**Australian Woman Convicted of Fatal Mushroom Poisonings Allegedly Made Previous Attempts on Husband’s Life**
The shocking details surrounding the case of Erin Patterson, an Australian woman recently convicted of murdering three relatives with a mushroom-laced meal, continue to emerge as courts unseal information about her previous conduct. In newly revealed allegations, it is claimed that Patterson made multiple attempts to poison her estranged husband – incidents that, until now, have been largely hidden from public scrutiny due to legal suppression orders.
Last month, Erin Patterson, 50, was found guilty of three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder after preparing a beef wellington containing toxic mushrooms. The incident, which took place in July 2023, resulted in the deaths of her former in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, both aged 70, and Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, 66. Heather’s husband, local pastor Ian Wilkinson, became seriously ill and spent weeks in hospital but ultimately survived. Notably, Patterson’s estranged husband, Simon Patterson, was invited to this now infamous lunch, but decided against attending at the last minute.
It has now been disclosed that Simon Patterson’s suspicions about his wife’s intentions had been developing for some time prior to the fatal lunch. Allegations, previously kept from the public domain to protect the integrity of legal proceedings, suggest that Erin Patterson tried to poison her husband on several occasions – not just with meals, but even with chocolate biscuits she had claimed were made by their daughter.
During lengthy pre-trial hearings, evidence came to light that Simon Patterson had endured multiple episodes of unexplained illness over the years that had landed him in hospital. On at least one occasion, he was reportedly left in a coma for weeks and family were warned to prepare for the worst. These health crises led him to keep meticulous notes about what he ate and when he fell ill, with the pattern, he claimed, implicating food prepared by Erin.
Despite his misgivings and records, Mr Patterson initially did not contact police, instead confiding in his father Don Patterson and a doctor. He reasoned that only he, and not his broader family, was being targeted by Erin. It was only after his parents and their sister-in-law fell critically ill following the mushroom-laced lunch that he felt compelled to gather his loved ones in hospital and reveal his long-standing fears.
Ruth Dubois, daughter of the Wilkinsons, gave evidence at a hearing, recalling how Simon Patterson had apologised for not sounding the alarm sooner. He reportedly told the family, “He stopped eating food that Erin had made because he suspected she might have been ‘messing with it’.” While he regretted not warning them in advance, Simon insisted he truly believed he was the only intended victim.
Legal documents reveal that police at one time suspected rat poison could have been used in one of the alleged poisoning attempts, with digital evidence recovered from Erin Patterson’s computer relating to the toxic substance. Surveillance and searches also placed her at the local tip on the same day as the deadly family lunch — though no clear explanation about what, if anything, she discarded was established in court.
In a further twist, prosecutors referenced a 2020 post Erin Patterson made to a poisons help page on Facebook, in which she claimed her cat had ingested mushrooms and vomited. They argued this fabricated story — especially since police determined Patterson never owned a cat — highlighted her ongoing interest in poisonous mushrooms and their effects.
Throughout the trial, jurors were exposed to a complex web of evidence, though some pieces were excluded from their consideration due to legal technicalities. In the end, their verdict ensured justice for the victims, but the full story of Erin Patterson’s past actions is only just coming to light. This case serves as a chilling reminder of the hidden dangers that can lurk even behind the most ordinary family gatherings, and has sparked a wider discussion about recognising subtle forms of domestic abuse.
As this high-profile trial concludes, many questions remain about Erin Patterson’s motives and the extent of planning involved in her actions. The case continues to resonate across Australia and beyond, as details of the investigations and shocking allegations ripple through the community.