Convicted triple-murderer Erin Patterson is at the center of shocking claims that she attempted to poison her estranged husband with tainted meals, a court has revealed. Patterson, 50, was found guilty last month of murdering three family members, using toxic mushrooms hidden in a beef Wellington served at a lunch on July 29, 2023.
Initially, Patterson was charged with three counts of attempted murder against her husband, Simon Patterson. However, those charges were dropped prior to her trial, with the specific details kept secret until now to protect the legal proceedings. In court, it was disclosed that Simon Patterson believes he was the target of numerous poisoning endeavors, including a sinister scheme involving cookies she alleged were baked by their daughter.
The tragedy unfolded after the ill-fated lunch, which resulted in the fatalities of Patterson's former in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, both aged 70, and Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, 66. Ian Wilkinson, Heather's spouse, managed to recover after a lengthy hospital stay, while Simon Patterson narrowly avoided attending the lunch after feeling unwell.
Throughout pre-trial hearings, which were crucial for determining evidence admissibility, Simon described a disturbing history of what he described as a long-lasting campaign of poisoning. According to his testimony, one such attempt left him comatose for weeks, compelling his family to prepare for his passing on two separate occasions.
Patterson recounted incidents where he fell violently ill after consuming meals prepared by Erin, including curry, wraps, Bolognese pasta, and the aforementioned cookies. Growing suspicious, he began documenting his experiences and confided in relatives, particularly his father, a general practitioner, although he ultimately hesitated to escalate his concerns, believing he was the only one being targeted.
As his family members deteriorated rapidly after the luncheon, Simon conveyed his fears in the hospital chapel, suspecting Erin of systematic poisoning. Investigators were informed that rat poison might have been utilized during multiple poisoning attempts.
The complexity and horror of this mushroom murder case continue to unsettle not only the courts but also the small communities affected by these heinous acts.
