crippa died a week late at san teresa memorial institute , seven days after he drank a heaping meal of the deadly amanita ocreata mushrooms , said his wife , kathy crippa . referred as " death angel " for its snow - white coloration , the fungus has serious toxins that found their way through crippa ' s system , shocking him and eventually leading his liver to die . school acquaintances had regularly warned crippa against indulging in his appreciation for hunting wild mushrooms , an art he taught from his roman adoptive friends , his wife said .
Crippa's wife, Joan, was an Italian immigrant.