GUILTY Australia - 3 dead after eating wild mushrooms, Leongatha, Victoria, Aug 2023 *Arrest* #18

[LinasK]

Just reiterating my previous on this: I find it hard to imagine how the dropped charges could have been tried in conjunction with the murder charges given that the case that went forward was supported by tons of evidence found in garbage bins, captured on CCTV, GPS data, etc, etc.

Whereas, AFAIK, there was no hard evidence for the prosecution to provide to support the dropped charges.

Again, IMO, trying both sets simultaneously would have created a highly confusing situation for the jurors and given the defence plenty of latitude to establish serious doubt in their minds.

But they could have charged her for the attempted murder of Simon at this luncheon, since she admitted on the stand that she made a 6th Beef Wellington for Simon, fully expected him to attend even though he definitely told her he wasn't coming despite her trying to guilt-trip him into coming, and the Beef Wellington found in the trash was poisoned. That was clearly the portion intended for Simon- not hers, or she would have been poisoned as well and she wasn't. (Despite her attempts to have diarrhea).

 

[LinasK]

I wonder if it is because the attempted act of murder was not executed against Simon as he did not attend the lunch. There was planning, but not a actus reus per se.

Also, was the beef wellington intended for him ever found? If not, then that may have been less evidence for the charge. Just curious.

Yes, the one found in her trash bin was the one intended for him. She lied and tried to say it was the remainder of her portion that she hadn't eaten- but... she also claimed that she fed her leftovers to her children the next day.

 

[LinasK]

Perhaps just my personal bias, but I don’t believe that’s a genuine diagnosis.

However I do believe that after many years of practice, EP would act her way out of or into just about any situation she sets her mind to - except this time. She will now justifiably serve out the rest of her life as a guest of His Majesty - a fitting place for someone who considers herself way above the rest of us mere mortals.

IMO.

I just wish the "guest" didn't have access to a tennis court and swimming pool.

 

[LinasK]

She does clearly have some form of factitious disorder / which is muncheausens - because she uses fake illness for sympathy / manipulation.

Not to be confused with muncheausens by proxy.

And it’s diagnosed behaviourally, there’s no objective blood test or mri scan. If you lie about illnesss to get attention or some other favour, you meet the criteria for this disorder, therefore, the diagnoses seems reasonable.

However.

This diagnosis does not diminish using false illness to lure people to your home in order to murder them. And it’s not mutually exclusive with psychopathy. In fact, people with ASPD lie pathologically to meet their goals, so It won’t have any affect on her sentencing IMO because it’s not relevant, and I also think the DM is a clickbait bonanza and they’ve got no credibility, imo.

Speaking of which, did anyone else see Wayne Flowers saying he was a victim of Erin because his wife of 24 years left him during his covering of this trial?

IMO only

BBM. This!!!!

 

[LinasK]

JMO but I don't think lying about a fake medical condition to lure her guests to eat a meal with her comprises Munchausen's. Saying that she wanted their attention and support was the cover story of that lie. She didn't really want their attention and support, she was luring them to poison them.

She's an intelligent woman who knows full well that lumps on elbows bear no relation to gynae cancers. Seems she didn't even care much about the lie to fabric a more believable one.

Munchausen's by Proxy - trying to sicken and disable her relatives so they would depend upon her and she could gain the glory for being 'Nurse Erin' (aligns with her 'nursing training' story) maybe. There is a huge space for the idea she didn't think people would die but would be extremely long term unwell. Sick, disabled, old people x Nurse Erin in total control. Makes sense to me.

JMO MOO

Yeah, even IF she did actually have a lump on her elbow- who goes from that to thinking automatically that it's Ovarian Cancer??? What's the connection, that it's spread? Odd place to spread. I'd be contacting my Dermatologist thinking that it's Skin Cancer long before I suspected Ovarian Cancer.

 

[Smelly Squirrel]

Investigation launched into Erin Patterson jury staying in same hotel as prosecution, police, media

It took days for court authorities to inform the judge that the jurors were sharing the same Gippsland hotel with others directly involved in Patterson’s triple-murder trial in Morwell.

www.theage.com.au

An investigation has been launched into the way the Erin Patterson jury was protected from outside influence during its deliberations, after jurors were “sequestered” in a hotel where seven journalists, two prosecutors and three detectives were also staying without the knowledge of the judge or defence.

It took up to six days for court authorities tasked with monitoring the jury to inform Justice Christopher Beale that the jurors were sharing the same hotel with other people directly involved in Patterson’s triple-murder trial in Morwell.

Another two days went by before the defence team was informed, only hours before the jury returned its guilty verdict.

Victoria’s Juries Commissioner has begun an inquiry into the circumstances at the hotel, including requesting CCTV footage from cameras in the lobby and hallways outside the rooms where the 12-member jury was housed under strict observation by Court Services Victoria’s “jury keepers”.
....
There is no suggestion that any of the police officers, prosecutors or members of the press behaved inappropriately or attempted to influence the jury.

 

[ch_13]

Investigation launched into Erin Patterson jury staying in same hotel as prosecution, police, media

It took days for court authorities to inform the judge that the jurors were sharing the same Gippsland hotel with others directly involved in Patterson’s triple-murder trial in Morwell.

www.theage.com.au

An investigation has been launched into the way the Erin Patterson jury was protected from outside influence during its deliberations, after jurors were “sequestered” in a hotel where seven journalists, two prosecutors and three detectives were also staying without the knowledge of the judge or defence.

It took up to six days for court authorities tasked with monitoring the jury to inform Justice Christopher Beale that the jurors were sharing the same hotel with other people directly involved in Patterson’s triple-murder trial in Morwell.

Another two days went by before the defence team was informed, only hours before the jury returned its guilty verdict.

Victoria’s Juries Commissioner has begun an inquiry into the circumstances at the hotel, including requesting CCTV footage from cameras in the lobby and hallways outside the rooms where the 12-member jury was housed under strict observation by Court Services Victoria’s “jury keepers”.
....
There is no suggestion that any of the police officers, prosecutors or members of the press behaved inappropriately or attempted to influence the jury.

The article describes a real shambles, with prosecutors, detectives and press all at the same hotel as the jury and no one notifying the judge until six days had passed.

All this muddle makes me wonder what really is the benefit of sequestration? The jury was able to successfully commute from their homes and avoid any conflict for weeks while the trial was ongoing. Couldn't that arrangement have been maintained for deliberations as well? Did the isolation really benefit the proceedings? Or is it just a bit of theater that is primarily for appearances sake, but does not add any meaningful benefit?

 

[Deleted member 363451]

JMO but I don't think lying about a fake medical condition to lure her guests to eat a meal with her comprises Munchausen's. Saying that she wanted their attention and support was the cover story of that lie. She didn't really want their attention and support, she was luring them to poison them.

She's an intelligent woman who knows full well that lumps on elbows bear no relation to gynae cancers. Seems she didn't even care much about the lie to fabric a more believable one.

Munchausen's by Proxy - trying to sicken and disable her relatives so they would depend upon her and she could gain the glory for being 'Nurse Erin' (aligns with her 'nursing training' story) maybe. There is a huge space for the idea she didn't think people would die but would be extremely long term unwell. Sick, disabled, old people x Nurse Erin in total control. Makes sense to me.

JMO MOO

What Is Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy?​

Munchausen syndrome by proxy is a mental illness where a caregiver makes up or exaggerates an illness in a person in their care. This disorder is now called factitious disorder imposed on another (FDIA). It usually involves a parent and child.

FDIA is a relatively rare behavioral disorder. It affects a primary caretaker, often the mother. The person with MSP gains attention by seeking medical help for exaggerated or made-up symptoms of a child in their care. As healthcare providers strive to identify what's causing the child's symptoms, the deliberate actions of the parent or caretaker can often make the symptoms worse.

I don't believe for one moment that Erin has Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy. First of all, it's a disorder that usually involves a mother and her child/children. If Erin had this, she would have had a history of making her children sick for attention and I'm fairly confident that this would have been raised in court. Also, surely Simon wouldn't have left the kids in her care if he suspected this.

Erin was sure not to give her children any of the poisonous mushrooms and she was reluctant to even have them seen by hospital staff. Also, she doesn't display any of the criteria for this disorder. I am surprised that there are still a few members of this forum who still think that Erin was just trying to make Simons relatives sick. She knows that Simon nearly died with his last admittance into hospital. She did her research on Death Cap Mushrooms - more than we even know, due to her getting rid of her main phone (A). As many have said, Erin isn't a stupid person. She wanted her lunch guests go die and she made sure that they did.

What Are the Symptoms of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy?​

Certain characteristics are common in a person with MSP, including:

• Is a parent or caregiver, usually a mother
• May be a healthcare professional
• Is very friendly and cooperative with the health care providers
• Appears quite concerned (some may seem overly concerned) about their child
• May suffer from Munchausen syndrome (a related disorder in which a person repeatedly acts as if they have a physical or mental illness when they are not really sick)

Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy

Look at the symptoms and causes of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a rare psychological disorder due to an attention-seeking caregiver.

www.webmd.com

 

[LinasK]

What Is Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy?​

Munchausen syndrome by proxy is a mental illness where a caregiver makes up or exaggerates an illness in a person in their care. This disorder is now called factitious disorder imposed on another (FDIA). It usually involves a parent and child.

FDIA is a relatively rare behavioral disorder. It affects a primary caretaker, often the mother. The person with MSP gains attention by seeking medical help for exaggerated or made-up symptoms of a child in their care. As healthcare providers strive to identify what's causing the child's symptoms, the deliberate actions of the parent or caretaker can often make the symptoms worse.

I don't believe for one moment that Erin has Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy. First of all, it's a disorder that usually involves a mother and her child/children. If Erin had this, she would have had a history of making her children sick for attention and I'm fairly confident that this would have been raised in court. Also, surely Simon wouldn't have left the kids in her care if he suspected this.

Erin was sure not to give her children any of the poisonous mushrooms and she was reluctant to even have them seen by hospital staff. Also, she doesn't display any of the criteria for this disorder. I am surprised that there are still a few members of this forum who still think that Erin was just trying to make Simons relatives sick. She knows that Simon nearly died with his last admittance into hospital. She did her research on Death Cap Mushrooms - more than we even know, due to her getting rid of her main phone (A). As many have said, Erin isn't a stupid person. She wanted her lunch guests go die and she made sure that they did.

What Are the Symptoms of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy?​

Certain characteristics are common in a person with MSP, including:

• Is a parent or caregiver, usually a mother
• May be a healthcare professional
• Is very friendly and cooperative with the health care providers
• Appears quite concerned (some may seem overly concerned) about their child
• May suffer from Munchausen syndrome (a related disorder in which a person repeatedly acts as if they have a physical or mental illness when they are not really sick)

Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy

Look at the symptoms and causes of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a rare psychological disorder due to an attention-seeking caregiver.

www.webmd.com

Munchausen By Proxy is when you make your child ill to seek attention- like Lacey Spears did when she poisoned her son Garnett with Salt and killed him. Straight Munchausen's is when you seek the attention for yourself. I don't think Erin's ruse of pretending to have Cancer to lure her victims over for lunch qualifies because her intent wasn't sympathy- she meant to kill all of them- and she also didn't poison her children at this time.

 

[Deleted member 363451]

Munchausen By Proxy is when you make your child ill to seek attention- like Lacey Spears did when she poisoned her son Garnett with Salt and killed him. Straight Munchausen's is when you seek the attention for yourself. I don't think Erin's ruse of pretending to have Cancer to lure her victims over for lunch qualifies because her intent wasn't sympathy- she meant to kill all of them- and she also didn't poison her children at this time.

I agree. Without a doubt she has mental conditions, but we aren't qualified to diagnose what those conditions are.

 

[Scooby-Doo]

Regarding Simon's poisoning, some of the evidence was maybe harder to prove, so the Prosecution decided to remove the charges from the trial to avoid any risk to evidence from a different timeline so it wouldn't impair the evidence of the murder charges in the Jury's decision making.

If Erin gets a head sentence of 15 years with a non-parole of 10, the DPP may be convinced then to run these charges to completion

The next step is the sentencing

 

[Tortoise]

I'm wondering if the judge can take into account as an aggravating factor, and in terms of evaluating the danger she poses, that it does seem probable, based on her testimonial admissions, that she had formed the intent to murder Simon at the lunch too (as argued by Nanette Rogers). Two birds with one stone, saving costs of a further trial.

She should never be released. This was planned for months, she did not relent and try to save the lives of any of them, the attempted murder charge proven for Ian shows she wanted them all dead as opposed to harmed, her victims died slow and terrible deaths lasting days, Ian has lasting health deficits, all because she is vengeful, devious, wicked, depraved and cruel. She is irredeemable. She led them to pray for her, knowing they were already dying. She took delight in serving up death to harmless people, causing so much pain to their family members.

MOO

Post in thread 'Australia - 3 dead after eating wild mushrooms, Leongatha, Victoria, Aug 2023 #14 *Arrest*'

Jun 16, 2025

Leftover beef Wellington was made for estranged husband, jury told​

ByMarta Pascual Juanola
Prosecutor Nanette Rogers, SC, has told jurors they should reject Erin Patterson’s suggestion she served her children leftovers of beef Wellington with the mushrooms scraped off, and that instead the leftovers were found by police in a bin at her Leongatha home.

“The prosecution suggests that this is the beef Wellington that the accused [went] to the trouble of making [and] was intended for Simon Patterson,” Rogers said in her closing address.

Rogers said Erin Patterson gave evidence that if her...

• Detechtive

• 

"Prosecutor Nanette Rogers, SC, has told jurors they should reject Erin Patterson’s suggestion she served her children leftovers of beef Wellington with the mushrooms scraped off, and that instead the leftovers were found by police in a bin at her Leongatha home.

“The prosecution suggests that this is the beef Wellington that the accused [went] to the trouble of making [and] was intended for Simon Patterson,” Rogers said in her closing address.

Rogers said Erin Patterson gave evidence that if her estranged husband had attended lunch on July 29, 2023 she would have served him a beef Wellington too.

“The prosecution case is had Simon Patterson changed his mind and decided to attend the lunch after all, he too would have been served that sixth, poisonous beef Wellington,” the prosecutor said."

 

[Charlot123]

Perhaps just my personal bias, but I don’t believe that’s a genuine diagnosis.

However I do believe that after many years of practice, EP would act her way out of or into just about any situation she sets her mind to - except this time. She will now justifiably serve out the rest of her life as a guest of His Majesty - a fitting place for someone who considers herself way above the rest of us mere mortals.

IMO.

On what ground did they diagnose her with Munchausen syndrome?

Is it because she lied about ovarian cancer when whe invited Patterson/Wilkinson's families for her beef Wellington, sauce Amanitoise dinner?

Or is it because she pretended to also have symptoms of mushroom poisoning when her victims fell ill?

Or was Erin's primary motivation of poisoning her relatives to gain their attention and sympathy?

She is not insane. She perfectly well understood that what she was doing was wrong. She got rid of the dehydrator. Mostly, she is a horrible menace to any community.

 

[Detechtive]

When people say things like "Did she just try to gain their sympathy and attention", or "maybe she just tried to make them sick" I can't bear it. This is because;

1. The mushrooms are called Death Caps. Not "Sick caps".
2. Erin knew the lethal dosage, and obviously overkilled them.
3. When Erin had an opportunity to gain sympathy and attention and swoop in being the hero, she instead lied, hid evidence, and obstructed her "loved ones" getting medical aid.
4. She is a convicted murderer. By law, this was intentional and anything pointing otherwise is to diminish the legal system and the rule of law. It is actually egregious and minimising to suggest it was an accident when a jury has found her guilty of murder, IMO.

 

[Detechtive]

I agree. Without a doubt she has mental conditions, but we aren't qualified to diagnose what those conditions are.

We don't need to be, though. She is clearly self absorbed, cold, lacking empathy, and a calculated mass killer. This can only really lead to ASPD, IMO.

She lies about illness to gain sympathy - this means she fits the diagnostic criteria for Munchausen’s Syndrome (properly known today as factitious disorder imposed on self), not Munchausen's by proxy (where the perpetrator commits acts upon others to glean sympathy and attention).

All you need to do is look up the DSM IV to see the diagnostic criteria to see what her behaviours fit - as they are all behaviourally based, that's all psychologists do to tick the boxes of these diagnosis' IMO.

Factitious disorder imposed on self - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Warshawski]

Investigation launched into Erin Patterson jury staying in same hotel as prosecution, police, media

It took days for court authorities to inform the judge that the jurors were sharing the same Gippsland hotel with others directly involved in Patterson’s triple-murder trial in Morwell.

www.theage.com.au

An investigation has been launched into the way the Erin Patterson jury was protected from outside influence during its deliberations, after jurors were “sequestered” in a hotel where seven journalists, two prosecutors and three detectives were also staying without the knowledge of the judge or defence.

It took up to six days for court authorities tasked with monitoring the jury to inform Justice Christopher Beale that the jurors were sharing the same hotel with other people directly involved in Patterson’s triple-murder trial in Morwell.

Another two days went by before the defence team was informed, only hours before the jury returned its guilty verdict.

Victoria’s Juries Commissioner has begun an inquiry into the circumstances at the hotel, including requesting CCTV footage from cameras in the lobby and hallways outside the rooms where the 12-member jury was housed under strict observation by Court Services Victoria’s “jury keepers”.
....
There is no suggestion that any of the police officers, prosecutors or members of the press behaved inappropriately or attempted to influence the jury.

OMG! This is the opportunity the defence was searching for in order to launch an appeal - imo.

Surely commonsense will prevail.

This is a very small country town, I would doubt there is suitable accommodation available to house everyone in seperate buildings.

 

[Warshawski]

We don't need to be, though. She is clearly self absorbed, cold, lacking empathy, and a calculated mass killer. This can only really lead to ASPD, IMO.

She lies about illness to gain sympathy - this means she fits the diagnostic criteria for Munchausen’s Syndrome (properly known today as factitious disorder imposed on self), not Munchausen's by proxy (where the perpetrator commits acts upon others to glean sympathy and attention).

All you need to do is look up the DSM IV to see the diagnostic criteria to see what her behaviours fit - as they are all behaviourally based, that's all psychologists do to tick the boxes of these diagnosis' IMO.

Factitious disorder imposed on self - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I understand where you’re coming from Detechtive, and I agree it can be said that she thought the lies she told in inviting her lunch guests were chosen in a bid to garner sympathy.

However I don’t believe this to be the same sort of ‘sympathy garnering’ that suffered of Munchausen’s Syndrome exercise.

Those with Munchausen’s do so in order to gain attention & sympathy in order to build a sense that people care about them. They often plague their medical professionals with symptoms , new ones appearing as the tests for previous turn up negative; they often chase medications, and go so far as to ‘take things’ to make themselves sick. … it’s a form of self-harm, as opposed to Munchausen’s by Proxy, where the same practices are inflicted on another.

In Erin’s case, she knew the way to the heart of these very good & caring people was to hint to them that she was seriously unwell, and once there she had to back that up so she told them she had cancer ( confident that it wouldn’t go past the lunch table as they would all soon be dead)

But Erin was seeking their sympathy in order for make them care for her & to build her sense of worth.

She was using their empathetic hearts to drive them to her murderous lunch.

IMO, she does not have Munchausen’s Syndrome. Most of us will say she must have some sort of mental illness, because we can’t fathom the fact that a ‘normal person’ would ever do something so horrific.
I don’t know, that’s way outside my space - and to be honest I don’t care. IMO someone who acts in this way has lost their right to a place in our society.

Just my opinion.

 

[Moll]

dbm

 

[Deleted member 363451]

I understand where you’re coming from Detechtive, and I agree it can be said that she thought the lies she told in inviting her lunch guests were chosen in a bid to garner sympathy.

However I don’t believe this to be the same sort of ‘sympathy garnering’ that suffered of Munchausen’s Syndrome exercise.

Those with Munchausen’s do so in order to gain attention & sympathy in order to build a sense that people care about them. They often plague their medical professionals with symptoms , new ones appearing as the tests for previous turn up negative; they often chase medications, and go so far as to ‘take things’ to make themselves sick. … it’s a form of self-harm, as opposed to Munchausen’s by Proxy, where the same practices are inflicted on another.

In Erin’s case, she knew the way to the heart of these very good & caring people was to hint to them that she was seriously unwell, and once there she had to back that up so she told them she had cancer ( confident that it wouldn’t go past the lunch table as they would all soon be dead)

But Erin was seeking their sympathy in order for make them care for her & to build her sense of worth.

She was using their empathetic hearts to drive them to her murderous lunch.

IMO, she does not have Munchausen’s Syndrome. Most of us will say she must have some sort of mental illness, because we can’t fathom the fact that a ‘normal person’ would ever do something so horrific.
I don’t know, that’s way outside my space - and to be honest I don’t care. IMO someone who acts in this way has lost their right to a place in our society.

Just my opinion.

I think she's a cold psychopath and that's in my opinion...

 

[dalsglen]

I'd invite you all to look farther afield in terms of her being a munchie. A good example is reddit r/illnessfakers (I'm banned from there funnily enough) or (I think it's) munchies through the Internet on kiwifarms. These people absolutely exist, hell if the grifting was about when I was a kid my aunt would've been right in there, thankfully she's thick as sheet.

Attention holds no morals.