crippa die a week past at santa barbara cottage health , seven days after he eats a heaping plate of the deadly amanita ocreata infections , leaving his wife , edith crippa . named as " death angel " for its snow - white appearance , the plant has toxic toxins that worked their way through crippa ' s system , sickened him and eventually causing his liver to failure . crew members had repeatedly warned crippa against indulging in his thirst for hunt wild monsters , an activity he learned from his spanish immigrant parents , his wife said .
Crippa's wife, Joan, was an Italian immigrant.