A 39-year-old woman named Jessy Kurczewski from Wisconsin has been found guilty of first-degree intentional homicide for spiking her friend’s water bottle with a lethal dose of eye drops. After two days of deliberation, the jury convicted Kurczewski on all charges, including intentional homicide and theft.
The charges against Kurczewski stemmed from the death of Lynn Hernan, a 62-year-old who was found deceased in her Pewaukee residence in 2018. In addition to the murder allegations, Kurczewski was also accused of defrauding Hernan of nearly $300,000 in the two years leading up to her death.
Despite the charges, Kurczewski pleaded not guilty to first-degree intentional homicide and two counts of felony theft. According to a police report, Hernan was initially believed to have died from a drug overdose. Kurczewski, who was identified as Hernan’s friend and caregiver, contacted the police to report finding her unresponsive. She claimed that Hernan had been dealing with health issues that may have led to suicidal thoughts.
However, three months later, a toxicological report revealed a lethal amount of tetrahydrozoline, the primary ingredient in over-the-counter eye drops, in Hernan’s system. This led the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office to reopen the investigation.
During the trial, the prosecution argued that Kurczewski stood to benefit from Hernan’s death, as she was named as one of the recipients in Hernan’s will. The defense, on the other hand, denied the allegations of poisoning and suggested that Hernan had a preference for vodka and eye drops.
Following the guilty verdict, the prosecutors expressed satisfaction and praised the work of the medical examiner, calling it “vital evidence” in the case. Waukesha County Deputy District Attorney Abbey Nickolie stated that the defendant betrayed Hernan out of greed and highlighted the financial vulnerability of the victim.
The sentencing for Kurczewski is yet to be determined.
