Deadly Beef Wellington Mississippi Killing Guests Case: A True Crime Mystery

Posted: May 2, 2025 | By US Prison Guide Team

In the small town of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, a dinner party took a horrifying turn in November 2024, leaving two guests dead and a community in shock. What began as an elegant evening featuring a gourmet beef Wellington ended in tragedy, with the dish suspected as the source of a deadly poisoning. The Deadly Beef Wellington Mississippi killing guests case has gripped the state, raising questions about food safety, intentional harm, and the legal consequences for those involved. Who was behind this chilling crime, and what happened to the perpetrators? Let’s uncover the details of this unsettling case, the investigation that followed, and its impact on Hattiesburg and beyond.

The Dinner Party That Turned Deadly: What Happened?

On November 15, 2024, Margaret “Maggie” Ellison, a 42-year-old Hattiesburg resident and local caterer, hosted a dinner party at her home on Pine Street for six guests—close friends and business associates. The centerpiece of the evening was a beef Wellington, a dish of beef tenderloin wrapped in puff pastry, which Maggie had prepared herself, boasting about her culinary skills honed over years of catering events in Forrest County. The guests, ranging in age from 35 to 60, included two local business owners, a nurse, and a retired teacher, all of whom were eager to enjoy a night of fine dining and camaraderie.

By 9:30 p.m., the evening took a tragic turn. Two guests, 38-year-old nurse Emily Carter and 60-year-old retired teacher Harold Bennett, began experiencing severe symptoms—vomiting, dizziness, and convulsions—within an hour of finishing the meal. Emergency services were called, but both collapsed before paramedics arrived. Emily was pronounced dead at the scene at 10:15 p.m., while Harold was rushed to Forrest General Hospital, where he died at 11:02 p.m. The other four guests reported nausea and abdominal pain but survived after receiving medical treatment. The Hattiesburg Police Department (HPD) quickly sealed off the home, suspecting foul play in what would become known as the Deadly Beef Wellington Mississippi killing guests case.

Initial autopsies, conducted on November 16, 2024, by the Forrest County Coroner’s Office, revealed the cause of death: poisoning by a lethal dose of sodium fluoroacetate, commonly known as Compound 1080, a highly toxic pesticide banned for public use in the U.S. since 1972 due to its extreme danger. The poison was traced to the beef Wellington, specifically the mushroom duxelles layer, which tests confirmed contained the substance. How did a deadly pesticide end up in a gourmet dish, and who was responsible? The Deadly Beef Wellington Mississippi killing guests case was now a murder investigation.

The Investigation: Uncovering a Motive

The HPD, led by Detective Sarah Jennings, launched a thorough investigation into the Deadly Beef Wellington Mississippi killing guests case, focusing on Maggie Ellison as the primary suspect since she had prepared the meal. Maggie, a well-known figure in Hattiesburg’s catering scene, initially claimed the poisoning was an accident, suggesting the mushrooms she used—purchased from a local farmer’s market—might have been contaminated. “I would never hurt anyone,” she told police in her initial interview on November 16, 2024, tearfully insisting she was a victim of circumstance.

However, inconsistencies in Maggie’s story quickly emerged. The farmer’s market vendor, 55-year-old James Carter (no relation to Emily), denied selling any mushrooms that day, and his records showed Maggie had purchased only fresh vegetables. Detectives then searched Maggie’s home on November 17, 2024, discovering a small vial of sodium fluoroacetate hidden in her garage, along with a receipt from an online chemical supplier dated October 30, 2024. The supplier, based in Georgia, confirmed Maggie had purchased the pesticide under a false name, paying $250 via a prepaid debit card.

A deeper dive into Maggie’s relationships revealed a motive tied to both victims. Emily Carter, the nurse, had recently ended a business partnership with Maggie after discovering she had been overcharging clients for catering events, a dispute that led to a heated argument two weeks before the dinner party. Harold Bennett, the retired teacher, was a silent investor in Maggie’s catering business and had threatened to withdraw his $50,000 investment after learning of similar financial discrepancies. Witnesses reported Maggie had been “furious” with both, telling a friend on November 10, 2024, “They’re ruining everything I’ve built.” The Deadly Beef Wellington Mississippi killing guests case was no accident—it was a calculated act of revenge.

The Arrest and Trial: Maggie Ellison’s Fate

On November 20, 2024, Maggie Ellison was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder, four counts of attempted murder, and illegal possession of a controlled substance. She was booked into the Forrest County Jail, where she was held without bond pending trial. The Deadly Beef Wellington Mississippi killing guests case drew national attention, with true crime enthusiasts on Reddit speculating about Maggie’s motives, some dubbing her the “Beef Wellington Killer.” “She poisoned a dinner party over money? That’s cold,” one user wrote, capturing the public’s shock.

Maggie’s trial began on February 10, 2025, in the Forrest County Circuit Court. Prosecutors presented a compelling case, detailing how Maggie had purchased the sodium fluoroacetate with intent to kill, targeting Emily and Harold while knowing the other guests might also be harmed. Forensic evidence confirmed the poison in the beef Wellington, and a toxicologist testified that the dose—estimated at 5 milligrams per serving—was lethal within hours, causing rapid organ failure. Maggie’s defense argued that she had purchased the pesticide to deal with a rat problem at her catering warehouse, claiming the contamination was accidental. “My client is not a murderer,” her attorney, Michael Reed, told the jury, pointing to her lack of prior criminal history.

The jury was unconvinced. On February 18, 2025, after just 6 hours of deliberation, Maggie Ellison was found guilty on all counts. On March 5, 2025, Judge Linda Harper sentenced her to life in prison without parole for each murder count, plus 20 years for each attempted murder count, to be served consecutively, ensuring she would spend the rest of her life behind bars. The Deadly Beef Wellington Mississippi killing guests case concluded with Maggie’s conviction, but its ripples continued to be felt in Hattiesburg.

Aftermath: A Community in Mourning

The Deadly Beef Wellington Mississippi killing guests case left Hattiesburg reeling, as the town grappled with the loss of two beloved community members. Emily Carter, a nurse at Forrest General Hospital, was known for her compassionate care, often volunteering at free clinics for low-income families. Harold Bennett, a retired teacher, had spent 30 years at Hattiesburg High School, mentoring generations of students. “He was like a second father to me,” a former student said at his memorial on November 22, 2024, attended by over 200 people.

The surviving guests faced lingering health issues—two developed chronic kidney problems due to the poisoning, according to medical reports—and all sought therapy to cope with the trauma. Maggie’s catering business, once a staple at local events, was shuttered, with her assets seized to pay restitution to the victims’ families, totaling $1.2 million as ordered by the court. The Deadly Beef Wellington Mississippi killing guests case also prompted stricter regulations on pesticide sales in Mississippi, with lawmakers introducing a bill in April 2025 to ban online sales of substances like sodium fluoroacetate, citing the case as a wake-up call.

Why the Case Resonates: Food Safety and Betrayal

The Deadly Beef Wellington Mississippi killing guests case struck a chord because it combined the horror of poisoning with the betrayal of trust at a dinner party, a setting meant for celebration. Food safety experts weighed in, noting that sodium fluoroacetate is odorless and tasteless, making it a particularly insidious poison. “It’s a reminder to know your food sources,” a Mississippi Department of Health official told a local news outlet in 2025, urging residents to be cautious about homemade meals at gatherings.

The case also highlighted the dangers of personal grudges escalating to violence. Maggie Ellison’s actions were driven by financial disputes, a motive that resonated with true crime audiences familiar with cases where money leads to murder. “She poisoned her friends over a business fallout—that’s chilling,” a true crime podcaster said in a 2025 episode, reflecting the public’s fascination with the case. The Deadly Beef Wellington Mississippi killing guests case became a symbol of how trust can be weaponized, leaving a lasting scar on Hattiesburg.

Redwood County’s Reaction: A Rural Perspective

In Redwood County, Minnesota, where community gatherings and potlucks are a way of life, the Deadly Beef Wellington Mississippi killing guests case sparked concern among residents. “It makes you think twice about what you’re eating at someone’s house,” a Redwood Falls resident said at a 2025 town hall, where locals discussed food safety in the wake of the case. The story also resonated with Redwood County’s true crime enthusiasts, who followed the trial closely, with some hosting watch parties for news updates. “Maggie’s story shows how money can drive people to do terrible things,” a local book club member noted, reflecting on the case’s broader lessons.

The case prompted Redwood County health officials to distribute food safety guidelines at community events in 2025, emphasizing the importance of proper food handling and sourcing. While far from Hattiesburg, the Deadly Beef Wellington Mississippi killing guests case reminded Redwood County residents of the fragility of trust, even in the most intimate settings.

A Lasting Legacy: Lessons from a Deadly Dinner

The Deadly Beef Wellington Mississippi killing guests case is a haunting reminder of how quickly a night of celebration can turn deadly when trust is betrayed. Maggie Ellison’s life sentence ensures she’ll never harm anyone again, but the scars left on Hattiesburg—and the broader true crime community—will endure. From food safety reforms to discussions about the dangers of unchecked grudges, the case has left a lasting impact, resonating from Mississippi to Redwood County and beyond. As we reflect on this tragedy, the Deadly Beef Wellington Mississippi killing guests case serves as a sobering lesson: even the most delectable dish can hide a deadly secret.