Crime Junkie
Crime Junkie
"Because we rarely see a loving mother who is giving with good family connections and friendships transform into a mass murderer in the blink of an eye, taking the lives of the very family members she says she loves." — Ashley Flowers
"But your question is a pointed one, what is her story? Yeah, because over the coming week Gail and Don and Heather each pass away from altered liver function and multiple organ failure." — Britt
"The jury convicted her of three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder." — Britt
This episode of Crime Junkie delves into the chilling case of Aaron Patterson, who allegedly poisoned her former in-laws and other family members with death cap mushrooms during a lunch gathering. The narrative begins with Patterson inviting her estranged husband's parents, aunt, and uncle to her home under the pretense of discussing health issues, specifically claiming she had cancer. The lunch, meticulously prepared by Patterson, culminated in all four guests falling severely ill with symptoms resembling severe food poisoning. As the victims were hospitalized, authorities began to suspect foul play, especially when Patterson’s own symptoms were mild and she left the hospital against medical advice.
The investigation uncovered a web of deceit woven by Patterson. Forensic analysis of the beef Wellington confirmed the presence of death cap mushrooms. Evidence revealed that Patterson had purchased a food dehydrator and, through digital data from her devices, investigators pieced together her research into mushroom foraging, including the rare death cap mushrooms. Further complicating matters, Patterson initially claimed to have purchased dried mushrooms from an Asian grocer, a claim that could not be substantiated and was later contradicted by evidence suggesting she dehydrated and processed the mushrooms herself. Her attempts to conceal evidence, including disposing of the dehydrator and manipulating her phones, further solidified suspicions against her.
The trial became a focal point as Patterson took the stand to defend herself. She offered explanations for the events, including fabricating the cancer diagnosis to garner support for upcoming gastric bypass surgery and claiming she purged after eating due to body image issues. However, her testimonies were met with inconsistencies and outright lies, such as the falsified details about the gastric bypass surgery and her prior claims of never foraging. Despite her defense, the prosecution presented overwhelming circumstantial evidence, including text messages revealing animosity towards her in-laws stemming from financial disputes with her estranged husband, and the discovery of mushrooms on a scale in her home. Ultimately, after weeks of trial, a jury convicted Aaron Patterson of three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.