A seemingly quiet housewife was accused of cunningly planning to send an entire family to the afterlife and of trying to kill her husband three times… They say that she had been nurturing this terrifying plan long before the tragedy… But maybe it’s all made up? The details of this case will certainly not leave you indifferent…

That Fateful Day

On that fateful day 50-year-old Erin Patterson from Australia was preparing for the arrival of her husband’s relatives – her mother-in-law Gail and father-in-law Don, and Gail’s sister with her husband, who had planned to come and visit the grandchildren. From the outside, everything looked perfectly calm: a sunny day, a cozy house, and Erin herself was surprisingly cheerful, although she had never really liked when her husband’s relatives visited. 

She listened to her favorite songs while simultaneously preparing her mother- and father-in-law’s favorite treats in the kitchen, carefully arranging everything on the table. It seemed the day couldn’t go wrong… anyone who looked at this “beautiful” scene from the outside would hardly suspect the horror that would unfold here in just a few hours…

Children in Anticipation

Suddenly the children burst into the kitchen, laughing and jumping around with impatience…
— Hurry up already, Grandma and Grandpa! — shouted the younger son, his face shining with excitement…
Erin smiled but her smile was strange, a little mysterious, as if she knew something the children did not…

— My dears, — she said softly, — you’ve been given tickets to the movie you’ve been waiting for so long…
— Today? — her daughter exclaimed, unable to hide her delight…
— Yes, right on the day of the premiere! — Erin replied, trying to sound casual. — But what about Grandma and Grandpa…
— They’ll wait for you later, — she added quietly, as if deliberately nudging the children toward the exit…

Could This Be Part of a Plan

It seemed as though Erin had deliberately planned to send the children away from the house… Or maybe she really had gotten tickets for the premiere and it was just a coincidence… Meanwhile the children paused for a moment, exchanged glances, and then ran off to get ready… 

Erin was left alone in the kitchen, her eyes glimmering slightly, lips barely pressing together… There was a tense, invisible atmosphere in the air, as if behind this ordinary smile was a decision that could change everything…

Preparation for the Guests Continues

Erin walked through the house, checking every corner, laying out napkins, arranging plates and cutlery… She hummed quietly to herself while her eyes constantly scanned the dishes on the table, as if checking to make sure nothing unnecessary was visible… 

Inside her stirred a feeling of anticipation and hidden anxiety… It seemed this day would be nothing like how the others imagined… Or maybe she was acting strangely simply because she didn’t really want to see her in-laws… Well, we would soon find out…

The Children Left and It Was Time for the Main Dish

When Erin returned to the kitchen, she paused for a moment, gripping the countertop… Her gaze fell on the children who were already heading for the exit, and she felt a strange satisfaction that they would not be home for the next few hours…

— Well, this will be better for everyone — she whispered under her breath, and began preparing the main dish — the Wellington pie… It was the very dish that many would later speak about and remember with horror…

Signature Dish

She knew how much her father-in-law and mother-in-law loved this dish — Wellington pie… And today she prepared it more carefully than ever, adding one new ingredient… Only seconds remained before the guests arrived… 

Erin changed clothes, drank a glass of wine, as if preparing for something important she had long awaited… and sat down to wait… The guests arrived, as always, on time… They were very punctual… Had they known what awaited them, they would have stayed home…

Everyone Was in Place

The guests arrived in a group of four — Don and Gail, and Gail’s sister with her husband… They laughed loudly, talking about the drive, unaware that an ordinary dinner would turn into an event no one would forget…
— Erin, where are the children? — Gail asked, looking around the empty house…
— They’ll be here soon, don’t worry — Erin replied softly, smiling as if nothing unusual was happening…

— Well, at least we can enjoy your company — added her mother-in-law with a slight smirk… Her voice carried something strange and sharp, almost like a compliment but Erin certainly wasn’t expecting it… She led everyone to the dining room and seated them at the table, serving the dishes, which everyone looked at with appetite and curiosity…

The Beginning of That Dinner

Everyone began to eat, laughing and joking, discussing the drive, the weather, and small news… Erin sat quietly, watching the guests…
— I wonder, — said Don, looking up at the plates, — why does everyone have the same plates but yours, Erin, is different…

— Oh, don’t have enough dishes? — Gail unexpectedly teased, smiling in a way that seemed slightly mocking and provocative…
Erin barely nodded, her insides tightening with anger… How she despised these people…

A Toxic Conversation at the Table

After the strange remark about the plates, the conversation did not stop — it slowly, almost imperceptibly, became poisonous... Everyone continued eating but the words grew sharper. Gail chewed unhurriedly, studying Erin as if she were judging a failed dish.
— You seem rather distant today, — she said with a faint smile. — The house is there, the table is set… but there’s no warmth somehow.

— Probably tired, — Gail’s sister intervened. — A house, children, constant fuss…
— Yes, — Gail picked up, — not every woman can handle such an “ideal” life.
Erin slowly lifted her gaze.
— I manage just fine, — she replied calmly.
— Of course, — the mother-in-law drawled. — You always say that.

The Question Hanging in the Air

For several seconds, only the clinking of cutlery could be heard at the table. And then Don, as if casually, said:
— And your husband Simon didn’t come to dinner today, that’s strange...
The words sounded too loud. Erin tensed almost imperceptibly...
— Ex-husband, — Gail immediately corrected him and smiled mysteriously. — Don’t forget.

She looked at Erin as if savoring the moment.
— Yes, — Erin said with a restrained smirk. — Ex-husband.
— He’s lucky, — Gail continued. — He won’t have to listen to your jokes… not always appropriate.

A Heated Atmosphere

The air at the table became thick, heavy... Even Gail’s sister shifted awkwardly in her chair.
— You stayed on good terms, didn’t you? — she asked cautiously.
— As much as possible, — Erin replied.

— Though it’s strange, — Gail wouldn’t let up. — Men don’t usually leave such quiet, convenient women.
— Sometimes silence is deceptive, — Erin said and for the first time looked her mother-in-law straight in the eyes. Gail fell silent for a moment...

Who Was Really Lucky

In fact, Simon really was lucky. Very lucky. He was sitting in a completely different place at that moment and had no idea that this dinner could have been his last. 

Erin took a sip of wine and felt a strange calm spread inside her...
— Shall we drink? — Don suggested, trying to defuse the tension.
— Of course, — Erin nodded. — To mutual understanding!

There Was No Way Back

The glasses clinked. The guests smiled, joked, and ate with more confidence. No one noticed that Erin barely touched her plate. No one saw how her fingers trembled slightly as she moved the napkin aside...
She watched each of them closely. 

How Gail laughed. How Don joked. How Gail’s sister asked for seconds…This dinner was only beginning but there was already no way back. And no one at the table yet understood that they had very little time left...

The Return of the Grandchildren

Closer to late evening, the sound of the front door opening echoed through the house. The children returned excited, laughing, talking over each other about the movie. Gail and Don immediately brightened up.
— There they are, our treasures, — Gail exclaimed, rising from her chair.
— Come here, — Don added, smiling broadly.

The grandchildren were seated nearby, questioned, laughed with, played with, as if all the tense conversations at the table had been forgotten. For a few minutes, the house filled with real noise and warmth but it did not last long...

A Rare Moment of Joy

Gail stroked her granddaughter’s hair, Don showed the boy an old coin trick.
— How we missed you, — Gail said with demonstrative tenderness.
— They grow up so fast, — Gail’s sister chimed in.

Erin watched the scene from the side. Her face remained calm but her gaze was alert, as if she were waiting for something to go wrong. And a second later, she tensed...

The Request That Changed Everything

— Mom, we’re hungry, — the younger son suddenly said. — Can we eat?
Erin flinched. Panic flashed in her eyes too quickly to hide...

— No food before bed, — she snapped sharply.
Silence fell at the table. The children fell quiet, confused...

Another Toxic Comment

Gail slowly turned toward Erin.
— How strict, — she said with a thin smile. — You used to be softer… or is it only with us now?
— I said no, — Erin replied coldly.

— Of course, — the mother-in-law sighed. — Parenting nowadays requires sacrifices. Sometimes even from children.
Erin pressed her lips together and waited for the evening to end as soon as possible...

The Final Departure

Time dragged on slowly. The children yawned, the guests gathered their things, put on coats, continuing to chat about trivialities.
— Thank you for dinner, — Don said. — It was… unusual.
— Yes, — Gail added, looking at Erin. — Very memorable.
Erin nodded, walking them to the door.

The guests left in good spirits, laughing and discussing the drive home. They had no idea they would never cross this house’s threshold again. Erin closed the door, turned the lock, and leaned against the wall for a few seconds.
The house sank back into calm... but not for long...

An Alarming Call the Next Morning

The morning had barely begun when Erin’s phone rang. She glanced at the screen and held her breath for a second. Simon. Her ex-husband...
— Erin, — his voice was broken, — do you know what’s happening?!
— What are you talking about? — she spoke calmly, almost indifferently.

— My parents. And my aunt and uncle — all four are in the hospital!
— In the hospital... — she repeated the word, as if tasting it.
— They were rushed in overnight. Severe poisoning!

The Ex-Husband Was in Panic

The doctors say it’s gastroenteritis but it’s very serious.
A pause hung in the room.
— They were at your place yesterday, — Simon spoke more quietly. — Do you know anything?
— I don’t feel well either, — Erin suddenly said. — My stomach hurts. Diarrhea... Probably the same virus.

— Erin, this isn’t funny, — his voice trembled. — I’m going to the hospital!
But at that moment, no one could even imagine that it wasn’t just gastroenteritis. It was far worse...

The Hospitalization That Never Happened

That same day, Erin did appear at the Leongatha hospital. She looked tired, pale but composed...
— I have abdominal pain, — she calmly told the doctor. — And severe diarrhea.
The medical staff exchanged glances. The symptoms were too similar to those of the guests...

— We recommend that you stay, — the doctor said carefully. — For observation.
— No, — Erin shook her head. — I need to go home.
— Your condition could worsen.
— I’ll manage.
She refused hospitalization but they still kept her at the hospital until evening. That alarmed the doctors...

The Doctors Make a Decision

By evening, her condition, according to her, had not improved. The test results raised more and more questions — they were perfect, unlike the guests’... but everyone had eaten the same food... could it be... had she poisoned them with something?!
— She’s hiding something, — one doctor quietly said to a colleague.
— Or she knows more than she’s saying.

When Erin tried to leave again, the staff stopped her.
— We can’t let you go, — the attending physician said firmly.
— You have no right, — Erin raised her eyes. — I’ve already said everything.
That was when the decision was made to call the police. Not as suspects but as someone whose condition caused serious concern.

Police Intervention

The officers arrived quickly. Calm, polite, without pressure.
— Mrs. Patterson, — one of them began, — we just want to ask a few questions.
— Of course, — she nodded. — I have nothing to hide.
— You hosted a dinner yesterday.
— Yes. A family one.
— All the guests are now in the hospital.

— I know, — Erin looked straight into his eyes. — I’m sick too.
— You ate the same food as they did.
— Yes...
— And yet you refuse hospitalization.
She smirked.
— Because I’m not dying, and my ex-husband’s relatives have always liked to exaggerate!

A Few Days Later, the Unthinkable Happened...

Only a few days passed when the news from the hospital hit like a cold shower. Gail Patterson, 70, and Heather Wilkinson, 66, died without regaining consciousness... The doctors did everything they could but the women’s condition deteriorated within hours.

— We’re very sorry, — the doctor quietly told Simon. — We lost them.
Simon stood, clutching his phone, unable to believe what he was hearing.
— It was just a normal dinner, — he whispered. — Just a family dinner…
— Too much points to severe poisoning, — they replied cautiously.

The Investigation Begins

That same day, Victoria Police officially launched an investigation. This was no longer a medical matter. It became a criminal one.
— Two deaths after one dinner, — one detective said, reviewing the files. — That’s not a coincidence.
— And the others, — another reminded him. — Don Patterson and Heather’s husband are still in critical condition.
— There’s only one question now, — the senior officer said slowly. — Will they die too...

The name Erin Patterson, who had hosted the guests, surfaced again and again in every report, though at that point no one had formally accused her of anything...
— Do you think she could be involved? — someone asked aloud.
— I think, — the detective replied after a pause, — she knows more than she’s saying.

Questions Without Answers

When Erin was informed of Gail and Heather’s deaths, she was silent for a long time.
— That’s terrible, — she finally said. — I sympathize with them.
— You understand, — the police officer said calmly, — that we are now obliged to consider all versions.
— Even the most frightening ones.
— Even those in which you are involved.

She looked at him without tears, without hysteria, without shock.
— You think I could have wished them dead.
It was not a question — and that was what alarmed everyone the most.
Because while two guests were still fighting for their lives and two were already dead, the main, most terrifying question hung in the air…
Was this dinner planned exactly this way... and what would happen to the remaining guests...

20 Years Ago…

And it all started so well… After graduating from university, Erin took a job as an air traffic controller at Airservices Australia in Melbourne and worked there from February 2001 to November 2002. The job demanded absolute concentration and the ability to keep emotions under control… 

@60 Minutes Australia/YouTube.com

Mistakes were far too costly, and Erin quickly learned to be cold and composed. Colleagues often told her that she was remarkably calm.
— Do you ever get nervous? — they once asked her.
— If you start getting nervous, you can lose everything, — Erin replied calmly. She already knew the rules of this life…

When Work Stopped Bringing Joy

Over time, the constant pressure began to exhaust her. Erin stayed late after shifts more and more often, silently staring out the control room window, catching herself thinking that she no longer felt joy. In 2004 she unexpectedly left aviation and took a job as an animal management officer at RSPCA Australia at Monash City Council. This decision surprised many…

@60 Minutes Australia/YouTube.com

— You’re leaving such a serious profession? — acquaintances asked, puzzled.
— I’m tired of watching other people’s lives from a screen, — she replied.
Working with animals seemed more honest and understandable to her. And this career change became a turning point in her life — in the literal sense of the word…

Meeting Her Future Husband

It was during this period that Erin met Simon Patterson, an engineer at Monash City Council. He was calm, thoughtful, spoke little but always to the point. Their conversations started with work topics and gradually became personal…
— You’re always so serious, — Simon once remarked.
— I just don’t like empty words, — Erin replied.

@60 Minutes Australia/YouTube.com

This brought them closer. In Simon she saw reliability, and he saw strength and independence in her… though at that time he could never imagine how much Erin was hiding… and that it was better not to provoke her.

Slow and Almost Invisible Bonding

Their meetings became part of everyday life. They stayed late at work together, took evening walks, discussed books, learning, plans, and topics rarely spoken about in the early stages of a relationship. Erin did not rush to fully open up but Simon felt a special closeness growing between them…
— You almost never talk about your past, — he once said, as if afraid to touch a sensitive subject.

— Because the past changes nothing, — Erin replied calmly.
— But what if it still affects the present?
— Then it will make itself known, — she said, looking away.
Simon took it as a sign of maturity, unaware that Erin was simply used to keeping much to herself and showing the world only what she deemed necessary…

Romance Without Loud Words

Their romance developed calmly and almost mundanely, without dramatic declarations or theatrical gestures but with a sense of reliability and rightness. They had dinners at home, planned trips together, and talked about the future as if it had long been decided.

— Everything feels so real with you, — Simon said one evening.
— Because you don’t try to change me, — Erin replied.
— I wouldn’t even try, — he smirked. — It’s dangerous with you.
Erin smiled in return, taking his words as a joke, though internally noting them as an astute observation.

Conversations About the Future…

Over time, the topic of family and marriage came up more often but without pressure or haste. Simon spoke carefully, trying to understand her attitude toward serious commitments.
— Have you ever imagined yourself married? — he asked one day.
— I have, — Erin replied after a short pause.
— And what do you feel?

— That such decisions cannot be made only based on feelings.
— Then what should guide them?
— Confidence and control, — she said calmly.
Simon took her words as a sign of common sense, unaware of how important the sense of control over life was to Erin…

Wedding and Beginning of Married Life

In 2007 they got married in a restrained and neat ceremony, without unnecessary pomp but with a sense that everything was happening exactly as it should. Erin looked calm and collected, as if she weren’t nervous at all. She had always known how to control her emotions, which made many around her think she was very reserved…

— Are you nervous? — Simon quietly asked when they were alone for a moment.
— No, — she replied. — I’m just keeping everything under control.
— Even today?
— Especially today, — Erin said, looking him straight in the eyes.
Guests laughed, toasted, and wished them happiness, unaware that on this very day a story began in which there would be no happy ending…

Marriage and Move to Western Australia

But back then, everything seemed like a fairy tale… Erin and Simon married and moved to Western Australia. They lived in Perth, then York, and later Pemberton. The town was small and quiet, as if made for a new life. Erin opened a secondhand bookstore, spending long hours alone.

— You’re always surrounded by books, — Simon said.
— Books don’t ask unnecessary questions, — Erin laughed in response.
During this period, they had a son, and from the outside, the family seemed peaceful and prosperous…

Bonding With the In-Laws

While living in Western Australia, Erin unexpectedly grew close to Simon’s parents — Gail and Don Patterson. They often visited, stayed for weekends, had dinners together, and talked at length. Erin especially bonded with Don. He was gentle, attentive, a good listener, and never interrupted. Their conversations lasted hours and touched on books, history, education, and the meaning of life.

@60 Minutes Australia/YouTube.com

— He’s so easy to talk to, — Erin once told Simon. — He really listens.
— Dad’s always been that way, — Simon smiled. — I’m glad you’ve found common ground.
But with her mother-in-law, it was different…

A Difficult Nuance…

Gail was strict, attentive to details, and prone to comments that sounded caring but left an unpleasant aftertaste. She noticed everything — the order in the house, tone of voice, pauses, glances… and didn’t respect other people’s boundaries.
— You’re very neat, Erin, — she said, scanning the kitchen. — Sometimes even too much.

— I just like order, — Erin replied calmly.
— That’s good. Just don’t take it to extremes, — Gail added with a thin smile.
At the time, Erin didn’t give these words much significance. She simply thought of them as a negative trait of her mother-in-law… but we all know what happens when a person accumulates negativity for a long time…

Good News and the Illusion of a Perfect Family

When Erin learned she was pregnant a second time - with a daughter - family relations grew even warmer. Gail and Don genuinely celebrated the news, called often, inquired about her health, and offered help. They visited more frequently, helped with shopping, and discussed names and future plans.
— We’ve been waiting for this moment, — Gail said, gently placing her hand on Erin’s shoulder. — You can’t even imagine!

— We’ll always be here, — added Don. — You won’t have to handle everything alone.
Erin felt support and for the first time in a long while allowed herself to relax. Family dinners became warmer than ever. It seemed that everything had finally fallen into place. The key word — “seemed”…

The House That Looked Right for Years

After the birth of their daughter, the family grew even closer. Gail gladly took care of the granddaughter, Don spent hours with the child, telling stories and reading books aloud.
— Look at us, — Gail once said, sitting at the table. — A real family.
— Yes, — Simon agreed. — We’re lucky!

Erin smiled silently. From the outside, they truly looked like a perfect family — caring grandparents, a loving husband, a calm home, and children. No one could see the warning signs, and it seemed impossible to imagine that one day these people would sit at the same table for the last time…

The First Major Loss

Around 2011, Erin’s father died of cancer. She barely spoke of her grief and did not seek support.
— You’ll manage, — Simon said.
— I always manage, — she replied.
After this loss, Erin spoke less, withdrew further into herself, and shared her feelings even more rarely. It seemed that with her father, she had lost the ability to trust and open up.

And gradually, the first serious cracks began to appear in the family. Arguments about child-rearing, fatigue, mutual reproaches, and unspoken words slowly replaced the warmth that had once been there. The “idyll” that everyone had once seen from the outside had vanished step by step.

Temporary Separations…

Over time, conflicts began to happen more often. They argued over small things they used not to notice, and later — over more fundamental issues.
— You’re too strict with the kids, — Simon said.
— And you’re too soft!, — Erin replied. — They need to know boundaries.
One conversation went too far. Simon packed his things and moved to his parents’ house, saying they both needed time. 

It was the first serious separation but not the last… After some time, they reconciled, tried to start over, convincing themselves that everything could still be fixed. But the tension never disappeared. It simply waited, ready to flare up again with new force…

The Parents’ Home and the New Role of the Mother-in-Law

When Simon temporarily moved to his parents’ home, his mother Gail seemed to feel she had gained an unspoken right to interfere. She began calling Erin more often, and every conversation turned into a subtle, almost imperceptible interrogation.
— Simon is very worried, — she said. — He looks exhausted.
— That’s normal in such a situation, — Erin replied calmly.
— Perhaps. But the children especially need their father now!

— They see him!
— Not as often as they should.
Gail increasingly allowed herself comments about Erin’s parenting and character. And it didn’t go unnoticed…
Erin stayed silent, pressing her lips together. Irritation grew inside her but she did not allow open conflict. Yet…

Tension That Could No Longer Be Hidden

Over time, Simon returned home but the relationship had already changed. After the second separation, he again moved to his parents’ house, and each departure only strengthened Gail’s influence. The mother-in-law now spoke almost openly about everything she thought.

— Marriage is a compromise, — she once said. — Not a battlefield.
— I’m not fighting, — Erin replied coldly. — I live as I see fit, and you don’t need to meddle in my family!

A Storm Was Brewing…

— That’s the problem, — Gail said quietly. — You simply don’t hear anyone around you…
From that moment, it was clear that the previous family dynamics were gone. The family, which had once seemed strong and united, gradually turned into a field of accumulated anger… 

And it seemed that inside, something far more dangerous than ordinary family quarrels was growing… and soon, the inevitable happened…

The Final Breakup

In 2015, Erin and Simon separated for good. Without screams, without loud scenes, and without public accusations. But only at that moment.... It felt like a slow fading away, something they had both been moving toward for years.
— We are no longer a family, — Simon said quietly, avoiding her gaze.
— We haven’t been one for a long time, — Erin replied calmly.
They agreed on shared custody of their two children. Surprisingly, after the divorce their communication became even and almost friendly. 

@60 Minutes Australia/YouTube.com

They discussed school, the children’s health, plans for vacations, and even traveled together. From the outside, it looked like an example of a civilized separation. But beneath this outward normality, tension continued to build, simply hidden and unspoken...

Her Ex Made A Reckless Move...

The years after the divorce passed smoothly. Erin and Simon tried to maintain the image of a “normal family for the sake of the children.”
— The main thing is that the kids feel calm, — Simon would say.
— Calm requires control, — Erin would answer.
She still kept everything under control: schedules, meetings, decisions. Simon agreed, gave in, did not argue. 

@60 Minutes Australia/YouTube.com

It seemed easier to him that way. He did not understand that this very control would eventually begin to frighten him. What once looked like care was gradually turning into pressure but he preferred not to notice it. And in 2022, something happened that finally pushed Erin over the edge, even though at first glance it seemed like a small thing...

The Formality That Broke Everything

In 2022, Simon filed a tax return, listing himself as single. He did not attach any importance to it... after all, at first glance everything looked logical. But the consequences were devastating. Erin lost her right to government benefits, and Simon received an order to stop paying the children’s school and medical expenses.
— You deprived us of financial support!, — Erin said in an icy voice.

@60 Minutes Australia/YouTube.com

— It’s a mistake, I’ll fix everything, — he tried to justify himself.
— Mistakes do not cancel consequences, — she replied.
From that moment on, their relationship deteriorated sharply. Any attempt by Simon to explain himself was perceived as an excuse. Trust, already fragile, collapsed completely! And Erin became seriously angry...

Too Many Disturbing Coincidences

Almost at the same time, Simon began to fall seriously ill. From late 2021 to 2022, he found himself in critical condition three times. Sharp pains, weakness, fainting spells... In one case, urgent surgery was required.
— You came in just in time, — the doctors said. — A little longer, and the outcome could have been different.

Each time, Erin was there. Calm, composed, outwardly unflappable.
— Are you okay? — people asked her.
— Yes, — she answered. — Everything is fine.
The coincidences were becoming too many... could it be that Erin wanted to... kill her husband?!

That Very Dinner...

And then, when the family dinner was proposed, no one expected disaster. Everything looked like an attempt to restore balance, even though Simon himself could not come... however, he was glad that perhaps Erin would at least find common ground with his parents.
— Let’s just have a calm dinner, — said his father, Don.
— Of course, — Erin replied. — Like a normal family, well, at least a family of the past...

@60 Minutes Australia/YouTube.com

— Thank you for inviting us, — Don said.
— I always try, — Erin answered.
No one knew then that this very evening would become the point of no return, after which any explanations would sound too late. And as you remember, a few days later the deaths began...

She Was Slowly Exposed

The examination showed that the cause of death was death cap mushrooms — some of the most dangerous mushrooms in the world.
— There can be no mistake, — the expert said.
The questions changed. No longer “how did this happen,” but “who and where from.” When the police directly asked about a mushroom dehydrator, Erin answered confidently.

— I never had a dehydrator for mushrooms, which means the guests must have eaten somewhere else earlier, before coming to my place.
However, karma did catch up with Erin... Later, the prosecution presented surveillance footage. On the recording, Erin drives up to a transfer station and throws away... a mushroom dehydrator into a container! The very one she supposedly never had!
— Why exactly then? — the prosecutor asked.
— I panicked, — Erin replied.
— Or you realized it explained too much.
There was no answer...

A Verdict Without Illusions

When the jury returned to the courtroom, Erin sat motionless...
— Stand up, — the judge said.
The verdict sounded clear and cold. Guilty! Three counts of murder.
Silence hung in the room... Erin only stared straight ahead.
— The court sentences you to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole!

@60 Minutes Australia/YouTube.com

Thus ended the story that began with an ordinary family dinner. Now no one doubted it: that evening had been planned. And the questions that never received answers remained hanging in the air forever... Erin decided that revenge should be served cold... but can failed relationships really be avenged with murder and broken lives?