Erin Patterson’s online community split after murder charge, but one ally remains
In unseen messages to her online friends, Erin Patterson – who used a cartoon witch as her Facebook profile picture – said her childhood was akin to growing up in a Russian orphanage, and described her mother as a ‘cold robot’.
On the surface, Erin Trudi Patterson had few friends.
Few visitors to her house, only limited connection to the community – and much of that was through ex-husband Simon Patterson’s extended family.
What she had, though, was a large number of online friends, a community that eventually turned against her, leaving Patterson more isolated than ever, as she faced the police investigation into the three deaths.
Patterson, who it can be revealed had a Facebook profile picture of a witch on a broomstick, was frank and caustic in messages to her online friends, including slamming her mother and her estranged husband.
Patterson paid out on her mother in her private messages, talked about Simon Patterson’s foibles and criticised his family, according to Supreme Court evidence and in messages seen by The Australian.
Online friends believe police “barely touched the sides” with the extent of Patterson’s digital activity, which formed a key part of her limited social life but also the prosecution’s case against her.
Patterson has retained some isolated online support, sources said, including from her friend Ali Rose Prior, a constant presence in court supporting Patterson.
Ms Prior regularly spoke to Patterson at the back of the court and wept as she left the Morwell precinct after the verdict.
Three of Patterson’s former online friends gave evidence at the trial, a common link being an interest in Keli Lane, the former Australian water polo player and teacher who was convicted of the 1996 murder of her newborn baby, Tegan.
Patterson talked openly about private issues, online friends said.
“My mum was ultra weird her whole life,’’ one message attributed to Patterson said.
“We had a horrible upbringing. Mum was essentially a cold robot. It was like being brought up in a Russian orphanage where they don’t touch the babies.
“Dad wanted to be warm and loving to us but Mum wouldn’t let him because it would spoil us so he did as he was told.’’
Patterson, who faces possible life behind bars for the three murders, has been exposed as a relentless liar.
A close family friend has painted a different picture of her life growing up. Rather than her mother, Heather Scutter, being “weird”, she was a high-achieving, engaged mother, they said.
In one message from Patterson aired in the Morwell trial, she said: “I’ve been hiding powdered mushrooms in everything. Mixed it into chocolate brownies yesterday, the kids had no idea.’’
The trial was told that, in December 2022, Patterson had been critical of her estranged husband’s parents.
“I’m so sick of this shit I want nothing to do with them. I thought his parents would want him to do the right thing but it seems their concern about not wanting to be uncomfortable and not wanting to get involved in their son’s personal matters are overriding that so f..k em,” she messaged.
At the Morwell case, the courtroom gallery was often graced by people interested in true crime and fascinated with the daily drama of the murder trial.
But there was also a very real impact, with the family of the dead regularly turning up to support the prosecution.
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