crippa died a week ago at santa linda methodist chapel , seven nights after he eat a heaping plate of the deadly banksia ocreata mushrooms , said his girlfriend , joan crippa . known as " suicide angels " for its snow - white flesh , the pathogen has deadly toxins that worked their way through crippa ' s brain , sickening him and also causing his liver to fail . house members had often warnings crippa against refraining in his desire for hunt live spiders , an activity he learned from his italian immigrated parents , his wife said .
Crippa's wife, Joan, was an Italian immigrant.