RedHanded

Bonus Patreon Upcycle - Erin Patterson: Mushroom Murder Mystery

Dec 26, 2024

Dive into the chilling case of Erin Patterson, who allegedly poisoned her family with death cap mushrooms during a seemingly innocent lunch. The hosts explore the absurdity of final meal choices and the devastating consequences of misidentified fungi. As the story unfolds, questions arise about Erin's intentions amid a backdrop of suspicion and family dynamics. With a blend of dark humor and sobering realities, this discussion reveals the complexities of food safety and the dangers lurking in nature's kitchen.

44:19

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Quick takeaways

The tragic case of Erin Patterson reveals the complexities of intent in poisoning allegations, especially given her prior history with toxic plots.

The investigation highlights the dangers of amateur mushroom foraging, emphasizing how easily lethal toxins can be misidentified or misused.

Deep dives

The Tragic Lunch and Poisonous Meal

An Australian family suffered a tragic fate during what was meant to be a pleasant lunch in July 2023. Don and Gail Patterson, both in their seventies, and Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, succumbed to poisoning believed to be caused by death cap mushrooms mixed into a beef Wellington. The implicated meal was prepared by Erin Patterson, the estranged wife of Simon Patterson, who had canceled his attendance last minute. This decision led to a fatal gathering, as the three relatives tragically passed away within a week of consuming the meal, while Heather's husband Ian survived after a liver transplant.

Intro

3min

Murderous Mushrooms and Culinary Cravings

14min

The Dangers of Death Cap Mushrooms and a Suspicious Meal

4min

The Deadly Dinner Party

13min

Unraveling the Mushroom Poisoning Case: A Delicate Balance of Suspicion and Sympathy

5min

The Intrigue of Erin Patterson

12min

Exploring the Supernatural: Ghost Stories and Literary Monsters

2min

As RedHanded takes a festive pause, we've picked two of our favourite Patreon Bonus episodes from 2024. To get a full-length, bonus episode of RedHanded every month – plus weekly video episodes of Under the Duvet and much more besides – head to Patreon.com/redhanded and sign up. Or, head to patreon.com/redhanded/gift to buy a membership for someone else!

The world was gripped in the summer of 2023 when a 49-year-old Australian woman was accused of poisoning four members of her own family via a toxin-laced Beef Wellington. On the 29th of July that year, Erin Patterson served four of her ex-husband’s family members a dish containing Amanita phalloides, also known as “death cap” mushrooms; three of them tragically died.

Patterson still claims to this day that the whole thing was a complete accident entirely out of her control. However, her previous history of potentially poisonous plots begs to differ, especially when it comes to her ex-husband, Simon.

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