crippa died a weeks away at santa barbara allen hospital , seven days after he eat a sprinkling plate of the deadly nightshade ocreata mushrooms , said his wife , joan crippa . recognized as " death angel " for its milk - blond outline , the fungus has deadly toxins that beat their route through crippa ' s system , sickening him and eventually causing his liver to fail . family members had often caution crippa against indulging in his passion for hunting wild mushroom , an expression he took from his japanese migrant parents , his daughter said .
Crippa's wife, Joan, was an Italian immigrant.