Mushroom killer’s ex Simon Patterson to release tell-all memoir
Mushroom killer Erin Patterson’s estranged husband is about to reveal all in a memoir detailing their life together.
Simon Patterson’s upcoming book about the convicted triple murderer will outline allegations that the notorious mushroom cook repeatedly tried to poison him, the Herald Sun reports.
Mr Patterson will share his story for the first time after his ex-wife murdered her parents, Don and Gail Patterson, and her aunt, Heather Wilkinson.
Ian Wilkinson was the only family member to survive the fatal lunch.
In July 2023, Patterson served his former father-in-law a lethal Wellington beef dish containing death mushrooms at his home in Leongatha, a rural Victorian town about 130 km southeast of Melbourne.
Mr Patterson had been invited to lunch but had declined the invitation the night before and sent a text to his ex-wife saying he was uncomfortable attending.
“This is really disappointing. I spent hours making lunch this week… because I wanted it to be a special meal,” she wrote.
“I hope you change your mind. Your parents, Heather and Ian will be arriving at 12.30. I hope to see you there.”
During the killer’s murder trial, Mr Patterson told the court he feared his wife had previously tried to poison him after contracting a series of unexplained illnesses.
“I thought there was a risk he would poison me if I took part,” he told the court.
Mr Patterson was hospitalized four times in 2021 and 2022 and believed he could trace his illnesses to meals made by the fungicide.
“When I prepared the spreadsheet and looked at what I found, I thought someone else looking at this might think there was a case because Erin cooked the food,” he told the court.
Patterson is serving a life sentence with a non-parole period of 33 years for killing her ex-husband’s parents and aunt.
He is appealing his murder convictions to the Supreme Court and seeking a retrial. The prosecution also appealed the sentence, requesting a sentence of life imprisonment without parole.
