Heartbreaking new details have emerged from the will of Gail Patterson, an alleged mushroom poisoning victim, a year after she and two loved ones died.
The former school office worker and her husband Don, both 70, and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, 66, all died within days of eating a reportedly poisonous Beef Wellington lunch at the home of her daughter-in-law Erin Patterson on July 29 last year.
Erin Patterson was arrested at her home in Leongatha, in Victoria’s Gippsland region, last November and charged with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder.
A court document filed with the Supreme Court shows that Don Patterson would be the sole beneficiary of his wife Gail’s $212,679 estate. Herald Sun reported.
But because he also died after the alleged poisoning, her assets are divided equally between their three sons Simon, Erin’s estranged husband Matthew and Nathan Patterson and their daughter Anna Terrington.
They will get each an additional $53,239, on top of the $650,000 they each recently received from their father’s $2.6 million estate.
It also turned out that Nathan and Anna had to prove that their father was dead, even though his homologation had already been granted.
Their mother’s death certificate shows she died on August 4 last year, the day before their father died.
A sad detail has emerged from the will of alleged mushroom poisoning victim Gail Patterson, pictured with her husband Don, who also died after eating the same meal
Because Don survived his wife by less than 30 days, a review was initiated by the Supreme Court of Victoria.
“The probate office has reviewed your application. The following additional information is required,” the email read.
‘File a supplemental sworn statement of the executor clarifying the situation of the designated executor ‘Donald Kenneth Patterson.’
“The current executor’s statement and the advertisement contain conflicting information.”
Erin Patterson, who is awaiting trial, has left nothing in her will.
In Gail’s will dated November 2, 2018, her assets were valued at $212,679.
This included more than $176,000 worth of stock, a Kia estate car worth $30,000 and a Holden estate car worth $5,000.
Now that her will has been approved, the executors, Nathan and Anna, can distribute the assets to the beneficiaries.
The executor’s affidavit stated that “the full death certificate with cause of death has not yet been finalized as the death of the deceased is subject to a judicial investigation.”
Erin Patterson (pictured) pleaded not guilty in May to three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder
The meal eaten by the three deceased, which was cooked by Erin, reportedly contained green amanita pods.
Erin Patterson pleaded not guilty in May to three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder.
Heather’s husband Ian Wilkinson, who ate the meal but recovered after spending two months in hospital, and Simon, who was due to attend the lunch but cancelled at the last minute, are facing charges of attempted murder.
The remaining three attempted murder charges also relate to Simon, at Korumburra, Howqua and Wilsons Promontory locations, in November 2021, May 2022 and September 2022.
Patterson is due in court later this month.