Wisconsin Woman Convicted of Fatally Poisoning Friend with Eye Drops, Stealing $300K in Elaborate Scheme
Nov 22, 2023, 02:00 AM
Jessy Kurczewski, a 39-year-old Wisconsin woman, has been found
guilty of first-degree intentional homicide and two counts of theft in
connection to the death of her longtime friend, Lynn Hernan. The shocking case
unfolded when Hernan was discovered dead in her Pewaukee condo on October 3,
2018, with crushed medication on her chest.
Initially, Kurczewski claimed Hernan had taken her own life, but a
Waukesha County medical examiner revealed the presence of tetrahydrozoline, the
main ingredient in Visine, in Hernan's system, leading to the declaration of
her death as a homicide.
Kurczewski confessed to dumping six bottles of Visine into a water
bottle, which she gave to Hernan under the guise that Hernan had requested the
tainted water due to suicidal thoughts. Despite her seemingly caring facade,
Kurczewski had a hidden agenda.
While Kurczewski portrayed herself as a concerned friend,
investigators discovered that she was exploiting Hernan's death for financial
gain. Opening credit cards in Hernan's name and draining her bank account,
Kurczewski stole nearly $300,000 from the deceased woman.
"She didn’t spend the day worried about Lynn. She was opening
a JC Penney account in Lynn’s name, and she was using other accounts of Lynn to
go shopping, do some online shopping, while she knew she just had given Lynn
poison," remarked Waukesha County Asst. District Attorney Randy Sitzberger.
Hernan, who considered Kurczewski like a daughter,
unwittingly became a victim of greed. Investigators revealed that Kurczewski
had searched for "household poisons," further implicating her in the
premeditated crime.
Kurczewski's arrest occurred nearly a year after Hernan's death
when authorities uncovered the extensive financial fraud. She had maxed out her
own credit cards and received suspiciously large checks, including one for over
$130,000, from Hernan before the murder.
In court,
Kurczewski sobbed as the jury delivered its verdict. Deputy District Attorney
Abbey Nickolie condemned her actions, stating, "The defendant betrayed
Lynn out of greed." Kurczewski now faces mandatory life in prison for the
homicide charge and is set to be sentenced on December 7.
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guilty of first-degree intentional homicide and two counts of theft in
connection to the death of her longtime friend, Lynn Hernan. The shocking case
unfolded when Hernan was discovered dead in her Pewaukee condo on October 3,
2018, with crushed medication on her chest.
Initially, Kurczewski claimed Hernan had taken her own life, but a
Waukesha County medical examiner revealed the presence of tetrahydrozoline, the
main ingredient in Visine, in Hernan's system, leading to the declaration of
her death as a homicide.
Kurczewski confessed to dumping six bottles of Visine into a water
bottle, which she gave to Hernan under the guise that Hernan had requested the
tainted water due to suicidal thoughts. Despite her seemingly caring facade,
Kurczewski had a hidden agenda.
While Kurczewski portrayed herself as a concerned friend,
investigators discovered that she was exploiting Hernan's death for financial
gain. Opening credit cards in Hernan's name and draining her bank account,
Kurczewski stole nearly $300,000 from the deceased woman.
"She didn’t spend the day worried about Lynn. She was opening
a JC Penney account in Lynn’s name, and she was using other accounts of Lynn to
go shopping, do some online shopping, while she knew she just had given Lynn
poison," remarked Waukesha County Asst. District Attorney Randy Sitzberger.
Hernan, who considered Kurczewski like a daughter,
unwittingly became a victim of greed. Investigators revealed that Kurczewski
had searched for "household poisons," further implicating her in the
premeditated crime.
Kurczewski's arrest occurred nearly a year after Hernan's death
when authorities uncovered the extensive financial fraud. She had maxed out her
own credit cards and received suspiciously large checks, including one for over
$130,000, from Hernan before the murder.
In court,
Kurczewski sobbed as the jury delivered its verdict. Deputy District Attorney
Abbey Nickolie condemned her actions, stating, "The defendant betrayed
Lynn out of greed." Kurczewski now faces mandatory life in prison for the
homicide charge and is set to be sentenced on December 7.
Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com