Woman Lured Ex-Husband’s Family Over for Lunch and Poisoned Them

An Australian woman at the center of a shocking mushroom poisoning case is now accused of faking cancer to manipulate her guests into attending a lunch that turned deadly.

Erin Patterson is facing multiple murder charges after allegedly serving a Beef Wellington laced with poisonous mushrooms to her former in-laws and their relatives during a lunch at her home in Leongatha, Australia, in July 2023.

The victims — Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, 66 — died after the meal. Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson, 68, was also hospitalized but ultimately survived. Erin’s ex-husband, Simon Patterson, was invited to the gathering but chose not to attend. Prosecutors claim she had previously tried to poison him on three other occasions.

In court, prosecutors revealed that Erin told her guests she had cancer and needed advice on how to break the news to her children. Authorities say this story was a calculated lie — used to ensure her children wouldn’t be present at the lunch. The defense did not dispute the cancer claim, according to CNN.

Erin has been charged with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder. Despite the mounting evidence, she has pleaded not guilty and maintains that the incident was a tragic accident.

“She did not intend to cause any harm to anyone on that day,” her attorney Colin Mandy told the court. “The defense case is this was a tragedy and terrible accident.”

Police have pointed to the deadly mushrooms as no coincidence, while prosecutors continue to argue this was a premeditated act. The case has gripped Australia with its mix of alleged deceit, family betrayal, and a meal that ended in death.

Erin Patterson remains in custody as the high-profile case moves forward.