‘Super sleuth’ Erin Patterson hid powdered mushrooms ‘in everything’, court hears

Accused triple murderer Erin Patterson — described as a “super sleuth” when it came to research — told her friends she hid powdered mushrooms in food she cooked and “the kids had no idea”, a jury has heard.

Accused triple murderer Erin Patterson told her Facebook friends she loved fungi and hid “powdered mushrooms” in food she cooked, including brownies, revealing her children had “no idea”, a jury has heard.

Ms Patterson, 50, is standing trial in Morwell, accused of murdering her estranged husband’s parents, Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, along with Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, 66.

They died after she served them a beef wellington lunch allegedly laced with lethal death cap mushrooms at her Leongatha home on July 29, 2023.

Heather’s husband, pastor Ian Wilkinson, 71, was the only lunch guest to survive.

Ms Patterson, 50, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder and one of attempted murder, maintaining what happened was “a tragedy and a terrible accident”.

Three of her Facebook friends gave evidence via video link on Monday, with the Supreme Court hearing the women met Ms Patterson online in a true crime group about the Keli Lane case in early 2019, before forming a small group chat.

Erin Patterson shared her love of mushrooms with friends. Picture: Jason Edwards

One of the friends, Daniela Barkley, said while “sharing her love of mushrooms” in early 2023, Ms Patterson told her friends she had bought a food ­dehydrator.

She told the court the accused seemed “excited” by her purchase.

Prosecutor Sarah Lenthall asked the witness: “Did she say what she’d been using the dehydrator for?”

Ms Barkley replied: “Just for mushrooms.”

The jury was then shown a screenshot of a message from the group chat, which Ms Barkley said was sent by Ms Patterson: “I’ve been hiding powdered mushrooms in everything. Mixed it into chocolate brownies yesterday, the kids had no idea.”

The jury was also shown three photos provided by Ms Barkley, including one of the dehydrator with its six trays pulled out.

Dozens of mushroom slices could be seen laid out on the trays.

Ms Barkley said Ms Patterson asked the group chat in July 2023 for advice about cooking beef wellington, adding that she assumed it was for her and the children.

Jenny Hay gave evidence on day five of the murder trial of Erin Patterson.

Another Facebook friend, Jenny Hay, said Ms Patterson used her new purchase to “dehydrate mushrooms”, noting that she “seemed to really like mushrooms”.

“I remember her making mushroom soup. I remember her talking about blitzing (mushrooms) to make powder to put in things so that the kids would eat it. Particularly, I think (her daughter) didn’t like mushrooms,” she said.

Ms Hay added that Ms Patterson never mentioned foraging for mushrooms.

Another friend, Christine Hunt, told the court Ms Patterson would speak about her relationship with her estranged husband, Simon Patterson.

She recalled her describing Simon as “coercive” and controlling”.

“His family were very demanding and that she was really challenged by their demands, particularly around the kids attending a faith-based education,” Ms Hunt said.

She also told the court she believed Erin was “two-sided” when it came to her religious beliefs and went to church because of his “family situation”.

“She was saying to us publicly in that group that she didn’t necessarily believe in God.

“She described herself as an atheist.”

The court heard none of the women had met Ms Patterson in person, but Ms Hunt described her as a “super sleuth” when it came to research.

Christine Hunt also gave evidence.

Earlier in court, Simon was asked whether he had asked Ms Patterson, while they were at hospital on July 31, whether she used the dehydrator to “poison them”, but he denied asking her this.

It was also suggested to Simon by defence barrister Colin Mandy SC that she had asked how his parents – who had fallen seriously ill after the lunch – were going.

But Simon said he could not recall Ms Patterson asking him that.

“I’d say possible but unlikely because it stood out to me,” Simon said.

“I would have thought that would be something that she’d be interested in and asking about.”

The jury was shown messages from the Patterson family group chat from December 4, 2022, when Ms Patterson spoke about her child support dispute with Simon after she found out he had changed his marital status on his tax return to single.

This change meant she could no longer claim a Family Tax Benefit payment of $15,000.

Simon Patterson, the estranged husband of Erin Patterson. Picture: David Geraghty

“I would have been entitled to about $30k a year child support from Simon during the three years he was (working) but I didn’t claim it because I foolishly trusted him to do right by me and the kids when it came to the crunch,” she messaged the chat.

“I was wrong to do so, it seems now I have no income from the job because I quit to care for the kids, and if he reverses the single thing, then I’ll not be able to claim Family Tax Benefit, and I’ll not be entitled to any child support.”

In another exchange between Simon and Ms Patterson on December 18, 2022, when she asked him for a favour with a fallen tree, he replied: “I’m ­always your husband no matter how we’re doing.”

But when asked whether it was fair to say their earlier arguments about child support had “abated” by this time, Simon said he disagreed.

The trial, before Justice Christopher Beale, continues.

Missed something? Catch up on mushroom trial coverage from previous days here.

Originally published as ‘Super sleuth’ Erin Patterson hid powdered mushrooms ‘in everything’, court hears