Saturday, March 29, 2025
The Erin Patterson mushroom case has taken a darker turn after court evidence revealed her online chats, where she discussed hiding mushrooms in meals and personal conflicts with her estranged husband.
In one of Australia’s most shocking alleged murder cases, Erin Patterson is standing trial for the alleged poisoning of her former in-laws during a lunch in Leongatha, Victoria in 2023. Accused of murdering Don and Gail Patterson, her former husband’s aunt Heather Wilkinson, and attempting to murder Ian Wilkinson, Patterson has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Court proceedings on Monday unveiled Facebook group messages where Patterson admitted to hiding powdered mushrooms in meals, including brownies served to her children. The Erin Patterson mushroom case has drawn national attention, and these messages add a chilling context to the mushroom-laced beef wellington she served the victims.
Online friends testified that Patterson shared photos of a food dehydrator she used exclusively for mushrooms and frequently asked for cooking tips, including one on beef wellington just before the fatal meal. “I’ve been hiding powdered mushrooms in everything,” she wrote in one message, describing her culinary experiments to friends she had met through a Facebook group dedicated to another high-profile criminal case.
Simon Patterson, Erin’s estranged husband, spent three days in the witness box. He denied claims that he accused Erin of poisoning his family during a hospital visit, contradicting her lawyer’s assertions.
Simon also refuted statements suggesting Patterson showed concern for the victims’ condition after the lunch, maintaining she had not inquired about their health. He highlighted past tensions, sharing that her inflammatory group messages had deeply upset his mother, who suffered from anxiety.
Three women who befriended Patterson online testified that she was seen as a doting mother but often spoke of her troubled marriage. One friend recalled Patterson labeling Simon as “controlling” and “coercive,” while others noted her frequent complaints about his hygiene and religious practices.
Despite never meeting her in person, the group saw her as “a super sleuth” within their online community, admiring her attention to detail and dedication to her children.
In the Facebook group, Patterson not only shared cooking tips but vented about her relationship issues. A December 2022 chat showed her accusing Simon of being a “bare minimum parent” amid a dispute over child support. She claimed the couple had effectively lied to the government, resulting in confusion over tax and family benefit entitlements.
Other messages showed occasional cooperation—such as Patterson asking Simon to help move a fallen tree during her vacation—but overall, tensions ran high in the digital exchanges presented in court.
Prosecutors also noted that Patterson falsely told guests she had ovarian cancer to justify hosting the fatal lunch. Simon expressed doubts about this claim, explaining that her timing seemed inconsistent with a genuine medical emergency.
Patterson allegedly never had cancer, further deepening suspicions that the lunch was a calculated act.
