Hey Spooky Squad! Welcome back to another episode of Scream and Sugar, your true crime coffee hour. Today, we’re heading to rural Australia to unpack a case that sounds almost too bizarre to be real—the deadly mushroom lunch linked to Erin Patterson.

In 2023, a seemingly ordinary family meal turned fatal when multiple guests fell critically ill after eating beef Wellington allegedly containing poisonous death cap mushrooms. Three people died, one narrowly survived, and attention quickly turned to the host: Erin Patterson. As investigators sifted through conflicting statements, missing evidence, and questions about intent, the case sparked international fascination and fierce debate.

Was this a tragic accident rooted in foraging mistakes—or a calculated act hiding behind a home-cooked meal? In this episode, we walk through the timeline, the victims, the science behind death cap poisoning, and why this case continues to divide public opinion as legal proceedings unfold.

Grab your coffee and your curiosity, and remember to stay spooky, y’all!

Case Notes:

Undisturbed Salon with Jessica: https://www.undisturbednv.com/

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/may/01/erin-patterson-husband-simon-mushroom-lunch-murder-trial-australia-ntwnfb#:~:text=In%20the%20lead%2Dup%20to%20a%20deadly%20lunch%2C,you'd%20like%20to%20discuss%20on%20the%20phone%22.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-08/live-updates-erin-patterson-sentence-mushroom-murders/105734146
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/oct/09/erin-patterson-should-never-receive-parole-mushroom-murders-ntwnfb
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-08/live-updates-erin-patterson-sentence-mushroom-murders/105734146
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-01/erin-patterson-mushroom-trial-explainer/
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-05/erin-patterson-mushroom-trial-evidence-excluded/
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australian-woman-charged-over-fatal-mushroom-lunch-2023-11-02/
https://www.supremecourt.vic.gov.au/news/erin-patterson-sentencing
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/factsheets/Pages/death-cap-mushroom.aspx

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This content is not appropriate for all listeners; listener discretion is advised.  PS. Let's just umbrella all our content with a blanket statement: allegedly, supposedly! Stay spooky, squad.