Convicted triple-murderer Erin Patterson is embroiled in a disturbing case where she allegedly tried multiple times to poison her estranged husband, Simon Patterson. This shocking revelation surfaced during court hearings, where it was disclosed that she had presented him with cookies, which she claimed were baked by their daughter.
Last month, the 50-year-old Australian woman was found guilty of murdering three family members and attempting to kill another, using a toxic beef Wellington laced with poisonous mushrooms. Initially facing three counts of attempted murder against Simon, these charges were dismissed just before her trial began. Previously, these allegations had been kept under wraps to maintain the integrity of the court's process, but they are now being made public for the first time.
On July 29, 2023, an ill-fated family luncheon led to the deaths of Patterson's former in-laws, both aged 70, and their sister, 66. Meanwhile, Ian Wilkinson, a local pastor and husband to one of the victims, is still recovering after being treated for weeks in the hospital. Simon Patterson, who was initially invited, refrained from attending the meal at the last minute.
During the pre-trial hearings, it was established that Simon had presented evidence detailing what he described as a long-term campaign by his estranged wife to poison him through various meals. His serious suspicions arose when he became gravely ill after consuming a curry, wrap, Bolognese, and those said-to-be homemade cookies. Eventually, he began documenting these incidents, realizing that he consistently fell ill whenever Erin fed him.
Despite sharing his concerns with family members, including his father, a family physician, Simon hesitated to take further action, believing he was the sole target of his wife's alleged malice. However, as his parents became critically ill after the lunch, he eventually confided his fears to relatives, indicating that he suspected Erin's involvement in what he termed a poison plot.
Evidence presented in court suggested that rat poison might have been used during at least one of the poisoning attempts. The chilling testimony reflected a narrative ripe with tension and horror, leaving small communities in shock at the unfolding mushroom murders saga.
