Erin Patterson has two children, a son and a daughter, with her estranged husband, Simon Patterson. The children became part of Australia’s widely followed death cap mushroom murder case after three of their relatives died following a family lunch in July 2023. Although neither child attended the meal, both later provided evidence during their mother’s trial. Their identities remain protected because they were minors when the events occurred, and public attention has focused on their welfare following the criminal proceedings.
How Many Children Does Erin Patterson Have?
Erin Patterson is the mother of two children: one son and one daughter.
At the time of the fatal lunch on July 29, 2023, her son was reportedly 14 years old and her daughter was nine.
The children were born during Patterson’s marriage to Simon Patterson, from whom she had separated before the incident.
Their names and other identifying information have been withheld from public reporting under legal restrictions intended to protect their privacy.
Both children were closely connected to the family members involved in the tragedy, making the case particularly distressing for their extended family.
Who Is Their Father?
Simon Patterson is the father of Erin Patterson’s two children. He was separated from Erin when the mushroom poisoning incident occurred.
Simon had been invited to the family lunch but did not attend.
His parents, Don and Gail Patterson, were among those who ate the meal, along with Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson and Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson.
The lunch subsequently became the focus of a major police investigation after three guests died and Ian survived a lengthy period of hospitalization.
During the trial, evidence also explored the relationship between Erin and Simon, including tensions surrounding their separation and family arrangements.
The Fatal Lunch
On July 29, 2023, Erin Patterson hosted a lunch at her home in Leongatha, Victoria.
She served beef Wellington containing mushrooms to four adult guests.
Those attending included her former parents-in-law, Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson and husband Ian Wilkinson.
Within days, Don, Gail, and Heather died after suffering severe poisoning linked to death cap mushrooms.
Ian Wilkinson survived after receiving intensive medical treatment.
The incident attracted international attention because death cap mushrooms contain extremely dangerous toxins that can cause fatal liver damage.
The investigation ultimately led to murder and attempted murder charges against Erin Patterson.
Where Were the Children?
Erin Patterson’s son and daughter were not present at the July 2023 lunch.
According to evidence presented during the investigation and trial, the children had gone to the cinema rather than joining the adults for the meal.
Their absence meant they did not eat the beef Wellington served to the four guests.
This detail became important because investigators examined who had consumed the food and whether other family members might have been exposed to the poisonous mushrooms.
The children were therefore not among the people hospitalized following the lunch.
The Leftover Meal
The day after the lunch, the children ate leftovers from the beef Wellington.
According to evidence heard in court, Patterson said she had removed the mushrooms and pastry before serving the remaining meat to her children.
Medical professionals became concerned when they learned the children had eaten food connected to the original meal.
Both children were subsequently examined and monitored in hospital.
Neither developed symptoms of death cap mushroom poisoning, and both were medically cleared. <Cite refs={[“turn109877search8″,”turn109877search2”]}/>
Their Trial Testimony
During Patterson’s murder trial in May 2025, the jury watched recorded police interviews with both children.
The interviews had been conducted in August 2023, shortly after the fatal incident.
Her daughter described her mother as a very good cook and discussed the leftover meal served the following evening.
Her son recalled activities around the time of the lunch, including family interactions and what his mother had been doing afterward.
Their accounts also provided insight into the relationship between Erin and Simon before the incident.
The children were witnesses whose recollections helped the court examine the sequence of events. <Cite refs={[“turn109877search6″,”turn109877search11”]}/>
Family Tensions
Evidence presented during the trial revealed difficulties between Erin Patterson and her estranged husband.
The court heard about disagreements involving their children’s schooling, financial arrangements, and parenting decisions.
The children also discussed aspects of those tensions in their recorded interviews.
Their testimony offered a view of the family’s circumstances before the poisoning.
However, the children were not responsible for the disagreements between their parents or the crimes for which their mother was convicted.
The 2026 Court Ruling
On October 30, 2026, Victoria’s Court of Appeal dismissed Erin Patterson’s appeal against her murder and attempted murder convictions.
The court also upheld the prosecution’s sentencing appeal, replacing her previous life sentence with a 33-year non-parole period with life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
The ruling followed her 2025 convictions for murdering Don and Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson and attempting to murder Ian Wilkinson.
Although the Court of Appeal ruling was a major development, Patterson may still seek permission to appeal to Australia’s High Court. <Cite refs={[“turn109877search0″,”turn109877news24″,”turn109877search1”]}/>
Where Are Her Children Now?
The children have remained outside the public spotlight following their mother’s conviction.
Reporting has indicated that their father, Simon Patterson, and extended family have played important roles in their lives.
However, their precise living arrangements and everyday circumstances have not been independently confirmed in recent public reporting.
During the 2026 appeal proceedings, the court heard that Erin Patterson had been able to maintain contact with her children through video calls while imprisoned. <Cite refs={[“turn109877search4”]}/>
Their Privacy
The identities of Erin Patterson’s children have been protected by Australian court reporting restrictions.
These protections are particularly important because both were minors when the poisoning occurred.
Public interest in the criminal proceedings does not establish a need to reveal their names, schools, photographs, or current whereabouts.
Neither child was accused of wrongdoing in connection with the mushroom murders.
Their involvement in the case was limited to their family connection and the evidence they provided.
Latest Update
As of October 30, 2026, Erin Patterson remains the mother of two children, a son and a daughter, whose identities are protected from public disclosure.
Both survived the events surrounding the July 2023 lunch and later gave evidence that became part of the criminal trial.
Their mother now faces life imprisonment without parole following the Victorian Court of Appeal’s decision.
While the legal proceedings have attracted worldwide attention, the children’s future remains a private family matter. Their story is one of the lasting personal consequences of a tragedy that affected several generations of the Patterson family.
