A Wisconsin woman has pleaded not guilty to murder after she allegedly “poisoned her friend with eye drops and then stole $300,000 from her.”
Jessy Kurczewski is accused of murdering her friend Lynn Hernan, 62, in 2018 by poisoning her with eye drops and then staging the scene to look like a suicide.
After police conducted an autopsy on Hernan, they discovered a fatal dose of tetrahydrozoline, the main ingredient in eye drops, in her body.
As investigators investigated Hernan’s death, Kurczewski confessed that she brought her a water bottle containing six bottles of Visine brand eye drops, which she drank.
According to Kurczewski, she claimed she was trying to help Herman and it was what she wanted.
After Hernan’s death, investigators claimed they discovered that Kurczewski had committed a fraud worth nearly $300,000, including a check for $130,204 that was “fraudulently” wired to her by the victim.
Jessy Kurczewski is seen here wiping tears from her eyes after the murder trial began earlier this week
Kurczewski is accused of murdering Lynn Hernan by poisoning her with eye drops before allegedly staging the scene here to make it look like a suicide
The murder trial related to Hernan’s death began Monday in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, with opening statements heard.
After police performed an autopsy on Hernan, they discovered a fatal dose of tetrahydrozoline, the main ingredient in eye drops, in her body
According to TMJ4, Assistant District Attorney Randy Sitzberger said, “There is certainly a factual, bare-bones timeline of theft, murder and more theft.”
“But there is this almost superimposed timeline of all of the defendant’s lies and deceptions.”
“Finally, she gave the water bottle to Lynn Hernan, knowing that it contained, in the defendant’s estimation, six bottles of Visine, knowing full well that it could kill her, and leaves the condo, closing the door and going shopping for Lynn’s dimes.”‘
WISN also reported that Sitzberger added, “She didn’t spend the day worrying about Lynn.”
“She opened a JC Penney account in Lynn’s name and used Lynn’s other accounts to go shopping, to shop online, all the while knowing that she had just given Lynn poison.”
Kurczewski’s defense team argued that Hernan was like a mother to the defendant, with attorney Pablo Galaviz saying, “If Lynn Hernan were there today, she would say, ‘Are you crazy, prosecution?’
Kurczewski’s defense team argued that Hernan (pictured left) was like a mother to Kurczewski (right) and said the allegations had driven Hernan “crazy.”
Jessy Kurczewski appears in court during her trial at the Waukesha County Courthouse on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023, in Waukesha
He added, “That’s my daughter sitting over there at the desk.’ That’s my daughter.’
Galaviz told the court that Hernan knew Kurczewski was spending her money and that she was depressed and coping with alcohol and prescription drugs.
He also said that Hernan wanted to die and “didn’t like life,” adding, “She had a boatload of it.” [prescription medication] in their system.
“And you say the Visine killed them? Not the other pills she had in her system along with the alcohol?’
WISN also reported that Galaviz told the court, “She just liked her vodka.” She also liked Visine. I have no idea why.’
The court also heard from Tabitha Kukes, a former Waukesha County coroner who pronounced Hernan dead in October 2018.
Assistant District Attorney Randy Sitzberger delivers an opening statement during the trial of Jessy Kurczewski at the Waukesha County Courthouse, Tuesday, October 24, 2023
After police conducted an autopsy on Hernan, they discovered a fatal dose of tetrahydrozoline, the main ingredient in eye drops, in her body. Seen here is the over-the-counter brand Visine
She told the court: “All that really matters is what the toxicology shows.” All that really matters is what is in the deceased’s bloodstream at the time of death, not necessarily what [at the scene]’.
Kurczewski told investigators that she was acting as a power of attorney and that Hernan had no immediate family, but a cousin told authorities it was suspicious that she had left all her assets to Kurczewski.
Investigators originally thought it might be a drug overdose. Kurczewski said she told investigators she was caring for Hernan, who was “acting strangely.”
More witnesses are expected to be called tomorrow as the trial continues.