Delving into Erin Patterson's background reveals insights into her psychological makeup and potential motives for the mushroom murders, exploring the contrast between her claims of a difficult childhood and her family's actual history.

Will this get us any closer to determining a motive for her mushroom murders?

• War hero grandfather – Erin's maternal grandfather Victor Ray Cameron received recognition for gallant and distinguished services in WWII
• Academic mother – Dr. Heather Scutter was a respected academic who specialised in children's literature
• Family contradictions – Despite Erin claiming a cold upbringing "like a Russian orphanage," colleagues describe her mother as smart and well-liked
• Understanding Erin Patterson – Psychological concept of an "injustice collector" helps explain her disproportionate responses to perceived wrongs
• Calculated crimes – the Mushroom Murders weren't random but products of obsession, intellect and precision
• Erin Patterson Sentencing update – Life imprisonment likely with a non-parole period to be determined by Justice Christopher Beale

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What drives a seemingly normal mother to poison her former in-laws? The question haunts Lisa from the Mushroom Murder Trial, and in this second episode examining Erin and Simon Patterson, we might finally have found the answer.

Simon's emotional testimony in court revealed surprising details about their relationship after separation in 2015. Despite their marriage breakdown, they maintained what appeared to be an ideal co-parenting arrangement—sharing custody equally, taking family holidays together, and even involving each other in major life decisions. Simon continued to help Erin with her dream home build, using his engineering expertise while she pursued various educational interests from veterinary science to legal studies.

But beneath this cooperative veneer lurked a disturbing truth. Psychological research shows poisoners typically display childlike, manipulative personalities, desperate for control and avoiding direct conflict. Erin fits this profile perfectly—fabricating medical concerns including false claims about ovarian cancer, regularly visiting her mother while simultaneously claiming childhood abuse, and maintaining a façade of normalcy that masked her growing resentment.

The catalyst? A seemingly minor dispute over Simon's tax status that Erin claimed affected her family benefits. This "beginning of the end" escalated beyond reason, eventually leading to the calculated mushroom poisoning that shocked Australia. With only 11 homicides involving extended family members occurring annually nationwide, and men responsible for 88% of these crimes, Erin Patterson stands as a truly unusual case—perhaps someone simply "born this way" rather than shaped by circumstance.

Subscribe to my newsletter at mushroommurdertrialcom for exclusive updates and analysis you won't find anywhere else. While mainstream media has moved on, I'm committed to following this extraordinary case through to its conclusion, from courtroom to prison. What other secrets will emerge? Listen and find out.

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#TrueCrime #ErinPatterson #Familicide #MushroomMurders #TrueCrimeAustralia #TrueCrimeCommunity #DarkMinds #TrueCrimeShorts #TrueCrimeObsessed #CriminalPsychology #deathCap #MurderMystery #beefwellingtonpoisoning #courtroomdrama #truecrimepodcast #truecrime #mushroomtrial #mushroomtrialnews #poisoning #psychopath #simonpatterson #mushroomlady #erinpattersonguilty

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Mushroom Murder Trial Website

This is a replay of a previous episode that had a few gremlins in it. My apologies.

The marriage between Erin and Simon Patterson deteriorated over years despite multiple reconciliation attempts, leading to their separation and financial division. Despite maintaining strong ties with Simon's family and co-parenting their children amicably, this marriage ended in an act so horrific no one saw it coming.

• Erin maintained strong relationships with Simon's family even as her own marriage was falling apart
• The couple separated many times by the end of 2015 with Erin moving into a rental property
• They divided assets without lawyers
• Female mass killers are statistically rare, with only 11 homicides involving extended family annually in Australia
• Research shows marital conflicts can extend to in-laws when they intervene in troubled marriages

Check out my website at mushroommurdertrialcom for the latest news. Find me on Instagram at erin_pod or on Facebook by searching for "The Mushroom Murder Trial Podcast".

Support the show

Instagram @Erin_Podcast
Twitter @lisapodcasts
Mushroom Murder Trial Website