Doctor reveals strange decision made by woman accused of killing relatives with poisonous lunch as messages shared in court

Erin Patterson is at the center of a shocking and emotional case in Australia. She’s being accused of poisoning and killing her former in-laws and trying to kill another family member during a family lunch she hosted in July 2023. The meal she served was beef wellington, and it’s believed to have contained deadly death cap mushrooms one of the most poisonous types in the world.

Don and Gail Patterson, the parents of Erin’s ex-husband Simon, both died after eating the lunch. So did Simon’s aunt, Heather Wilkinson. Another guest, Heather’s husband Ian Wilkinson, also got seriously ill but managed to survive. Erin has said she didn’t mean to harm anyone and has pleaded not guilty to all the charges. She claims the meal was meant to be a kind gesture, not something harmful.

During the court hearings, Dr. Christopher Webster, a doctor who treated Erin after the incident, testified about her strange behavior. When Erin came to the hospital, her in-laws were already in critical condition. Dr. Webster told Erin that he was very worried they had been poisoned by death cap mushrooms. He asked her where she had gotten the mushrooms from, and she simply answered, “Woolworths,” which is a common supermarket in Australia.

What stood out most to the doctor was what happened next. He warned Erin that if she had also eaten the same mushrooms, her life could be in danger too. He told her it was safest to stay in the hospital for treatment.

But surprisingly, Erin didn’t take the advice seriously she decided to leave the hospital on her own. Dr. Webster found this very unusual. He was so concerned that he contacted two of his superiors and even tried to call the police to make her come back. He also tried calling Erin three times himself.

Eventually, Erin returned to the hospital, just as the police arrived at her home. Dr. Webster told the police to check the house for any leftover food from the lunch. He said he wasn’t sure if there was any food still there, but it was important to act quickly just in case. He believed it was crucial to try to collect any evidence that could help understand what happened.

Dr. Webster also warned Erin that her children might need to be checked out at the hospital too, just to be safe. Erin responded by saying the kids might be too scared. But the doctor firmly told her it was better for them to be scared and alive, rather than in danger.

Another important part of the case came from text messages Erin sent to her ex-husband Simon before the lunch. Erin told Simon that she was struggling with health problems and said she had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She said the reason for the lunch was to talk about her health and spend time with the family. But Simon didn’t feel comfortable attending and told her he would rather talk another time.

In her reply, Erin said she was really disappointed. She told Simon that she had spent a lot of time and money preparing the meal. She mentioned buying expensive beef and making beef wellington to make the lunch special. She explained that she didn’t know when she’d be able to host a meal like that again and that it was important for her to have the family there. She ended the message by saying his parents, along with Heather and Ian, were coming at 12:30 p.m., and she hoped Simon would come too.

The whole situation has deeply shocked people across Australia. Three people are dead, one survived but was seriously ill, and the woman who cooked the meal is now on trial. The fact that poisonous mushrooms may have been involved has made the case even more mysterious and heartbreaking. Erin’s actions—both before and after the lunch—are now being carefully looked at to try and understand what really happened that day.