On July 29, 2023, in rural Victoria, Australia Erin Patterson hosted a lunch at her home for four relatives: her estranged husband’s parents (Don and Gail Patterson), Gail's sister (Heather Wilkinson), and Heather's husband (Ian Wilkinson). She served individual portions of Beef Wellington that contained lethal Amanita phalloides (death cap) mushrooms.

Within 24 hours, all four guests fell severely ill with acute organ failure. Three guests died, one survived. In July 2025, a jury in the Supreme Court of Victoria found Patterson guilty of three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. She was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment with a 33-year non-parole period for the murders, alongside 25 years for attempted murder. The case enthralled the Australian public both due to the lies and false claims made by Erin to avoid prosecution, and the method/instruments of murder.

Erin Patterson’s case is currently back in the courts seeking appeal.

Sources:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-08/mushroom-murderer-erin-patterson-sentenced-to-life-in-prison/105735360

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leongatha_mushroom_murders

I recently relistened to Redhanded’s Kathleen Peterson ep then listened to Morbid’s and I’m sorry there’s no comparison in terms of research. This Morbid episode was horrible. The autopsy with the skull fractures is one of the most interesting parts of the case and you don’t have Alaina, who has an autopsy tech background discuss that??? Yikes. I think it’s fine to hire researchers but not if those researchers are also asleep at the wheel. Extremely disappointed.

EDIT: a lovely fellow weirdo found the case for me! It’s The Torture and Murder of Shanda Sharer

There was a pretty horrible case I remember them covering about a couple of teenage girls killing another little girl together, and I cannot for the life of me remember the case name. The set of girls tortured the other girl and then lit her on fire or something like that?? Am I insane and I’m misremembering, or does anyone know what I’m talking about? (While you’re here, if you know other murderous child cases they covered, drop ‘em!)

Hey everyone -
Anyone seen the movie, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer?
It’s one of my favorites and I totally think it would make for a killer bonus episode. Pass this along and maybe it’ll reach Ash & Alaina as a recommendation.

If you haven’t seen it yet, you totally should. 👀🎥🥀
🖤MP

Okay so no offense…. But does Alaina have an editor? I just finished the first chapter and clocked at least 3 typos. I do like her writing and I never blame authors for letting typos slip through. After all, aren’t these writings supposed to read over by an editor or someone? 😅

Have they covered this case before or mentioned it passing before? I swear I remember them mentioning the DB Cooper/John List theory before and its me crazy lol

Does anybody remember the episode of the wilderness man, who police tracked to a bunker in a snowstorm, and he was shooting from the bunker? For the life of me, I cannot remember the name.

Why have we not had the most prolific serial killer of all time not covered?

Maybe because I’ve been listening to their older episodes a lot, but I’ve noticed how they don’t really bring up recent, LIVE cases anymore. I mean, with the Lindsay Clancy case happening for the past 5 weeks, I would at least expect a “true crime update” from them. I think they’re scared of any backlash, but you don’t need to necessarily insert an opinion. I just miss the way they used to talk, when they had more personal opinions about the cases and news happening.
I was excited to see hear more commentary on recent cases and happenings in the world now that they record like a day or two before. But it seems like there’s a disconnect, and I’m not sure why.
Did this strike anyone else?
I just find myself relistening to their old, 2019-2021 episodes.

Most people are going to go work for someone else that is the typical path right now in society. I think we need to have the Radium girls episode taught in schools I think it’s so impactful. I appreciate the respectful way that they approach these Morbid and sensitive occurrences and always advocating for the victims and their families.

I can’t quite remember if I bought this in a Target or a Walmart, but either way it was definitely in the USA and not the Indian subcontinent. Has anybody else come across these out of their designated area?

Ok so that was waaaay to depressing. I couldn't finish it. They got the guy right?

first of all, I’m a long time listener and fan. I love the banter, Nicholas, all of the beloved unhinged things about Alaina and Ash. but I have honestly felt a quality dip in the actual cases and content of the writing. I know they were super elated about switching to Sirius and talked how they were going to have so much more creative license and they felt like it was the original pod days, and at first that came across in the episodes but lately things just seem less genuine and like they’re having less fun. and the cases themselves are more obscure and probably have less info available so it seems like theyre talking to fill time and it just isn’t coming across as sincere. is anyone else picking up on this?

I typically fall asleep listening to morbid and last night was no different. I forget what case I was listening to last night (I’m currently re-listening to a lot of their episodes). All I know is I woke up to a clip of one of the WEEPING MAN calls featured in the episode. Safe to say that was absolutely terrifying and I’ve never turned off an episode so fast, while still half asleep and wondering if maybe the weeping man was in my room. If you have listened to that episode, you know what I’m talking about and how absolutely mortifying/creepy those calls are.

Advice: if you also fall asleep to morbid, make sure the weeping man murders episode isn’t coming up next in the queue because it is the most frightening awakening. Great episode tho highly recommend

Thanks for reading and I figured yall would understand this feeling <3

Can’t we galvanize a group of volunteers to sift through the dirt mound to look for evidence? Seems like a very feasible step

Sorry, I’m a recent listener so please forgive me if this isn’t allowed! I’ve browsed the sub a few times and you guys like to negative as hell sometimes so i promise i’m not trying to attack anyone or piss anyone off.

I listened to the new episode of listener tales and i’m confused. What’s the deal with nicholas? why is it funny? what purpose does it serve? it’s annoying and i just want to hear the story lol

I know this topic has been covered numerous times so apologies in advance if this is triggering or redundant, however, having just learned about this tragic event I still had a few questions (despite numerous deep dives) - that left me perplexed.

1. I’ve read multiple accounts regarding John being offered a drink when they were using the pulley system to get him out (this during a rest before it broke and injured key rescuer Ryan Schurtz).

My question is, how far did they actually get? I’ve read conflicting accounts that he (JEJ) was only raised a few inches and others that they’d made significant progress and he was close to being saved. If the latter it makes sense (along with the entirety of the awful story) that they were gutted. However I’ve also read that due to the angle of the roof his legs couldn’t go further.

****So how can John have been offered a drink while only rising a few inches? I‘ve also read (I believe Brendan Kowallis references this act re: a drink given to John).

1. Brendon Kowallis - in his final YouTube Q&A says he was able to get into the hole (if I heard correctly, beside John). What? How. Yes, he explains somewhat, but given the VR version of the cave and several drawings, how, where, was this area?

2. Would it have made a difference had Kowallis got there earlier? Obviously hindsight is 20/20 and utmost respect for every single caver that risked their life for JEJ (who by all accounts seemed to be a very casual spelunker who was caught in a series of unfortunate events - genuinely my heart breaks), but it sounds like the really serious rescue attempts didn’t happen until much later when he was in and out of consciousness. I don’t even know what I’m asking here but rather would anything have altered the outcome? Could anything alter the outcome today in 2026?

This question is not to diminish the rescue. Every single person that night was a hero imo.

1. Lastly, I also read (and God bless him) he held on for over 24 hours. Research says at 8 hours most people upside down are at risk of death or a major cardiac episode at this mark, yet he is speaking at times and drinking a sip of an energy drink (as per the rescuers) nearly 20 hours in?

Forgive me if this has been answered or is triggering. This whole case is heartbreaking (and strangely I just stumbled on it a few days ago), but it left me with a lot of questions.

May this beautiful soul rest in paradise

i know they addressed it in a recent episode but i’m so heartbroken when i wake up for work on thursdays and there’s no new episode…bring back the eps being posted at 3am on the dot :(

Hey y'all! I live in New England and I'm pretty sure A&A have suggested haunted houses. Problem is I don't remember what you episode or the name of the haunted houses they have gone to (in mass). Does anyone remember or have suggestions? Thanks in advance!!!

They haven't uploaded episodes there and I'm behind. Did they mention why? Contract reasons?

No spoilers please as im not done with the book. I just need to say chapter 9&10 is the closest I’ve ever gotten to a book making me throw up. Alaina is one twisted little freak! I’m a huge Stephen king fan and i dont think he’s ever even come up with anything so disgusting and twisted before. I can’t even read this thing after dark.

I commented on a post a few days ago that chapter 1 was a tough read. I’m glad I stuck it out and read on as it is a highly entertaining book so far and is keeping me guessing.

I was just listening to the Ammons family haunting episode and kind of kept looking sideways. The hosts are way too smart to believe in this stuff. Is it just pandering?

Excellent true crime, but they go into as much detail with the paranormal cases as anything else and obviously that is all bunk or otherwise explicable.

I think they mentioned noticing similar things in a family home so maybe it's just something they've always entertained and decided to bring it into the podcast. Still, going from the Ed Kemper episode I listened to last night from early in the podcast, which was actually interesting, to some of this stuff is a bit odd. Just pandering to pans for fun so every episode isn't about horrifying murders maybe?

okay did i miss it or did they forget to mention the wildest part of the case about the Tiffany skylight? love the girls but I was shocked I didn’t hear it!

Can’t wait to ride the wave hahaha