Crime & justice

Australia Mushroom Murder Trial: Lead Detective Takes the Stand

Published MAY 29 2025

Story

Above: A memorial plaque on the grave site for Don and Gail Patterson at the Korumburra General Cemetery as the Erin Patterson trial continues on May 13, 2025, in Korumburra, Australia. Image credit: Asanka Ratnayake/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images

The Facts

Stephen Eppingstall, the lead detective in the triple-murder trial of Erin Patterson — who allegedly served her ex-in-laws a meal containing poisoned mushrooms — testified that a Nokia phone mentioned by Patterson during her police interview was never found or seized.
guardian
Daily Mail
The detective confirmed that Patterson was allowed to move around her home during the police search, clarifying that she was always accompanied by an officer, apart from when she made a 14-minute phone call to her lawyer in private and organized care for her children.
ABC
Sky News
Detective Eppingstall testified that several factory resets were conducted on "Phone B" (a Samsung found in the house) on August 5 and 6, while "Phone A" was never recovered by police, with records showing its SIM card was removed during the house search and placed into a Nokia device.
Dailytelegraph
ABC
Police obtained Patterson's shopping records between July 23-28, 2023, which reportedly included multiple beef eye fillets, pastry packets, and mushrooms, which were ingredients used in the beef wellington meal served at the fatal lunch.
Dailytelegraph
ABC
Medical records also presented in court revealed Patterson had sought medical advice in late 2021 for various health concerns, including worries about ovarian cancer, with doctor's notes indicating she had been researching symptoms and had a family history of the disease.
NZ Herald
Dailytelegraph
The prosecution alleges Patterson used a "false claim" of a cancer diagnosis to orchestrate the lunch, while the defense maintains she only told guests about a "suspected" diagnosis, with medical records allegedly documenting health concerns dating back to 2021.
NZ Herald
Daily Mail

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

Erin Patterson's guilt is becoming clearer as the evidence unfolds. Her computer showed visits to websites identifying death cap mushrooms, indicating premeditation; text messages to Gail Patterson about fake medical appointments reveal deceit; and the two phones, likely containing incriminating data, were either uncovered by police or reset post-seizure. This points to deliberate poisoning, not an accident.

The Independent

guardian

Narrative B

The evidence has actually cast some doubt on Patterson's guilt. By not collecting the second phone, the police may have failed to uncover exculpatory evidence. The CCTV footage, which only allegedly shows her son but not her, further weakens the prosecution. Patterson's cooperation, such as providing meal leftovers, suggests transparency, not guilt, pointing to a flawed investigation.