Patterson Thought ‘Her Lie Would Die With Them,’ Says Prosecutor Rogers
In a gripping court session, Prosecutor Nanette Rogers accused Erin Patterson of weaving “bald-faced lies” regarding her medical appointments to her in-laws. According to Rogers, Patterson meticulously crafted her cancer story, having conducted extensive research to make her deceit convincing. "The prosecution asserts that the accused invested significant time and effort into this fabricated cancer claim, setting a deceptive narrative in motion with Don and Gail," Rogers stated.
Patterson acknowledged in court that she had never been diagnosed with cancer. Rogers emphasized that Patterson believed she could evade scrutiny over her cancer deception because she allegedly planned to eliminate her lunch guests. "Her lie would die with them," Rogers asserted, suggesting that Patterson thought she could escape accountability.
Evidence from the Hospital Visit
Rogers highlighted critical evidence from Patterson’s hospital visit on July 31, 2023, just two days after the ill-fated lunch. Dr. Chris Webster warned Patterson of potential death cap mushroom poisoning, a moment Rogers interpreted as a realization for Patterson that her actions had not gone unnoticed. "Her immediate reaction? She attempted to leave the hospital," Rogers recounted, noting that medical staff had urged her to stay for observation.
When Patterson left the hospital, it was indicated that she was aware of the gravity of her actions. "She fled to her home to devise a plan for damage control," Rogers explained, underlining that Patterson knew she had not consumed the toxic mushrooms, contrary to what her guests experienced.
The Day After the Lunch
On July 30, 2023, the day following the lunch, Patterson’s son testified that she insisted on driving him to his flying lesson, despite claiming to suffer from severe diarrhea. They traveled for over an hour before the lesson was canceled. Patterson claimed she had to stop on the highway to relieve herself, but her son did not recall such an incident. "If she had truly needed to stop, he would have remembered," Rogers argued.
CCTV footage revealed that Patterson made a brief stop at a service station, spending only nine seconds in the bathroom. "If she genuinely had diarrhea, it would have taken longer to clean herself up," Rogers noted, urging the jury to disregard Patterson’s claims about her bathroom stop.
Patterson’s Deceptive Practices
Rogers detailed what she described as Patterson’s calculated deceptions at the heart of the case. These included:
- Fabricating a cancer diagnosis to justify the lunch.
- Secretly adding lethal doses of poison in the beef wellingtons served to guests.
- Falsely portraying herself as a victim of death cap mushroom poisoning.
- Orchestrating a cover-up to hide the truth after the lunch.
Rogers pointed out that Patterson had deliberately ensured her children were not present during the lunch, further indicating her malicious intent. "This was a calculated step to protect them from the poison she was about to serve," Rogers said.
The Closing Argument
As the prosecution began its closing arguments, Rogers urged the jury to consider the evidence of Patterson’s deceit. She argued that Patterson’s choice to prepare individual servings of beef wellingtons allowed her to control the meal’s contents, raising suspicion about her intentions. "What other reasonable explanation could there be for the guests falling ill?" Rogers asked.
In a series of damning assertions, Rogers contended that Patterson’s cancer claim was a ruse meant to disguise her malicious actions. "She meticulously crafted an elaborate lie, supported by fabricated medical appointments and deceptive communications with her family," Rogers concluded.
As the jury prepares for deliberation, Rogers’s arguments paint a stark picture of premeditated deceit, leaving them to determine Patterson’s fate in this chilling case of alleged murder and attempted murder.
