She followed a recipe from a well-known chef—then three people died
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It started as a lunch meant to bring people together—but ended in tragedy that has gripped the nation.
A beloved chef’s signature dish became an unwitting centrepiece in one of the most shocking murder cases in recent memory.
Now, as the guilty verdict lands, an unexpected name has been drawn into the aftermath.
The chef behind the widely popular RecipeTin Eats website has spoken out following the conviction of Erin Patterson, who was found guilty on 8 July of three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.
Photos released by the Supreme Court of Victoria showed Nagi Maehashi’s cookbook, Dinner, in Patterson’s Leongatha home—its pages open to a beef wellington recipe.
That same dish, laced with death cap mushrooms, became the fatal meal served during a family lunch in July 2023.
Patterson, 50, was convicted of poisoning her former in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, both aged 70, and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, 66. Ian Wilkinson, Heather’s husband, then aged 68, survived and became the basis for the attempted murder charge.
Maehashi addressed the tragic connection on 8 July, sharing a statement via social media in which she acknowledged the unsettling news and asked not to be contacted.
‘It is of course upsetting to learn that one of my recipes—possibly the one I’ve spent more hours perfecting than any other, something I created to bring joy and happiness—is entangled in a tragic situation,’ she said.
‘Other than that, I have nothing to say and I won’t be talking to anyone.’
‘Thank you for respecting my privacy.’
Court documents and photographic evidence submitted during the trial showed that while Maehashi’s recipe called for the beef wellington to be cooked as a single log, Patterson had prepared individual portions instead, claiming she couldn’t source the right cut of beef.
Leftover samples from the meal were subjected to toxicological testing. Death cap mushrooms were found in those tests, though other analyses—including plant virology and microscopy—did not detect the fungus.
Patterson’s legal team now has 28 days from her sentencing date to file an appeal. While reports emerged on 9 July suggesting she planned to challenge the verdict, it remains unclear on what grounds the appeal would be based. Her sentencing is expected later this year.
Here’s another story that highlights how deadly death cap mushrooms can be—even when they seem harmlessly foraged close to home.
One tragic case featured a woman who suffered fatal amatoxin poisoning after picking mushrooms from her own yard, echoing the dangers revealed in the recent Wellington poisoning.
It’s a sobering real‑life reminder of the unseen risks hidden in seemingly innocent meals.
Read more: Tragic death of 98‑year‑old highlights urgent need for mushroom foraging awareness
Losing trust in something as ordinary as a home-cooked meal can be deeply unsettling—especially when the recipe came from a place of joy and comfort.
As this case continues to spark national debate, it leaves many wondering how far responsibility stretches when tragedy strikes so close to the kitchen.
Have you ever felt uneasy using a recipe after hearing about something terrible linked to it?
A beloved chef’s signature dish became an unwitting centrepiece in one of the most shocking murder cases in recent memory.
Now, as the guilty verdict lands, an unexpected name has been drawn into the aftermath.
The chef behind the widely popular RecipeTin Eats website has spoken out following the conviction of Erin Patterson, who was found guilty on 8 July of three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.
Photos released by the Supreme Court of Victoria showed Nagi Maehashi’s cookbook, Dinner, in Patterson’s Leongatha home—its pages open to a beef wellington recipe.
That same dish, laced with death cap mushrooms, became the fatal meal served during a family lunch in July 2023.
RecipeTin Eats book linked to fatal lunch. Image source: Instagram/recipe_tin
Patterson, 50, was convicted of poisoning her former in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, both aged 70, and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, 66. Ian Wilkinson, Heather’s husband, then aged 68, survived and became the basis for the attempted murder charge.
Maehashi addressed the tragic connection on 8 July, sharing a statement via social media in which she acknowledged the unsettling news and asked not to be contacted.
‘It is of course upsetting to learn that one of my recipes—possibly the one I’ve spent more hours perfecting than any other, something I created to bring joy and happiness—is entangled in a tragic situation,’ she said.
‘Other than that, I have nothing to say and I won’t be talking to anyone.’
‘Thank you for respecting my privacy.’
Court documents and photographic evidence submitted during the trial showed that while Maehashi’s recipe called for the beef wellington to be cooked as a single log, Patterson had prepared individual portions instead, claiming she couldn’t source the right cut of beef.
Leftover samples from the meal were subjected to toxicological testing. Death cap mushrooms were found in those tests, though other analyses—including plant virology and microscopy—did not detect the fungus.
Patterson’s legal team now has 28 days from her sentencing date to file an appeal. While reports emerged on 9 July suggesting she planned to challenge the verdict, it remains unclear on what grounds the appeal would be based. Her sentencing is expected later this year.
Here’s another story that highlights how deadly death cap mushrooms can be—even when they seem harmlessly foraged close to home.
One tragic case featured a woman who suffered fatal amatoxin poisoning after picking mushrooms from her own yard, echoing the dangers revealed in the recent Wellington poisoning.
It’s a sobering real‑life reminder of the unseen risks hidden in seemingly innocent meals.
Read more: Tragic death of 98‑year‑old highlights urgent need for mushroom foraging awareness
Losing trust in something as ordinary as a home-cooked meal can be deeply unsettling—especially when the recipe came from a place of joy and comfort.
As this case continues to spark national debate, it leaves many wondering how far responsibility stretches when tragedy strikes so close to the kitchen.
Have you ever felt uneasy using a recipe after hearing about something terrible linked to it?
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