Australian Mushroom Murderer Tried Poisoning Husband, In-Laws

Erin Patterson, convicted of murdering three in-laws by poisoning them with death cap mushrooms in beef Wellington, also allegedly attempted to poison her estranged husband Simon Patterson multiple times between 2021 and 2022 with various dishes including pasta bolognese, chicken curry, and sandwich wraps. Evidence presented after suppression orders were lifted revealed Simon kept a detailed spreadsheet of his illnesses linked to his wife's cooking, which caused severe health issues including temporary paralysis and bowel removal. Pre-trial evidence included allegations of Patterson’s long-standing interest in poisonous mushrooms, demonstrated by a disputed Facebook post about a cat eating mushrooms, though this was excluded from the trial. Simon's doctor testified to being informed about the suspected poisonings and taking precautions with other patients, while Simon himself was restricted from fully testifying about incidents during the trial. The court heard accounts of Patterson asking Simon to taste test curries before he became severely ill, and his growing suspicion that she was deliberately poisoning him, including incidents involving homemade cookies. These revelations shed light on a broader pattern of alleged attempted murders beyond the charges for which Patterson was convicted.