospital and subsequently diagnosed with severe liver failure. Three died within six days (in one case despite receiving a liver transplant), and one recovered seven weeks after the lunch.
Patterson was arrested on 2 November and charged with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder of her in-laws and their relatives, including four counts of attempted murder of her estranged husband Simon. After the charges of attempted murder of Simon were dropped, Patterson was tried before a jury in the Supreme Court of Victoria, sitting in Morwell, commencing on 29 April 2025.
On 7 July 2025, the jury convicted Patterson on all remaining charges. On 8 September 2025, Justice Christopher Beale sentenced her to life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 33 years. It was the first sentencing hearing in Victoria to be broadcast live. The case received international coverage.