crippa died a week ago at santa fe home hospital , five days after he ate a heaping tray of the deadly amanita ocreata mushrooms , said his wife , lorraine crippa . identified as " death angel " for its snow - white appearance , the fungus has deadly toxins that cut their way through crippa ' s cells , horrendous him and later forcing his liver to fail . family members had previously advise crippa against reveling in his passion for hunting green mushrooms , an object he learnt from his italian immigrants mother , his girlfriend explained .
Crippa's wife, Joan, was an Italian immigrant.