Deadly Betrayal: The Mushroom Lunch Murder That Shocked Australia | True Crime

In this gripping episode of The Murder Tape Khronicles, we delve into the shocking true crime story of a suburban mother who served beef Wellington to her estranged husband's family at a seemingly innocent lunch gathering. But within days, the tranquility turns to horror as three individuals die and one fights for life due to death cap mushroom poisoning. This was no accident; it was a calculated act of murder using one of nature's deadliest weapons. Erin Patterson's web of lies unraveled throughout a nine-week trial that captivated the world, revealing how she weaponized trust and turned a family meal into mass murder. Through meticulous investigative journalism, we explore the fake cancer diagnosis meant to lure her victims, the destruction of evidence that followed their deaths, and how this chilling case exposed the evil lurking behind suburban normalcy. Join us as we uncover the dark history behind this scandalous crime and its implications for justice.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
The beef Wellington looked perfect when Aaron Patterson set it
on the dining table that Saturday afternoon in July twenty
twenty three. Steam rose from the golden pastry. The rich
scent of mushrooms and beef filled her small home in Leangatha, Victoria.
Don and Gale Patterson sat across from their daughter in law, smiling.
Gaile's sister Heather, and her husband Ian completed the intimate

(00:21):
gathering of five. Within six days, three of them would
be dead. This was not food poisoning. This was not
an accident. The fifty year old mother of two had
carefully planned their deaths using one of nature's most deadly weapons,
death cap mushrooms. She purchased a food dehydrator months earlier.
She researched locations where the lethal fungi grew wild. She

(00:43):
lied about having cancer to gather them at her table.
She served them individual portions while eating from a different
colored plate herself. The crime shocked Australia and made headlines worldwide.
A family lunch became a triple murder, a quiet dairy
town became the center of a media circus, and a
woman who seemed like a caring mother and daughter in

(01:03):
law was revealed as a cold blooded killer who used
the most intimate setting, sharing a home cooked meal, to
destroy the lives of people who loved her. The death
cap mushroom is responsible for ninety percent of all mushroom
poisoning deaths worldwide. Half a cap can kill an adult.
The poison cannot be cooked out, frozen out, or dried out.

(01:24):
Symptoms appear six to twenty four hours after eating, starting
with vomiting and diarrhea that seems like food poisoning. Then
the victim feels better for a day or two. The
relief is false. During this quiet period, the tocsin shreds
the liver and kidneys from the inside. Death follows within
a week. Aaron Patterson knew all of this when she
prepared lunch that day. So if you think you've heard

(01:46):
it all, you haven't, hit follow on your favorite platform
and leave a comment. The next story might change your mind.
Don't miss a single turn. Chapter one, The perfect host.
You would have liked Aaron Patterson if you met her
at a school pick up or grocery store in Leangatha.
She seemed like any other suburban mother in this dairy
town of six thousand people two hours southeast of Melbourne.

(02:09):
She had two children with her estranged husband, Simon. She
cooked elaborate meals. She took photos of her food and
shared them online. She belonged to Facebook groups where women
discussed true crime cases and exchanged recipes. The town itself
felt safe and ordinary. Rolling green hills stretched in every direction.
Dairy farms dotted the landscape. The South Gypsland Highway brought

(02:32):
visitors through on their way to coastal beaches, but most
barely slowed down. Leangatha had three schools, a cinema, and
competing supermarkets. People knew each other. They attended the local
Baptist church, where Ian Wilkinson served as pastor. They trusted
their neighbors. Aaron Patterson had lived here for years with
Simon before their relationship soured. Money problems strained their marriage.

(02:55):
Simon claimed single status on his tax returns while they
were still married. Aaron felt betrayed. She complained to friends
about Simon's parents taking his side in their disputes. She
called them unsupportive. She sent angry messages about the family
dynamics that frustrated her. But when she saw Don and
Gail Patterson in public she smiled, she hugged them. She

(03:17):
played the role of loving daughter in law perfectly. The
relationship between Aaron and Simon's parents had been complicated for
months before the lunch. Don and Gail Patterson were devout
Christians who attended Ian Wilkinson's Baptist church regularly. They believed
in family loyalty and supporting their son through his marital troubles.
When Simon and Aaron separated, the older couple found themselves

(03:39):
caught between their love for their grandchildren and their desire
to remain neutral in the divorce proceedings. Aaron borrowed money
from Simon's family members over the years. She lent four
hundred thousand dollars to Simon's sister Anna to help her
purchase a family home. The financial entanglements created additional tension
when the marriage fell apart. Jamond's parents wanted their son

(04:01):
to receive his fair share of assets. Aaron wanted to
protect her children's financial security. These conversations happened behind closed doors,
but the stress showed in text messages and social media
posts that would later become evidence. Don Patterson worked his
entire life in the dairy industry that defined their region.
He understood hard work and traditional values. Gail Patterson devoted

(04:25):
herself to family and church activities. She baked cakes for gatherings.
She sent caring text messages to family members asking about
medical appointments and personal struggles. Both grandparents adored their two
grandchildren and worried about how the family breakdown would affect them.
Heather Wilkinson shared her sister's gentle nature and strong faith.

(04:45):
She supported Gail through the family tensions and attended church
events with her. Her husband, Ian, served as a respected
community leader whose sermons drew regular congregations. The Wilkinsons had
been married for decades and represented stability in a town
where families sometimes struggled with modern pressures. The four victims
lived quiet lives focused on faith, family and community service.

(05:09):
None of them could have imagined that their trust in
Aaron Patterson would cost them their lives. Aaron Patterson's interest
in mushroom foraging began during the COVID nineteen lockdowns that
kept Australians confined to their homes for months. She joined
online groups dedicated to wild mushroom identification. She purchased field guides.
She learned to recognize edible species that grew in the

(05:31):
forests around Leangatha. She bought a food dehydrator in April
twenty twenty three to preserve her foraged fines. The hobby
seemed innocent enough. Many Australians enjoy foraging for wild foods.
The practice connects people to nature and provides fresh ingredients
for cooking. Mushroom hunting requires knowledge and caution, but experienced

(05:52):
foragers learned to identify safe species while avoiding toxic varieties.
Death cap mushrooms grow throughout Victoria during autumn months, when
weather becomes cool and damp. The government issues annual warnings
about their presence. Local newspapers publish articles reminding readers about
the dangers. These mushrooms often appear near oak trees in

(06:12):
urban parks and suburban neighborhoods. They resemble some edible varieties,
which leads to accidental poisonings among immigrant communities unfamiliar with
local flora. Aaron Patterson's computer searches showed her visiting naturalist
websites that track death cap mushroom sightings. She viewed maps
showing exact locations where other foragers had photographed the deadly fungi.

(06:35):
She traveled to these areas in the weeks before the
fatal lunch. Phone data placed her near lock and Outram,
two towns where death caps had been spotted and reported online.
This was not casual mushroom hunting. This was targeted reconnaissance.
The Victorian Department of Health had issued specific warnings about
death cap mushrooms in April twenty twenty three, just three

(06:57):
months before the lunch. The advisory state that even small
amounts could prove fatal. It warned that cooking, peeling, or
drying could not remove the poison. It urged people to
avoid touching suspected death caps and to keep them away
from edible mushrooms. Aaron Patterson read these warnings. She understood
the risks. She continued her research anyway. Her family relationships

(07:20):
deteriorated throughout early twenty twenty three. Text messages revealed her
growing anger towards Simon's parents. She complained that they refused
to pressure their son to provide more child support. She
resented their neutral stance in the custody disputes. She felt
abandoned by people who had once welcomed her into their family.
The Facebook messages she sent to friends revealed her true

(07:42):
feelings about Down and Gale Patterson. She called them unsupportive.
She used profanity to express her frustration. She complained that
they prioritized their own comfort over their grandchildren's needs. These
messages contradicted the loving relationship she displayed in public, but
Aaron Patterson was skilled at managing appearances. She attended family

(08:02):
gatherings when required. She allowed the grandparents to spend time
with their grandchildren. She maintained polite conversations about everyday topics.
She never let her anger show during face to face interactions.
The deception was complete and calculated. Two weeks before the
fatal lunch, Aaron Patterson began reaching out to family members

(08:23):
with invitations. She contacted Simon's parents directly. She included Heather
and Ian Wilkinson in her plans. She suggested they gather
to discuss her health concerns and how to handle them
with the children present. The cancer lie began as a
whisper and grew into a detailed deception. Aaron told Gail
Patterson that she had discovered a lump that required testing.

(08:44):
She described medical appointments that never happened. She invented AMERI
scans and needle biopsies. She created an entire fictional medical
crisis to justify the lunch gathering. Gail Patterson responded with
immediate concern and support. She texted did caring messages asking
about test results. She offered practical help with child care

(09:05):
and transportation. She suggested that the family should rally around
Erin during this difficult time. The older woman's kindness made
the deception more cruel. Simon Patterson received an invitation to
the lunch, but declined to attend. The relationship with his
estranged wife had become too strained for comfortable social interactions.
He felt uncomfortable spending time in her home while custody

(09:28):
and financial matters remained unresolved. His absence from the lunch
likely saved his life. The children would not attend either,
Aaron Patterson arranged for them to be elsewhere that Saturday.
She told various people different explanations for their absence. She
said they had other plans. She claimed they wanted to
see a movie instead. She insisted the lunch was meant

(09:49):
for adults only to discuss her medical situation. The real
reason was simpler and more sinister. She could not risk
poisoning her own children. On the morning of July twenty ninth,
twenty twenty three, Aaron Patterson began preparing the beef Wellington
that would kill three people and destroy her own life.
She followed a recipe from a popular Australian cookbook, modifying

(10:11):
it to create individual portions instead of one large dish.
This change was crucial to her plan. Individual servings allowed
her to control exactly which portions contained the deadly mushrooms.
She prepared the pastry, she seasoned the expensive beef. She
created the mushroom mixture that would serve as both flavoring
and murder weapon. Death cap. Mushrooms formed part of the filling,

(10:34):
carefully measured and distributed to insure fatal dozes for her
intended victims. The house smelled wonderful as the beef Wellington
baked in her oven. The aroma of herbs and pastry
filled the rooms. Everything appeared normal and welcoming when her
guests arrived shortly after noon. Gaale and Don Patterson brought
an orange cake as their contribution to the meal. They

(10:55):
seemed relaxed and happy to spend time with their daughter
in law and grandchildren's mother, Heather and Ian Wilkinson. Arrived
in good spirits, looking forward to a pleasant afternoon with family.
None of them suspected they were walking into a carefully
planned execution. Chapter two, the last meal. The dining room
felt warm and intimate. When the five adults gathered around

(11:16):
Aaron Patterson's table that Saturday afternoon, sunlight streamed through windows
overlooking the quietly on at the street. The beef Wellington
portions sat on individual plates, perfectly presented with their golden
pastry tops and savory aromas. Don and Gail Patterson admired
the presentation. Heather and Ian Wilkinson complimented their hostess on

(11:37):
the elaborate meal. Aaron Patterson smiled and accepted their praise.
She had spent hours preparing this lunch, but not in
the way her guests imagined. The seating arrangement seemed casual,
but every detail served her purpose. Don and Gale Patterson
sat across from their daughter in law. Heather and Ian
Wilkinson took chairs that gave them clear views of the

(11:58):
food and each other. The atmosphere felt relaxed and familial,
exactly what Aaron Patterson wanted to project. She served the
beef Wellington on gray plates for her four guests. Her
own portion came on an orange colored plate. Ian Wilkinson
noticed this detail and would later testify about the color difference.
At the time, it seemed like a minor household quirk.

(12:20):
The hostess might have run short of matching dishes or
chosen her favorite plate for herself. The truth was far
more calculated. The different colored plate ensured that Aaron Patterson
could identify her safe portion throughout the meal. She could
never accidentally consume the poisoned food intended for her victims.
The conversation flowed easily during the first part of lunch.

(12:41):
Don Patterson shared stories about his work in the dairy industry.
Gail Patterson asked about the grandchildren and their school activities.
Heather and Ian Wilkinson discussed church events and community news.
Everyone seemed to enjoy the food in each other's company.
Then Aaron Patterson shifted the conversation to her health concer.
She began carefully mentioning the lump she had discovered and

(13:04):
the medical appointments she claimed to have attended. She described
the uncertainty and fear that accompanied waiting for test results.
She painted herself as a worried mother facing potential cancer
while trying to protect her children from frightening news. The
performance was masterful. Her voice carried just the right note
of vulnerability. Her body language suggested someone struggling to maintain

(13:27):
composure while sharing difficult information. She appeared to be seeking
support from family members who cared about her well being.
Don and Gale Patterson responded with immediate sympathy. They asked
questions about her doctors and treatment options. They offered practical
assistance with child care and household responsibilities. Their concern seemed
genuine and heartfelt. Ian Wilkinson listened with the compassion he

(13:50):
brought to his pastoral duties. He had counseled many church
members through health crises and family tragedies. His experience helping
others face medical challenge made him particularly responsive to Aaron
Patterson's apparent distress. Heather Wilkinson echoed her husband's supportive words.
She had watched her sister Gaile struggle with various health

(14:11):
issues over the years. She understood how medical uncertainties could
affect entire families. Her gentle questions and encouraging comments revealed
her caring nature. None of them realized they were listening
to an elaborate lie designed to justify their presence at
this fatal meal. As the conversation progressed, Aaron Patterson provided
more details about her fictional cancer diagnosis. She mentioned ovarian cancer, specifically,

(14:36):
a disease that particularly frightened women her age. She described
the fear of leaving her children motherless if the diagnosis
proved serious. She expressed gratitude for having family members who
would help her through the challenging times ahead. The manipulation
was sophisticated and cruel. She was using their love and
concern to make them complicit in their own murders. When

(14:58):
Ian Wilkinson suggested they pray for her recovery, Aaron Patterson
readily agreed. The four visitors joined hands around the table
as the pastor led them in asking for divine healing
and strength during the difficult journey ahead. They prayed for
the children who might lose their mother. They asked for
wisdom for the doctor's treating her condition. They sought comfort

(15:19):
for the entire family facing this crisis. Aaron Patterson bowed
her head and closed her eyes. With the others, she
participated in a prayer for her own fictional illness while
the real poison was already working inside her guest's bodies.
The beef Wellington portions disappeared quickly. Don and Gale Patterson
praised the complex flavors and perfect pastry. Heather and Ian

(15:41):
Wilkinson complimented the mushroom mixture that added richness to the meat.
Everyone seemed to enjoy the elaborate meal that had required
such careful preparation. Aaron Patterson ate her portion from the
orange plate without incident. She engaged in conversation throughout the meal.
She appeared to consume the same food as her guests,
maintaining the illusion that they all shared the same risk

(16:03):
of food poisoning if anything went wrong with the cooking,
but her portion contained only safe eatable mushrooms. The death
caps were reserved for the gray plates. After finishing the
main course, Gaylee Patterson brought out the orange cake she
had contributed to the meal. Everyone enjoyed generous slices while
continuing their conversation about family matters and community news. The

(16:25):
atmosphere remained warm and supportive throughout the afternoon. Aaron Patterson
would later claim she became violently ill after eating this cake,
vomiting so severely that it protected her from the mushroom
poisoning that affected her guests. She suggested that her eating
disorder and tendency to purge saved her life that day.
The timing was remarkably convenient for someone who had prepared

(16:47):
individual portions of poisoned food. The lunch concluded around mid
afternoon with expressions of gratitude and promises to stay in
touch about Aaron Patterson's medical situation. Don and Gale Patterson
hugged their daughter in law goodbye. Heather and Ian Wilkinson
offered additional prayers and support. Everyone left feeling good about
the family gathering and their ability to help during a

(17:09):
difficult time. Twenty four hours later, all four visitors would
be fighting for their lives in hospital emergency departments. The
death cap toxin amatoxin works slowly and methodically. After consumption,
it travels through the digestive system without immediately causing symptoms.
The victim feels normal for several hours while the poison

(17:30):
begins attacking liver cells. At the molecular level, the toxin
prevents cells from producing essential proteins, leading to organ failure
that cannot be reversed. Once it begins initial Symptoms typically
appear six to twenty four hours after eating the mushrooms.
Victims experience severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea that

(17:51):
resembles food poisoning or stomach flu This phase can last
one to two days before symptoms temporarily improve, creating false
hope that recovery is beginning. The improvement phase is the
cruelest part of death. Cap poisoning victims feel better and
may believe they have overcome their illness. Family members celebrate
the apparent recovery. Medical staff may reduce their concern about

(18:14):
the patient's condition. Everyone hopes the worst has passed. But
during this quiet period, the real damage accelerates. Liver cells
die in massive numbers, Kidney function deteriorates, blood chemistry becomes
increasingly abnormal. The body's ability to process toxins and maintain
basic functions collapses without obvious external symptoms. By the time

(18:36):
symptoms return in the final phase, the damage is usually irreversible.
Victims develop jaundice as their liver fails completely. They may
experience confusion, seizures or coma as toxins accumulate in their bloodstream.
Multiple organ failure follows quickly, leading to death within days.
The poison is particularly insidious because early treatment can sometimes

(18:59):
prevent fatal out outcomes, but patients and doctors often failed
to recognize mushroom poisoning during the crucial first hours when
intervention might succeed. Don and Gale Patterson began feeling unwell
late Saturday night, about twelve hours after the lunch. The
symptoms started gradually with stomach discomfort and mild nausea. They
initially attributed their illness to overreading or perhaps a minor

(19:22):
stomach bug. Many people experience occasional digestive upsets that resolve
on their own. Heather and Ian Wilkinson developed similar symptoms
around the same time. The four victims compared notes by phone,
wondering if they had all caught the same virus or
if something in the lunch had disagreed with them. Food
poisoning seemed like the most logical explanation for their shared misery.

(19:44):
None of them immediately suspected mushroom poisoning. Death cap fungi
are not commonly known outside of forging communities and medical professionals.
The symptoms resembled many other illnesses that people encounter regularly.
Even experienced doctors sometimes miss the diagnosis during the critical
early hours. As Sunday progressed, all four victims felt worse

(20:06):
instead of better. The vomiting and diarrhea intensified, abdominal pain
became severe. Family members began discussing whether medical attention was
needed or if they should wait for the symptoms to
resolve naturally. By Sunday evening, the decision was made for them.
The symptoms had become too severe to manage at home.
All four were transported to local hospitals for emergency treatment.

(20:29):
The medical staff at Leangatha Hospital quickly recognized they were
dealing with something more serious than typical food poisoning. The
patient's symptoms were severe and persistent. Blood tests revealed abnormalities
that suggested toxic exposure rather than viral or bacterial illness,
but identifying the specific toxin would take precious time that

(20:50):
the victims did not have. Doctor Chris Webster, who treated
the patients at Leangatha Hospital, later testified that he suspected
mushroom poisoning based on the delayed on and severity of symptoms.
He contacted poison control experts and began researching treatment protocols.
For potential amatos and exposure. The race against time had begun,

(21:11):
but Aaron Patterson's victims were already losing. While her guests
fought for their lives in hospital beds, Aaron Patterson was
busy covering her tracks. She disposed of the food dehydrator
that contained traces of death cap mushrooms. She factoryyset her
phone multiple times to destroy digital evidence. She created false
stories to explain her own mild illness and her knowledge

(21:34):
of mushroom foraging. The performance continued even as the consequences
became clear. When medical staff asked about the ingredients and
Saturday's meal, Aaron Patterson provided misleading information about mushroom sources.
She claimed to have purchased them from supermarkets and Asian groceries,
stories that investigators would later prove false. She visited the

(21:55):
same hospital where her victims were fighting for their lives,
seeking treatment meant for her own supposed symptoms. Medical staff
found nothing wrong with her beyond mild dehydration. She discharged
herself against medical advice after receiving minimal treatment. The contrast
with her guest's conditions was stark and suspicious. Chapter three,

(22:16):
The Poison Truth The phone calls started early Monday morning.
Gail Patterson's sister called from the hospital with news that
made Aaron Patterson's stomach drop. Though not from mushroom poisoning,
all four lunch guests were seriously ill. The doctors suspected
food poisoning, but the symptoms were worse than anyone expected.
Blood tests showed liver damage that was already severe and

(22:38):
getting worse by the hour. Aaron Patterson expressed shock and concern.
She offered to visit the hospital. She asked what she
could do to help. The performance was flawless, but inside
she must have known that her carefully planned murders were
proceeding exactly as intended. Don and Gail Patterson, both seventy
years old, were transferred from Leangatha Hospital to large facilities

(23:00):
in Melbourne with specialized intensive care units. Their conditions were critical.
Heather Wilkinson, sixty six, was also transported to Melbourne for
advanced treatment. Ian Wilkinson, seventy one, joined them in the
fight for survival that would consume the next several weeks.
The medical teams treating the four patients had experience with
various poisoning cases, but death cap mushroom toxicity presented unique challenges.

(23:26):
The amatoxin had already begun its devastating work on their
liver cells. Standard treatments for other types of poisoning were
ineffective against this particular toxin. The doctors were racing against
a biological clock that had been ticking since Saturday afternoon.
Doctor Mark Douglas from Monash Heal's emergency department testified later

(23:46):
about the progression of symptoms. He observed the patients arrived
with severe gastrointestinal distress that gradually evolved into multi organ failure.
Their liver function tests showed rapid deterioration that indicated massive
sellsllular damage. Blood chemistry panels revealed the catastrophic breakdown of
normal bodily functions. The medical staff quickly suspected mushroom poisoning

(24:09):
based on the delayed onset and severity of symptoms, but
confirming the diagnosis required specialized testing that took precious time.
They began aggressive supportive care while waiting for toxicology results
that would prove their suspicions correct. Meanwhile, Aaron Patterson was
busy implementing her cover up plan. On Monday morning, July

(24:29):
thirty first, she appeared at Leangatha Hospital, claiming she had
eaten the same meal and was experiencing symptoms. The medical
staff examined her carefully, expecting to find evidence of the
same toxic exposure that was killing her lunch guests. Instead,
they found a woman in remarkably good health with no
signs of amatoxin poisoning. Her vital signs were normal, her

(24:52):
blood chemistry showed no abnormalities, her liver function tests were perfect.
She complained of nausea and mild abdominal discs comfort, but
physical examination revealed no objective evidence of illness. Doctor Chris Webster,
who had treated her lunch guests the day before, found
the contrast suspicious, for people who ate the same meal

(25:12):
were dying of mushroom poisoning, while the person who prepared
and served the food showed no symptoms whatsoever. The medical
evidence did not support her claims of shared exposure. Aaron
Patterson insisted she felt unwell and demanded treatment. The staff
provided supportive care and observed her for several hours. When
they recommended admission for monitoring, she refused and discharged herself

(25:35):
against medical advice. Her behavior struck several staff members as
unusual for someone genuinely concerned about potential mushroom poisoning. The
performance was necessary to maintain her cover story, but it
was also dangerous. Every interaction with medical staff created potential
witnesses who might later testify about her suspicious behavior and

(25:56):
obvious good health. While playing the role of concerned victim
at the hot hospital, Aaron Patterson was simultaneously destroying evidence
of her crimes. CCTV footage later obtained by police showed
her arriving at the Conwara transfer station on August second,
twenty twenty three, with a large object in her red MGSUV.
She carried the item into the waste disposal area and

(26:19):
left without the burden she had brought. The object was
her food dehydrator, which still contained traces of death cap
mushrooms from her preparation work. Disposing of this evidence was
crucial to avoiding detection, but she had not counted on
the waste facilities security cameras recording her visit. She also
had not anticipated that staff members would recover the discarded

(26:41):
dehydrator and turn it over to police when the investigation began.
The timing of this disposal was particularly damning. She waited
until her victims were hospitalized and their prognosis was becoming clear.
She acted only when she knew the poisoning had been
successful and investigation was likely to follow. Her phone records
showed additional suspicious activity during these crucial days. She factory

(27:04):
reset her Samsung phone multiple times, including once while it
was already in police custody. The remote reset capability suggested
sophisticated planning and technical knowledge that contradicted her portrayal as
a simple suburban mother caught up in tragic circumstances. Each
of these actions demonstrated consciousness of guilt and deliberate effort

(27:25):
to avoid prosecution. On August second, as her victims fought
for their lives on mechanical ventilation in Melbourne hospitals, Aaron
Patterson received a visit from Child Protection Services at her home.
This appointment had been scheduled before the lunch, but the
timing created additional pressure to cover her tracks completely. She
could not afford to have authorities discover evidence of mushroom

(27:47):
foraging or food dehydration in her home. She told investigators
later that she disposed of the dehydrator because she was
afraid child protection workers would blame her for the poisoning
and remove her children from her custody. She claimed panic
motivated her actions rather than guilt about deliberately murdering four people,
but panic does not explain the methodical destruction of evidence

(28:10):
that occurred over several days. Someone truly panicked by accidental
poisoning would have disclosed all relevant information to medical staff immediately,
hoping to save the victim's lives. Someone covering up intentional
murder would behave exactly as Aaron Patterson did. The contrast
between her actions and her claimed motivations revealed the calculated

(28:31):
nature of her crimes. As the week progressed, the victim's
conditions deteriorated. Despite the best efforts of Melbourne's top medical
specialists Don and Gale, Patterson showed no improvement from supportive
care and antiitoxin treatments. Their liver function continued declining toward
total failure. Heather Wilkinson followed the same devastating trajectory that

(28:52):
had become familiar to doctors treating death cap poisoning. Ian
Wilkinson received a liver transplant in a desperate attempt to
save his life, but even this radical intervention could not
guarantee survival. The amatoxin had damaged multiple organ systems beyond
the liver alone. His recovery would require weeks of intensive
care and rehabilitation. Assuming he survived at all, The medical

(29:15):
teams were fighting a losing battle against one of nature's
most effective poisons, delivered in dozes calculated to ensure fatal outcomes.
Family members gathered at the hospitals to maintain vigils beside
their dying relatives. Children and grandchildren took turns sitting with
patients who could no longer respond to their presence. The
grief and confusion were overwhelming as families watched their loved

(29:38):
ones slip away from a poisoned meal that was supposed
to be a pleasant social gathering. Aaron Patterson visited the hospitals, occasionally,
maintaining her facade as a grieving daughter in law and friend.
She expressed appropriate shock and sadness about the deteriorating conditions.
She offered support to other family members and asked about
treatment options. Continued playing her role even as the evidence

(30:02):
of her guilt accumulated in police files. The performance must
have been exhausting, but she had no choice but to continue.
Any breaking character would have immediately focused suspicion on her
involvement in the poisonings. On August fourth, twenty twenty three,
Heather Wilkinson died from multiple organ failure caused by amatoxin poisoning.
Her death came after days of intensive medical intervention that

(30:25):
could not reverse the toxin's effects on her liver and kidneys.
She passed away surrounded by family members who still did
not understand how she had been exposed to such a
deadly poison. Later the same day, Gail Patterson joined her
sister in death. The seventy year old woman who had
brought an orange cake to share at Saturday's lunch succumbed
to the same toxic exposure that was claiming her family

(30:48):
members one by one. Her husband, Don remained on life support,
but his condition continued deteriorating despite all medical efforts. Don
Patterson died on August fifth, completing the triple that Aaron
Patterson had planned and executed with cold precision. Three people
who had trusted her completely were now dead from the
meal she had prepared in her home. Only Ian Wilkinson

(31:10):
remained alive, fighting for survival in a hospital bed. While
machines sustained his basic bodily functions. The death toll from
one family lunch had reached historic proportions for suburban Australia.
Three elderly people were dead and a fourth was fighting
for his life because someone had deliberately poisoned their food
with one of the world's deadliest natural toxins. The investigation

(31:33):
that would eventually expose Aaron Patterson's crimes was just beginning,
but the damage she had inflicted on her family and
community was already irreversible. The trust that binds families and
communities together had been shattered by someone who used the
most intimate act of care preparing a home cooked meal,
to commit mass murder. Victoria Police launched a major investigation

(31:54):
into the deaths immediately after the first fatalities were confirmed.
Detective Leading Senior Constable Stephen Eppingstaal assembled a team of
specialists to examine every aspect of the lunch gathering and
its aftermath. The investigation would eventually involve forensic scientists, digital specialists, toxicologists,
and dozens of other experts. The first priority was establishing

(32:17):
the source and method of mushroom exposure. Investigators collected samples
from Aaron Patterson's home, including leftover food from the fatal meal.
They analyzed the contents of her garbage bins and searched
her property for evidence of mushroom foraging or food preparation.
They also began examining her digital footprint, including Internet searches,

(32:38):
phone records, and social media activity. The electronic evidence would
eventually reveal the extent of her planning and research in
the months leading up to the murders. The investigation was
complex and methodical, but it was also urgent. If Aaron
Patterson had murdered three people with poison mushrooms, she posed
a continued threat to others. The police needed to gather

(32:59):
so efficient evidence to support charges while ensuring public safety.
During the ongoing investigation, As detectives worked to build their case,
Ian Wilkinson continued his fight for survival in a Melbourne hospital.
His recovery would take months and require multiple surgeries, but
he would eventually survive to testify about the events of
July twenty ninth, twenty twenty three. His survival would prove

(33:23):
crucial to securing justice for the three people who died
that day. Chapter four, The Web of Lies on ravels.
The knock on Aaron Patterson's door came at dawn on
November two, twenty twenty three, three months after the deadly
lunch that had claimed three lives and shattered a small
Victorian community. Victoria Police homicide detectives had spent those months

(33:45):
carefully building a case that would expose the calculated nature
of her crimes. They arrived with search warrants and enough
evidence to charge her with three counts of murder and
one count of attempted murder. The woman who answered the
door bore little resemblance to the confident hostess who had
served beef Wellington to her unsuspecting victims. Aaron Patterson appeared

(34:06):
haggard and nervous as investigators entered her Leangatha home for
a thorough search that would last several hours. She knew
this moment was inevitable, but she continued her performance of
innocence even as her world collapsed around her. Detective Eppingstall
had meticulously documented every aspect of her deception over the
previous months. The digital forensics team had recovered deleted files

(34:29):
from her computers and phones. The toxicology experts had confirmed
death cap mushroom residue in her food dehydrator. The financial
investigators had traced her purchase of forging equipment and her
visits to areas where deadly mushrooms grew wild. The evidence
was overwhelming, but prosecutors would still need to prove intent
and premeditation to secure murder convictions. They would need to

(34:52):
demonstrate that Aaron Patterson had deliberately planned these deaths, rather
than accidentally poisoning her guests through careless foraging practices. The
case that emerged from months of investigation revealed a woman
who had researched her methods carefully and executed her plan
with chilling precision. Aaron Patterson's Internet search history provided a
road map of her murderous intentions. Investigators found that she

(35:15):
had visited naturalist websites containing detailed information about death cap
mushroom locations and toxicity. She had viewed photographs and GPS
coordinates for specific areas where other foragers had documented deadly
fungi sightings. Her searches were not those of a casual
mushroom enthusiast learning about safe foraging practices. Instead, they showed

(35:37):
someone specifically seeking information about the most toxic varieties and
their geographic distribution. She had studied the effects of amatox
and poisoning and the time frame for symptom development. She
knew exactly what would happen to anyone who consumed the
mushrooms she planned to serve. The phone data was equally damming.
Cell tower records placed her in lock and outrim during

(35:58):
April twenty twenty three, exactly where death cap mushrooms had
been photographed and reported online. These trips occurred weeks before
her fatal lunch, demonstrating advance planning rather than spontaneous action.
Her purchase history revealed additional evidence of premeditation. Bank records
showed she had bought the food dehydrator in April twenty

(36:18):
twenty three, months before the lunch. She had also purchased
expensive cuts of beef for the Wellington recipe, ingredients that
would not normally be served at a casual family gathering.
Every element of the meal required advance planning and preparation.
The forensic evidence was particularly compelling. Scientists at the Victorian
Institute of Forensic Medicine had analyzed samples from the recovered

(36:42):
food dehydrator and found clear traces of death cap mushroom material.
The concentrations were sufficient to prove that these deadly fungi
had been processed in her kitchen equipment. They also analyzed
samples of the leftover beef Wellington and found beta ammonitin,
the specific tocsin found in death Cap mushroom. In portions
of the mushroom paste used as filling. The toxin was

(37:04):
not distributed evenly throughout all the leftovers, supporting the theory
that individual portions had been deliberately contaminated while others remained safe.
Blood samples from the victims confirmed massive amatox and exposure,
consistent with death Cap mushroom consumption. Ian Wilkinson, the sole survivor,
tested positive for both alpha aminitan and beta amonitan in

(37:25):
concentrations that should have been fatal. His survival was due
to prompt medical intervention and the liver transplant that gave
his body time to eliminate the toxin. Aaron Patterson's own
blood samples taken during her hospital visit on July thirty first,
showed no trace of amatoxin exposure whatsoever. This proved she
had not consumed any of the poisoned food, despite claiming

(37:48):
to have eaten the same meal as her victims. The
pattern of lies that emerged from the investigation was as
systematic as it was cruel. Aaron Patterson had lied about
having cancer to justify the line invitation. Medical records showed
no appointments, no tests, no treatments, and no diagnosis related
to any form of cancer. She had invented the entire

(38:09):
medical crisis to manipulate her victims into gathering at her
home for their final meal. Text messages between her and
Gail Patterson revealed the elaborate deception. Aaron had described fictional
needle biopsies and ameri scans in detail. She had created
a timeline of imaginary medical appointments that corresponded with her
lunch invitation. She had used Gail's genuine concern and compassion

(38:32):
to ensure attendance at the fatal gathering. The cancer lie
was particularly cruel because it exploited the victim's love and
desire to provide support during difficult times. Don and Gail
Patterson had responded to news of their daughter in laws
supposed illness with immediate offers of help and emotional support.
Heather and Ian Wilkinson had joined them in prayer for

(38:53):
her recovery. And offered their own assistance with child care
and household responsibilities. Their kindness and generosity had been used
against them by someone who was already planning their deaths.
She had lied about owning a food dehydrator when first
questioned by police. Detective Eppingstall had specifically asked about kitchen
equipment that might have been used to process mushrooms. Aaron

(39:16):
Patterson denied owning such a device, despite having purchased it
months earlier and used it to prepare the deadly meal.
When investigators found the instruction manual for a dehydrator in
her home, she claimed she had owned one years earlier
and kept the paperwork out of habit. This explanation crumbled
when bank records proved she had purchased the device in

(39:36):
April twenty twenty three, just months before the murders. The
CCTV footage of her disposing of the dehydrator at the
waste transfer station provided visual proof of her consciousness of guilt.
She had waited until her victims were hospitalized and dying
before eliminating the evidence that could connect her to the crime.
She had lied about the source of mushrooms used in

(39:57):
the beef Wellington Initially, she told medical staff and police
that she had purchased mushrooms from supermarkets and Asian groceries
in the area. Health Department investigators checked every store she
mentioned and found that none of them sold death cap
mushrooms or any products that could have caused amatoxin poisoning.
When this explanation proved false, she changed her story to

(40:19):
include some foraged mushrooms mixed with stobought varieties. She claimed
the wild mushrooms were accidentally included when she confused different
containers in her pantry. This explanation became less credible as
investigators documented her extensive research into death cap mushroom locations
and her deliberate trips to areas where they grew. Her

(40:39):
final version of events acknowledged that she had foraged mushrooms
and used her dehydrator to process them, but maintained that
their inclusion in the deadly meal was accidental. She claimed
to be an experienced forager who would never deliberately include
toxic varieties in food preparation. The evidence contradicted every aspect
of this explanation. She had lied about her condition after

(41:01):
the lunch and her reasons for visiting the hospital. Medical
staff found no evidence that she had consumed amatoxin or
suffered any symptoms of mushroom poisoning. Her vital signs and
blood chemistry were completely normal throughout her hospital visit. Her
claim that she had vomited violently after eating Gale's cake
was not supported by any medical evidence or witness testimony.

(41:24):
The purging episode that supposedly saved her life appeared to
be another fiction designed to explain her survival while her
guests died from the same meal. Her decision to discharge
herself against medical advice was inconsistent with genuine concern about
potential mushroom poisoning. Someone truly worried about toxic exposure would
have remained in the hospital for monitoring and treatment. The

(41:46):
accumulation of lies revealed a pattern of deliberate deception designed
to cover up premeditated murder. The most damaging evidence came
from her own children's testimony. Police interviewed both of Aaron
Patterson's children about the events surrond founding the lunch, and
their mother's behavior in the following days. The interviews were
conducted with appropriate safeguards for their age and emotional well being,

(42:09):
but their statements provided crucial insights into their mother's actions
and state of mind. Both children confirmed that they had
not been invited to the lunch and were elsewhere when
their grandmother and great aunt and uncle were poisoned. This
contradicted Aaron Patterson's claims that the lunch was a family
gathering that happened to exclude the children for various innocent reasons.

(42:30):
Her son described finding his mother using her computer late
at night in the days following the lunch, behavior that
was unusual for their normal household routine. Phone records would
later show this was when she was factory setting her
devices and deleting digital evidence of her crimes. Her daughter
told police that their mother had never shown interest in
mushroom foraging before twenty twenty three, contradicting Aaron Patterson's claims

(42:54):
to be an experienced forager who accidentally included toxic varieties
in her cooking. The children D's testimony painted a picture
of someone who had developed new interests and behaviors, specifically
in preparation for the murders. Both children also confirmed that
their mother had eaten from a different colored plate during
family meals, supporting Ian Wilkinson's testimony about the orange plate

(43:16):
that distinguished the hostess's safe portion from the poison gray
plates used by her victims. The children's innocent observations provided
some of the most powerful evidence against their mother's claims
of accidental poisoning. Financial records revealed additional motives for the
murders beyond personal animosity towards Simon Patterson's family, Aaron Patterson

(43:36):
faced significant financial pressures related to her separation and potential
divorce proceedings. She had borrowed money from various family members
and faced questions about repayment if assets were divided in divorce.
Court Insurance policies and inheritance patterns also created financial incentives
for eliminating Simon's parents and other relatives who might have

(43:58):
claims on family assets or inflo luce over custody arrangements.
While prosecutors did not rely solely on financial motives, they
helped explain why someone might choose mass murder over less
extreme solutions to family conflicts. The pattern of her behavior
in the months leading up to the lunch showed systematic
preparation rather than spontaneous action driven by temporary emotional distress.

(44:21):
As the evidence mounted against her, Aaron Patterson's legal team
faced the challenge of defending someone whose lies had created
an almost insurmountable burden of proof against her innocence. They
would ultimately argue that she had made poor decisions after
accidentally poisoning her guests, but that her actions were motivated
by panic rather than guilt about deliberate murder. This defense

(44:43):
strategy required the jury to believe that someone could accidentally
research death cap mushroom locations, accidentally visit areas where they grew,
accidentally harvest them, accidentally process them in a food dehydrator,
accidentally include them in individual beef Wellington portions, and accidentally
serve them only to guests while eating from a different

(45:03):
plate herself. The accumulation of coincidence is necessary to support
an accidental poisoning theory, strained credibility beyond the breaking point.
By the time Aaron Patterson was formally charged with murder
in November twenty twenty three, the evidence against her was overwhelming.
The case would ultimately depend on the jury's willingness to
believe her explanations for behavior that appeared consistent only with

(45:26):
premeditated murder. The grieving families of her victims finally had
someone to blame for their losses, but no amount of
legal justice could restore the lives that had been taken
by some one they had trusted completely. Chapter five, Justice
and Grief. The courtrooman Morewell was packed with journalists from
around the world on July seventh, twenty twenty five. As

(45:48):
the jury foremen stood to deliver the verdicts that would
conclude one of Australia's most watched murder trials. Aaron Patterson
sat between two prison officers, her face expressionless as she
waited to learn whether to twelve strangers believed her claims
of accidental poisoning or the prosecution's case for deliberate murder.
The silence stretched for what felt like hours before the

(46:09):
foreman spoke the words that would define the rest of
her life. Guilty of murder. Three times. He repeated those words,
once for each victim. Then came the fourth verdict, guilty
of attempted murder for Ian Wilkinson, who had survived her
poisoned meal through medical intervention and sheer determination. Aaron Patterson
blinked rapidly, but showed no other emotion as the verdicts

(46:31):
were read. She had gambled everything on her ability to
convince a jury that the deaths of Don Patterson, Gale Patterson,
and Heather Wilkinson were tragic accidents rather than calculated murders.
The unanimous verdicts proved that twelve people who had heard
every piece of evidence rejected her explanations completely. The nine
week trial had exposed every aspect of her deception and planning.

(46:54):
More than fifty witnesses had testified about her behavior before, during,
and after the fatal lunch. Expert witnesses had explained the
effects of amatox and poisoning and the impossibility of accidental
exposure in the concentrations found in her victims. Digital forensic
specialists had walked the jury through her Internet searches and
phone records that revealed systematic research into deadly mushroom locations

(47:18):
and toxicity. But perhaps the most damaging testimony had come
from Aaron Patterson herself. During eight days on the witness stand,
her attempts to explain away the evidence had only highlighted
the implausibility of her claimed innocence. She had disputed the
testimony of medical staff who treated her, contradicted her own
children's statements, and offered explanations for her behavior that strained credibility.

(47:42):
The jury had deliberated for six and a half days
before reaching their unanimous verdicts. Under Australian law, murder convictions
require complete agreement among all twelve jurors. The time they
spent considering the evidence demonstrated their careful attention to the
defense arguments, but ultimately they found those arguments insufficient to
create reasonable doubt about Aaron Patterson's guilt, just as Christopher

(48:05):
Beale would sentence her at a later hearing, But she
now faced the possibility of life in prison for crimes
that had shocked the nation and drawn international attention to
a small dairy town in rural Victoria. The verdicts brought
a measure of closure to families who had spent nearly
two years seeking answers about why their loved ones had
died from a meal that should have been a pleasant

(48:25):
social gathering, But no legal outcome could restore the lives
that had been taken or repair the trust that had
been shattered by someone they had welcomed into their family.
Ian Wilkinson, the sole survivor of the poisoning, had endured
months of medical treatment and recovery to reach this moment,
His testimony during the trial had been crucial to establishing

(48:46):
what happened during the fatal lunch and exposing the lies
Aaron Patterson had told about her interactions with the victims.
At seventy one years old, he had survived death cap
mushroom poisoning that killed three other people who consumed the
same meal. His recovery required a liver transplant and weeks
in intensive care, followed by months of rehabilitation to regain

(49:07):
his strength and health. The physical scars of his ordeal
would remain for the rest of his life, but he
had lived to see justice delivered for the friends and
family members who had not been as fortunate. His wife,
Heather's death had devastated him personally, but his survival had
been essential to securing convictions against the woman who had
poisoned them all. Without his eye witness testimony about the

(49:28):
events of July twenty ninth, twenty twenty three, the prosecution
case would have relied entirely on circumstantial evidence and expert analysis.
The Wilkinson family asked for privacy after the verdicts were announced,
but their statement through Victoria Police expressed gratitude for the
investigation and prosecution that had brought Aaron Patterson to justice.

(49:50):
They hoped the community could begin healing from the trauma
that had consumed nearly two years of their lives. The
Patterson family also declined to make public statements after the verdicts,
but their relief was evident to observers in the court house.
Don and Gale Patterson's surviving children had watched their parents
die from poisoning administered by someone they had trusted and supported.

(50:12):
The guilty verdicts validated their belief that the deaths were
not accidents, but deliberate murders committed by a family member
they had never suspected of such capability. Simon Patterson, Aaron's
estranged husband and the father of her children, faced the
impossible task of explaining to his own kids that their
mother was a convicted murderer who had killed their grandparents

(50:32):
and great aunt. His decision not to attend the fatal
lunch had almost certainly saved his life, but it had
also left him to deal with the aftermath of crimes
that had destroyed multiple families. The children, now without their
mother and facing the stigma of her crimes, would require
years of counseling and support to process the trauma of
learning that someone they loved had committed such terrible acts

(50:54):
against their own family members. The broader community of Leangatha
struggled to return to normal after two years of international
media attention focused on their small town. Mayor John Shelley
expressed relief that the trial was over and the community
could begin moving forward, but he acknowledged that the town's
reputation had been forever changed by the crimes committed within

(51:15):
its borders. Local businesses had actually benefited from the influx
of journalists and curious visitors during the investigation and trial,
but residents were eager to return to anonymity and escape
the notoriety that came with being known as the location
of Australia's mushroom murders. The case had generated for dedicated
podcasts that followed every day of testimony, making it one

(51:38):
of the most closely monitored trials in Australian legal history.
International media coverage had brought global attention to death cap
mushroom poisoning and the dangers of foraging without expert knowledge,
But for the people who knew the victims personally, the
media circus had been a painful reminder of their losses
and the senseless nature of the crimes that had taken

(51:59):
their loved ones. The verdict also validated the tireless work
of Victoria police investigators who had spent months building the
case against Aaron Patterson. Detective Leading Senior Constable Stephen Eppingstaal
and his team had methodically gathered evidence from digital devices,
forensic laboratories, medical facilities, and dozens of witnesses to construct

(52:20):
an air tight case for premeditated murder. The investigation had
been complicated by the unusual murder weapon and the defendant's
attempts to destroy evidence, but the systematic approach to gathering
and analyzing every piece of available proof had ultimately succeeded
in securing justice for the victims. The forensic work done
by the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine had been particularly

(52:43):
crucial in proving that death cap mushrooms were present in
the food dehydrator and in specific portions of the beef
Wellington that had killed three people. Without this scientific evidence,
prosecutors would have struggled to prove that the poisoning was
deliberate rather than accidental. The case would likely influence future
investigations of suspected poisoning cases and provide a template for

(53:06):
building circumstantial evidence cases in situations where defendants attempt to
destroy physical proof of their crimes. Legal experts noted that
the case had hinged on the prosecution's ability to demonstrate
a pattern of deliberate deception that was inconsistent with accidental poisoning.
Aaron Patterson's lies about her cancer diagnosis, mushroom sources, dehydrate

(53:28):
or ownership, and hospital visit had created a web of
contradictions that ultimately proved her guilt more effectively than any
single piece of evidence. Her decision to testify in her
own defense had been a calculated risk that ultimately backfired.
While defendants have the right to tell their side of
the story, her eight days on the witness stand had
allowed prosecutors to expose the inconsistencies in her explanations and

(53:52):
highlight the implausibility of her claimed innocence. The case demonstrated
the dangers of taking the witness stand when facing Syria
criminal charges, particularly when the defendant's version of events requires
believing an extraordinary series of coincidences and accidents. As Aaron
Patterson was led away to begin serving her sentence. The

(54:12):
families of her victims faced the challenge of rebuilding their
lives after nearly two years of legal proceedings and media scrutiny.
The children she had orphaned would grow up knowing that
their grandmother and great aunt had died because someone they
trusted had chosen to poison their food. The community of
Leangatha would slowly fade from international headlines, but the scars

(54:33):
left by these crimes would take years to heal. Trust
is the foundation of family relationships and community bonds, and
Aaron Patterson had weaponized that trust to commit murder on
a scale that shocked even experienced homicide investigators. The case
served as a reminder that evil can hide behind the
most ordinary appearances, and that the people closest to us

(54:53):
are sometimes capable of the most unthinkable acts. A suburban
mother who seemed devoted to her children in care community
had planned and executed multiple murders using the most intimate
setting possible, a home cooked family meal. The beef Wellington
that should have been an expression of love and hospitality
became the delivery system for mass murder. The dining table

(55:15):
that should have been a place of connection and sharing,
became a crime scene where three people consumed their final
meal without knowing they were being poisoned by someone who
smiled while serving their death. In the end, justice was served,
but it came too late for Don Patterson, Gaale Patterson,
and Heather Wilkinson. They died believing they were loved by
someone who had already decided to kill them. They spent

(55:38):
their final conscious moments praying for the health and recovery
of the person who had poisoned their food. The Mushroom
Lunch murder case would be remembered as one of Australia's
most shocking domestic crimes, a reminder that betrayal by those
we trust most can be the cruelest form of violence.
The verdicts brought legal closure, but the emotional wounds inflicted
by Aaron Patterson's actions would last for generations in the

(56:01):
families she had destroyed and the community she had traumatized.
The grief of loss would eventually soften with time, but
the questions about how someone could commit such acts against
people who loved her would linger much longer. Some forms
of evil defy explanation, leaving survivors to find meaning and
healing in spite of senseless cruelty that can never truly

(56:22):
be understood.